23. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Ghalib from his father from Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib who has said the following:

“Once I asked Ali ibn al-Husayn about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Were it not that all people would become one nation, . . .’ - and the Imam said, ‘It (all people) stands for the followers of Muhammad all of whom might turn to disbelief, - ‘ ... We would have made for the unbelievers in the Beneficent, ceilings out of silver. . . (43:33) Had Allah done so to the followers of Muhammad the believers might feel very depressed and they would not establish any marital relations with and inheritance for those turning to disbelief (thus, they might become extinct).’” Note: To understand better, read the whole verse: ‘Were it not that all people would become one nation, We would have made for the unbelievers in the Beneficent, ceilings out of silver. . . (43:33 Had all unbelievers been given so much wealth, the common Muslims might have abandoned their religion considering the prosperity of the unbelievers as a sign of Allah’s happiness with them. In fact, according to Allah, worldly things are of no significance at all.