سورة الأعراف

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): This saying of Allah the Mighty and Majestic وَ الْبَلَدُ الطَّیِّبُ یَخْرُجُ نَبَاتُهُ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِ [And the good land — its vegetation comes forth by the permission of its Lord] is a parable and likeness for the Imams (peace be upon them), that their knowledge comes forth by the permission of Allah; وَ الَّذِی خَبُثَ [and that which is bad] — and [this] is a parable for their enemies — لاَ یَخْرُجُ [does not come forth] — their knowledge — إِلاَّ نَکِدًا [except scantily], that is, murky and corrupt.

Imam Husayn (peace be upon him): Mahasin al-Barqi said: Amr ibn al-As said to Imam Husayn (peace be upon him): "Why is your beard fuller than ours?" [The Imam] said: وَ الْبَلَدُ الطَّیِّبُ یَخْرُجُ نَباتُهُ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِ وَ الَّذِی خَبُثَ لا یَخْرُجُ إِلَّا نَکِداً [And the good land — its vegetation comes forth by the permission of its Lord, and that which is bad does not come forth except scantily]. Muawiya turned to Amr ibn al-As and said: "By the right I have upon you, be silent! For this is Husayn, the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him)!"