Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Juwayriya ibn Mus-hir says: We were returning with Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) from the battle against the Khawarij, until we reached the land of Babil and the time of the Asr prayer arrived. The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) dismounted in that land and the troops also dismounted, and he (peace be upon him) said: "O people, this land is cursed and under the wrath of Allah, and throughout the ages it has, until now, been afflicted three times [and according to another report, twice] by divine punishment, or its people have been subjected to punishment, and right now it is awaiting the third punishment, and this land is one of the overturned lands."