This is part 3 of 3 of “Clothing (Kitab Al-Libas)”, book 34 of Sunan Abu Dawud — Hadith 4,120–4,158. The book is long enough that it is split across 3 pages so each one stays quick to load; the parts run in order and are linked at the foot of the page.
Ibn 'Abbas said - (Musaddad and Wahb transmitted from Maimunah) Maimunah said:A sheep was given in alms to a female client of ours, but it died. The Prophet (ﷺ) passed it and said: Why did you not tan its skin and get some good out of it ? They replied: Messenger of Allah, it died a natural death. He said: It is only the eating of it that is prohibited
Sahih· Al-Albani
Sahih· Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid
Sahih Bukhari (1492) Sahih Muslim (363)· Zubair Ali Zai
The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by al-Zuhri who did not mention Maimunah. This version has:He said: Why did you not make use of it ? He then mentioned the rest of the tradition to the same effect but did not mention tanning
Sahih· Al-Albani
Sahih· Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid
Sahih· Shuaib Al Arnaut
Sahih Bukhari (1492) Sahih Muslim (363)· Zubair Ali Zai
Ma'mar said:Al-Zuhri used to deny tanning and say: Some good can be got out of it in any condition Abu Dawud said: Al-Auza'i, Yunus and 'Uqail did not mention tanning. al-Zubaidi, Sa'id b. 'Abd al-Aziz and Hafs b. 'Abd al-'Aziz mentioned tanning
Sahih Isnaad Maqtu· Al-Albani
Sahih Isnaad Maqtu· Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ قُسَيْطٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ ثَوْبَانَ، عَنْ أُمِّهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَمَرَ أَنْ يُسْتَمْتَعَ بِجُلُودِ الْمَيْتَةِ إِذَا دُبِغَتْ .
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: The Prophet (ﷺ) ordered that the skins of the animals which had died a natural death should be used when they are tanned
Narrated Salamah ibn al-Muhabbaq: On the expedition of Tabuk the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to a household and, seeing a bucket hanging, asked for water. They said: Messenger of Allah, the animal died a natural death. He replied; Its tanning is its purification
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرٌو، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْحَارِثِ - عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ فَرْقَدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَالِكِ بْنِ حُذَافَةَ، حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أُمِّهِ الْعَالِيَةِ بِنْتِ سُبَيْعٍ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ كَانَ لِي غَنَمٌ بِأُحُدٍ فَوَقَعَ فِيهَا الْمَوْتُ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى مَيْمُونَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لَهَا فَقَالَتْ لِي مَيْمُونَةُ لَوْ أَخَذْتِ جُلُودَهَا فَانْتَفَعْتِ بِهَا . فَقَالَتْ أَوَيَحِلُّ ذَلِكَ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ . مَرَّ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رِجَالٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ يَجُرُّونَ شَاةً لَهُمْ مِثْلَ الْحِمَارِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ أَخَذْتُمْ إِهَابَهَا " . قَالُوا إِنَّهَا مَيْتَةٌ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يُطَهِّرُهَا الْمَاءُ وَالْقَرَظُ " .
Al-Aliyah, daughter of Subay', said:I had some sheep at Uhud, and they began to die. I then entered upon Maymunah, wife of the Prophet (ﷺ), and mentioned it to her. Maymunah said to me: If you took their skins and made use of them, (that would be better for you). She asked: Is that lawful? She replied, Yes. Some people of the Quraysh passed by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) dragging a sheep of theirs as big as an ass. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to them: Would that you took its skin. They said: It died a natural death. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Water and leaves of the mimosa flava purify it
Narrated Abdullah ibn Ukaym: The letter of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was read out to us in the territory of Juhaynah when I was a young boy: Do not make use of the skin or sinew of an animal which died a natural death
Al-Hakam ibn Uyaynah said that he went along with some people to Abdullah ibn Ukaym, a man of Juhaynah. al-Hakam said:They entered and I sat at the door. Then they came out and told me that Abdullah ibn Ukaym had informed them that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had written to Juhaynah one month before his death: Do not make use of the skin or sinew of an animal which died a natural death. Abu Dawud said: Al-Nadr b. Shumail said: The skin is called ihab when it is not tanned and when it is tanned, it not called ihab but na,es shann and qirbah (tanned skin or leather)
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، عَنْ وَكِيعٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْمُعْتَمِرِ، عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَرْكَبُوا الْخَزَّ وَلاَ النِّمَارَ " . قَالَ وَكَانَ مُعَاوِيَةُ لاَ يُتَّهَمُ فِي الْحَدِيثِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَ لَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ قَالَ لَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ أَبُو الْمُعْتَمِرِ اسْمُهُ يَزِيدُ بْنُ طَهْمَانَ كَانَ يَنْزِلُ الْحِيرَةَ .
Narrated Mu'awiyah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Do not ride on silk stuff and panther skins. AbuSa'id said to us: AbuDawud said to us: The name of AbulMu'tamir is Yazid ibn Tahman. He lived in al-Hirah
Khalid said:Al-Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarib and a man of Banu Asad from the people of Qinnisrin went to Mu'awiyah ibn AbuSufyan. Mu'awiyah said to al-Miqdam: Do you know that al-Hasan ibn Ali has died? Al-Miqdam recited the Qur'anic verse "We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return." A man asked him: Do you think it a calamity? He replied: Why should I not consider it a calamity when it is a fact that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to take him on his lap, saying: This belongs to me and Husayn belongs to Ali? The man of Banu Asad said: (He was) a live coal which Allah has extinguished. Al-Miqdam said: Today I shall continue to make you angry and make you hear what you dislike. He then said: Mu'awiyah, if I speak the truth, declare me true, and if I tell a lie, declare me false. He said: Do so. He said: I adjure you by Allah, did you hear the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbidding use to wear gold? He replied: Yes. He said: I adjure you by Allah, do you know that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited the wearing of silk? He replied: Yes. He said: I adjure you by Allah, do you know that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited the wearing of the skins of beasts of prey and riding on them? He said: Yes. He said: I swear by Allah, I saw all this in your house, O Mu'awiyah. Mu'awiyah said: I know that I cannot be saved from you, O Miqdam. Khalid said: Mu'awiyah then ordered to give him what he did not order to give to his two companions, and gave a stipend of two hundred (dirhams) to his son. Al-Miqdam then divided it among his companions, and the man of Banu Asad did not give anything to anyone from the property he received. When Mu'awiyah was informed about it, he said: Al-Miqdam is a generous man; he has an open hand (for generosity). The man of Banu Asad withholds his things in a good manner
Narrated Jabir:We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) on a journey. He said: Make a general practice of wearing sandals, for a man keeps riding as long as he wears sandals
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ يَمْشِي أَحَدُكُمْ فِي النَّعْلِ الْوَاحِدَةِ لِيَنْتَعِلْهُمَا جَمِيعًا أَوْ لِيَخْلَعْهُمَا جَمِيعًا " .
Narrated Abu Hurairah:The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: None of you should walk with one sandal, but should wear a pair or should put off both of them
Sahih· Al-Albani
Sahih· Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid
Sahih· Shuaib Al Arnaut
Sahih Bukhari (5855) Sahih Muslim (2097)· Zubair Ali Zai
Narrated Jabir:The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: When the thong (of a sandal) of one of you is cut off, he should not walk with one sandal till he repairs his thongs. He should not walk with one shoe, or eat with his left hand
Narrated Abu Hurairah:The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: When one of you puts on sandals, he should put on his right one first, and when he takes them off, he should take off the left one first ; so that the right one should be the first to be put on and the last to be taken off
Sahih· Al-Albani
Sahih· Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid
Sahih· Shuaib Al Arnaut
Sahih Bukhari (5856) Sahih Muslim (2097)· Zubair Ali Zai
Narrated 'Aishah: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) liked to begin with the right side as far as possible in all conditions: in his purification, and combing. The narrator Muslim added: "in using tooth-stick," and he did not mention "in all his conditions". Abu Dawud said: Shu'bah transmitted it from Mu'adh, but did not mention "his tooth-stick
Sahih· Al-Albani
Sahih· Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid
Sahih· Shuaib Al Arnaut
Sahih Bukhari (168) Sahih Muslim (268)· Zubair Ali Zai
Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah :The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mentioned bedding and said: There should be bedding for a man, bedding for his wife, and third for a guest, but a fourth for the devil
Narrated Jabir ibn Samurah: When I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) in his house, I saw him sitting reclining on a pillow. The narrator Ibn al-Jarrah added: "on his left side". Abu Dawud said: Ishaq b. Mansur transmitted it from Isra'il, also mentioning the words "on his left side
Sa'id ibn Amr al-Qurashi quoting his father said:Ibn Umar (once) saw some fellow travellers of the Yemen. They had their saddles (on camels) of leather. He said: If anyone likes to see the fellow travellers most resembling to the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), he should see them
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ السَّرْحِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَتَّخَذْتُمْ أَنْمَاطًا " . قُلْتُ وَأَنَّى لَنَا الأَنْمَاطُ قَالَ " أَمَا إِنَّهَا سَتَكُونُ لَكُمْ أَنْمَاطٌ " .
Narrated Jabir:The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: Have you made cushions ? I said: How can we afford cushions ? He said: Soon you will have cushions
Sahih· Al-Albani
Sahih· Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid
Sahih Bukhari (5161) Sahih Muslim (2083)· Zubair Ali Zai
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رضى الله عنها قَالَتْ كَانَ وِسَادَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم - قَالَ ابْنُ مَنِيعٍ - الَّتِي يَنَامُ عَلَيْهَا بِاللَّيْلِ - ثُمَّ اتَّفَقَا - مِنْ أَدَمٍ حَشْوُهَا لِيفٌ .
Narrated 'Aishah:The pillow of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on which he slept at night (according to the version on Ibn Mani') was of leather stuffed with palm fibre (according to the agreed version)
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا فُضَيْلُ بْنُ غَزْوَانَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَتَى فَاطِمَةَ رضى الله عنها فَوَجَدَ عَلَى بَابِهَا سِتْرًا فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ قَالَ وَقَلَّمَا كَانَ يَدْخُلُ إِلاَّ بَدَأَ بِهَا فَجَاءَ عَلِيٌّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فَرَآهَا مُهْتَمَّةً فَقَالَ مَا لَكِ قَالَتْ جَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَىَّ فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ فَأَتَاهُ عَلِيٌّ رضى الله عنه فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ اشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهَا أَنَّكَ جِئْتَهَا فَلَمْ تَدْخُلْ عَلَيْهَا . قَالَ " وَمَا أَنَا وَالدُّنْيَا وَمَا أَنَا وَالرَّقْمَ " . فَذَهَبَ إِلَى فَاطِمَةَ فَأَخْبَرَهَا بِقَوْلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ قُلْ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا يَأْمُرُنِي بِهِ . قَالَ " قُلْ لَهَا فَلْتُرْسِلْ بِهِ إِلَى بَنِي فُلاَنٍ " .
Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to Fatimah and found a curtain hanging at her door, so he did not enter. Whenever he entered (the house), he would visit her first. Then Ali came and found that Fatimah was grieved. He asked: What is the matter with you? She replied: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to me but did not enter (the house). Ali then came to him and said: Messenger of Allah, Fatimah felt it keenly that you came to visit her but did not go in. He replied: What have I to do with this world? What have I to do with prints and figures (on the curtain)? He (Ali) then went to Fatimah and informed her of what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said. She said: Ask the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) what he me to do about it. He (the Prophet) said: Tell her that she must send it to so-and-so
The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted through a different chain of narrators by Ibn Fudail on his father's authority. This version has:"The curtain was embellished
حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُدْرِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُجَىٍّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، رضى الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تَدْخُلُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ صُورَةٌ وَلاَ كَلْبٌ وَلاَ جُنُبٌ " .
Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The angels do not enter a house which contains a picture, a dog, or a man who is impure by sexual defilement
Narrated Abu Talhat al-Ansari:I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say: The angels do not enter a house which contains a dog or a picture. Zaid b. Khalid al-Juhani said to Sa'id b. Yasar al-Ansari, the transmitter of this tradition: Go with me to 'Aishah, Mother of Faithful, so that we ask about it. So we went and said to her: Mother of Faithful, Abu Talhah has transmitted to us a tradition so-and-so. Have you heard the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioning that ? She replied: No but I tell what I saw him doing. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went on an expedition and I was waiting for his return. I got a carpet which I hung as a screen on a stick over the door. When he came I received him and said: Peace be upon you, Messenger of Allah, His mercy and His blessings. Praise to be Allah Who gave you dominance and respect. Then he looked at the house and saw the carpet; and he did not respond to me at all. I found (signs of) disapproval in his face. He then came to the carpet and tore it down. He then said: Allah has not commanded us to clothe stones and clay out of the sustenance He has given us. She said: I then cut it to pieces and made two pillows out of it and stuffed them with palm fibre, and he did not disapprove of it to me
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، بِإِسْنَادِهِ مِثْلَهُ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا أُمَّهْ إِنَّ هَذَا حَدَّثَنِي أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ وَقَالَ فِيهِ سَعِيدُ بْنُ يَسَارٍ مَوْلَى بَنِي النَّجَّارِ .
The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Suhail through a different chain of narrators like the previous one. This version has:I said: Mother, he has told me that the Prophet (ﷺ) has said: He also said the words ; Sa'id b. yasir client of Banu al-Najjar
Narrated Abu Talhah:The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: The angels do not enter the house which contains a picture. Busr (b. Sa'id), the transmitter of this tradition, said: Zaid (b. Khalid al-Juhani) then fell it and we paid him a sick visit. There was a curtain with a picture hanging at his door. I then said to 'Ubaid Allah al-Khawlani', the step-son of Maimunah, wife of the Prophet (ﷺ): Did Zaid not tell us about pictures on the first day ? 'Ubaid Allah said: Did you not hear him when he said: Except a figure on a garment
Sahih· Al-Albani
Sahih· Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid
Sahih Bukhari (5958) Sahih Muslim (2106)· Zubair Ali Zai
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ، أَنَّ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْكَرِيمِ، حَدَّثَهُمْ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَقِيلٍ - عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ وَهْبِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَمَرَ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ - رضى الله عنه - زَمَنَ الْفَتْحِ وَهُوَ بِالْبَطْحَاءِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ الْكَعْبَةَ فَيَمْحُوَ كُلَّ صُورَةٍ فِيهَا فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْهَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى مُحِيَتْ كُلُّ صُورَةٍ فِيهَا .
Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah: The Prophet (ﷺ) ordered Umar ibn al-Khattab who was in al-Batha' at the time of the conquest (of Makkah) to visit the Ka'bah and obliterate all images in it. The Prophet (ﷺ) did not enter it until all the images were obliterated
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ السَّبَّاقِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَتْنِي مَيْمُونَةُ، زَوْجُ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ كَانَ وَعَدَنِي أَنْ يَلْقَانِيَ اللَّيْلَةَ فَلَمْ يَلْقَنِي " . ثُمَّ وَقَعَ فِي نَفْسِهِ جَرْوُ كَلْبٍ تَحْتَ بِسَاطٍ لَنَا فَأَمَرَ بِهِ فَأُخْرِجَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِهِ مَاءً فَنَضَحَ بِهِ مَكَانَهُ فَلَمَّا لَقِيَهُ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ إِنَّا لاَ نَدْخُلُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ كَلْبٌ وَلاَ صُورَةٌ فَأَصْبَحَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَمَرَ بِقَتْلِ الْكِلاَبِ حَتَّى إِنَّهُ لَيَأْمُرُ بِقَتْلِ كَلْبِ الْحَائِطِ الصَّغِيرِ وَيَتْرُكُ كَلْبَ الْحَائِطِ الْكَبِيرِ .
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:Maimunah, wife of the Prophet (ﷺ) reported him as saying: Gabriel (peace be upon him) promised to visit me last night, but he did not visit me. Then it occurred to him that there was a pup under his bed. So he ordered and it was turned out. He then got water in his hand and sprinkled it on its place. When Gabriel (ﷺ) met him, he said: We do not enter a house which contains a dog or a picture. When the morning came, the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered to kill dogs. He ordered to kill the dog which guarded a small orchard, and left the dog which guarded the big orchard
Narrated AbuHurayrah: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Gabriel (ﷺ) came to me and said: I came to you last night and was prevented from entering simply because there were images at the door, for there was a decorated curtain with images on it in the house, and there was a dog in the house. So order the head of the image which is in the house to be cut off so that it resembles the form of a tree; order the curtain to be cut up and made into two cushions spread out on which people may tread; and order the dog to be turned out. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then did so. The dog belonged to al-Hasan or al-Husayn and was under their couch. So he ordered it to be turned out. Abu Dawud said: Al-Nadd means a thing on which clothes are placed like a couch
Sahih· Al-Albani
Sahih· Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid
Hasan Sahih· Shuaib Al Arnaut
Sahih· Zubair Ali Zai
Text from the open hadith-api dataset. Hadith numbering follows that edition and can differ slightly from a printed copy — check the Arabic against a trusted mushaf of hadith before relying on a reference.