The second point:

These people lay their prayer rugs over the mats, carpets, and other floor coverings on which Muslims pray in mosques, thereby adding one innovation to another. None of the early generations did this, nor has anything been transmitted from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that could offer them even a semblance of support, let alone proof. Rather, they justify it by saying that these mats are trodden on by people at large. Perhaps one of them has seen or heard that, on some occasion, a child or someone else urinated on one of the mosque’s mats, or has seen droppings from pigeons or other creatures on it. This then becomes a justification for obsessive misgivings.

Yet it is known through mass-transmitted reports that Muslims regularly walked in the Sacred Mosque during the time of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his caliphs. There are more pigeons there than elsewhere, and more people pass through the area of circumambulation than through any other mosque. Thus, the grounds for suspicion that you mention would be stronger there. Nevertheless, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, his caliphs, and his Companions did not pray there on an intervening covering, nor did they regard doing so as recommended. Had this been recommended, as these people claim, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, his caliphs, and his Companions would not all have neglected the recommended and superior practice. It would also mean that these people were more obedient to Allah and better in their deeds than the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, his caliphs, and his Companions. This contradicts what is established by the Quran, the Sunnah, and scholarly consensus.

Moreover, they used to walk in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace