وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً واحِدَةً فَقَالَ كَانَ النَّاسُ قَبْلَ نُوحٍ أُمَّةَ ضَلَالٍ فَبَدَا لِلَّهِ فَبَعَثَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَ لَيْسَ كَمَا يَقُولُونَ لَمْ يَزَلْ وَ كَذَبُوا يَفْرُقُ اللَّهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ مَا كَانَ مِنْ شِدَّةٍ أَوْ رَخَاءٍ أَوْ مَطَرٍ بِقَدْرِ مَا يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يُقَدِّرَ إِلَى مِثْلِهَا مِنْ قَابِلٍ
40. and by this chain, from Abaan, from Yaqoub Bin Shuayb, who has said: I asked Abu Abdullah  about the Statement of Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic: “[2:213] Mankind were one community”, so he  said: ‘Before the era of Noah  the people were a misguided nation. So Allah (azwj) Initiated by sending the Messengers  and it is not as they are saying it to be that it never ceased, and they are lying for Allah (azwj) Differentiated in the Night of Power (Laylat Al-Qadr) what was from the hardships, or ease, or rain in accordance with what Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic so Desired until the similar like it to come (Next Laylat Al-Qadr)’.