Narrated `Amr:Ibn `Umar said, "By Allah, I have not put a brick over a brick (i.e. constructed a building) or planted any date-palm tree since the death of the Prophet." Sufyan (the sub narrator) said, "I told this narration (of Ibn `Umar) to one of his (Ibn `Umar's) relatives, and he said, 'By Allah, he did build (something.' "Sufyan added, "I said, 'He must have said (the above narration) before he built."
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ عَمْرٌو قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ وَاللَّهِ مَا وَضَعْتُ لَبِنَةً عَلَى لَبِنَةٍ، وَلاَ غَرَسْتُ نَخْلَةً، مُنْذُ قُبِضَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم. قَالَ سُفْيَانُ فَذَكَرْتُهُ لِبَعْضِ أَهْلِهِ قَالَ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ بَنَى بَيْتًا. قَالَ سُفْيَانُ قُلْتُ فَلَعَلَّهُ قَالَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَبْنِيَ.
Bukhari
Asking Permission • Hadith 75