[1] The term “desert thorn” is how I have chosen to translate « القتاد ». Edward William Lane identified this botanically as the Tragacanth tree (also known as Astragalus gummifer) ,while Qur'anic Botanic Garden (QBG) [sic] has identified it specifically as Astragalus spinosus. However, my purpose here is not to engage in botanical classification. Lane identifies « مِنْ دُونِهِ خَرْطُ القَتَادِ », which literally means “before him lies the stripping of desert thorns,” as a famous Arabic proverb that figuratively conveys a grievously difficult obstacle or task. I have chosen to translate the Arabic word in a straightforward manner as “the desert thorn,” to maintain both the lucidity and the vividness of the Imam’s expression. For the definition of « القتاد » by Lane, please see here: https://www.laneslexicon.com/word/%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AF. For the QBG identification: https://qbg.org.qa/plants/ar-desert-thorn/.