At this point it will be appropriate to mention that until the time of Qusaiyy not a single nation had built homes in the vicinity of the Ka‘bah. As a matter of fact, they resided in temporary homes and pavilions situated at some distance. However, upon Qusaiyy’s encouragement, the Quraish constructed homes in the surrounding perimeter of the Ka‘bah and Makkah became a proper city. However, these homes were not adjoined to the Ka‘bah, rather, in order to facilitate the Ṭawāf of pilgrims, a vast area was left to all four sides of the Ka‘bah. This open space was as if the courtyard of the Masjid-e-Ḥarām.1 During the era of the Khulafā’-e-Rāshidīn2 this area was deemed narrow and restricted in space, thus, the courtyard of the Masjid-e-Ḥarām was expanded by demolishing the homes in its immediate proximity. A map depicting the current state of the Ka‘bah and Masjid-e-Ḥarām is shown below:
1 The Sacred Mosque (Publishers)
2 The Successors of the Holy Prophetsa (Publishers)