23. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from Jamil ibn Salih from Sadir who has said the following:

“Once a man asked Abu ‘Abdillah about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘ . They said, “Lord, make the distances of our journeys longer.” They did injustice to themselves. . . .’ (34:19) The Imam said, ‘They were a people who lived in towns that were attached to each other, and they could see each other. There were canals with flowing water and large properties. They did not appreciate the favors of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and changed the manners in their souls, the comfort that Allah had granted them, thus, Allah changed the blessings they enjoyed. Allah does not change the conditions of any people until they themselves change their manners in their souls. Allah sent upon them a huge flood that drowned their towns, destroyed their homes and properties. Allah changed their gardens into two gardens that had only bitter fruits, tamarisk and a few lotus trees and then Allah said, “This was how We recompensed them for their ungratefulness and thus do We recompense the ungrateful ones.’” (34:17)