 wasil ibn ata said they never come together except that they cause harm and they never separate except that they benefit. it was said to him we know the harm of coming together but what is the benefit of separation? he said the claysmith returns to his claying the weaver to his weaving the sailor to his sailing the goldsmith to his crafting and every person to his craft. all of that is a convenience for the muslims and a help to the needy.
وقال واصل بن عطاء ما اجتمعوا إلا ضروا، ولا تفرقوا إلا نفعوا فقيل له قد عرفنا مضرة الاجتماع، فما منفعة الافتراق؟ قال يرجع الطيان إلى تطيينه، والحائك إلى حياكته، والملاح إلى ملاحته، والصائغ إلى صياغته، وكل إنسان إلى صناعته. وكل ذلك مرفق للمسلمين، ومعونة للمحتاجين.