أَخْبَرَنَا صَدَقَةُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيل، عَنْ الشَّعْبِيِّ، قَالَ: "لَوْ أَنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ كَانُوا عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَنَزَلَتْ عَامَّةُ الْقُرْآنِ يَسْأَلُونَكَ، يَسْأَلُونَكَ".
Imam Sha’bi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If these people of opinion had been present in the time of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then it would generally be found in the Holy Qur’an: «يسألونك، يسألونك» (i.e., verses would have been revealed in this form).