عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَضَى فِي الرَّحْبَةِ تَكُونُ بَيْنَ الطَّرِيقِ ثُمَّ يُرِيدُ أَهْلُهَا الْبُنْيَانَ فِيهَا فَقَضَى أَنْ يَتْرُكَ لِلطَّرِيقِ فِيهَا سَبْعَ أَذْرُعٍ قَالَ وَكَانَتْ تِلْكَ الطَّرِيقُ تُسَمَّى الْمِيتَاءَ
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ubadah bin Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) that there was an open space lying on the way. When its owners intended to build there, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) decided that a path of seven handspans should be left. This path was called a thoroughfare.