Silsilah as-Sahihah 2337 — Buildings beyond need are a burden

We went to visit our master Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him), who had seven scars on his body, to inquire about his health. He said: If I had not heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Do not wish for death," I would certainly have wished for death. He was repairing his wall (i.e., house, etc.), and in the meantime he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "A man is rewarded for every kind of expenditure except for what he spends on this mud (i.e., there is no reward for building a house)."