Yunus bin Tabian narrates that once he and some other persons were in the company of Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as). The Imam (as) observed, “Allah has made us the masters of the treasures of the earth.” Then he hit the ground with his foot and gold emerged out of it.
We said, “O master! When you own such treasures, why your Shi’as are in abject penury!”
The Imam (as) said, “The wealth of this world is transitory! We don’t prefer transitory gains for our Shi’as. The wealth of the Hereafter is Permanent, that is in store for our friends!”
It is narrated that one day Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as) was seated in the Koofa Mosque with his companions They asked him, “How is that more wealth and riches have been bestowed by Allah on your foes than your friends?”
Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as) replied, “Do you think that we aver the worldly riches, and that Allah is not bestownig them on us! “Saying this, he picked up a handful of pebbles from the ground. They saw that all the pebbles turned into precious stones.
Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as) then said, “If we wish, the entire surface of the earth will turn into jewels But we are not fond of worldly riches!” Saying this, he threw all the precious stones on the ground and they again turned into pebbles.