Clarification that the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was not inside his mosque, and clarification of the date when the grave was incorporated into the mosque.

The Shaykh : Know that the grave of the Prophet was not in the mosque during the time of the Companions. The chamber in which the Messenger (peace be upon him) was buried remained as it was in its initial state when the Messenger (peace be upon him) was alive; he would come out of it to the mosque, finish his prayer, and return to it. It was east of the mosque. This was the state of the chamber during the time of the Companions. They were not able at that time to face the grave and turn their backs to the Ka'bah. That was not within their ability or power, because the direction of the qiblah was not a mosque. Among the effects of religious innovation that occurred during the reign of al-Walid ibn 'Abd al-Malik, when they brought the Prophet's grave into the mosque and cleared it from all sides, is that it became practically like a Ka'bah. From this is that today, as you will see, if Allah wills, you see these people after prayer turning their backs to the qiblah and facing the grave. This was not possible at that time. And among the effects of contradicting the hadiths of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) that prohibit bringing the grave into the mosque—and the hadiths on this matter are many, very many—is that it is sufficient for us now to remind you of one hadith, which is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): . So the grave was brought into the mosque, or they brought the grave into the mosque, and the righteous people, they claim, do not pray in the Raudah, for example, but rather they intentionally pray in this section where they face the noble grave. All of this is from exaggeration in religion. And therefore, by the warning of the Messenger of the Ummah, I warn you, who are eager to follow the Sunnah, that when you enter the Prophet's Mosque, enter it with the name of Allah and with sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and that the gates of mercy be opened for you. Then you pray the greeting of the mosque, and there is no harm in going to the grave from any direction solely to greet it, as 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar used to do... .