43 – The Prophet ﷺ said, “O ʿĀʾishah, were it not that your people have only recently abandoned idolatry, and that I lack the means required for its reconstruction, I would spend the Kaaba’s treasure in the cause of Allah, demolish the Kaaba and lower it to ground level, then rebuild it upon Abraham’s foundation. I would give it two doors: an eastern door through which people would enter and a western door through which they would leave. I would also set it level with the ground and add six cubits from the Ḥijr.

(In another wording: ‘and I would incorporate the Ḥijr inside it.’) When Quraysh rebuilt the Kaaba they left that portion out. If, after me, your people decide to rebuild it, come and I will show you what they omitted.” He then showed her a space of about seven cubits.

In another narration she said:
“I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the low wall—the Ḥijr—‘Is it part of the House?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ I said, ‘Why, then, did they not include it within the House?’ He answered, ‘Your people ran short of funds.’ I asked, ‘What about the door—why is it raised so high?’ He said, ‘Your people did that so they could admit whom they wished and bar whom they wished.’ (In another version: ‘out of a sense of superiority, so that only those they wanted could enter; if someone tried to go in, they would let him climb up, and when he was about to enter they would push him and he would fall.’) Were it not that your people have only recently emerged from the Age of Ignorance, and I fear their hearts would reject it, I would bring the Ḥijr inside the House and lower its door to ground level.”

When Ibn al-Zubayr assumed authority he demolished it and gave it two doors. (In another report: That is what impelled Ibn al-Zubayr to tear it down.) Yazīd ibn Rumān said: