Al-Adab al-Mufrad

Narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The Hour will not be established until people compete with one another in constructing buildings."

It is narrated from Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) that during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), I used to visit the houses of the pure wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and I could easily touch the ceiling with my hand.

It is narrated from Dawud bin Qais, may Allah have mercy on him, that he said: I saw the chambers of the pure wives, which were made of palm branches. From the outside, they were covered with hair-cloth. I think that the width of the house, from the door of the chamber to the door of the other house, was about six or seven handspans. When I estimated the house from inside, it was ten handspans. Its roof was about eight or seven handspans high. And when I stood at the door of Sayyidah Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, I saw that it faced towards the west.

It is narrated from Abdullah Rumi, may Allah have mercy on him, that I went to Umm Talq, may Allah have mercy on her, and said to her: How low is the roof of your house! She said: O my son! The Commander of the Faithful, Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, wrote to his ministers not to build tall and spacious buildings, because these will be your worst days.