He, the Almighty, has described both the evil and the good with a single name, which is "the tree," to indicate to the Gnostic that reliance is [placed] upon these worldly named things and botanical trees.

It has been reported in the book al-Sāfī, with its chain to al-Kāfī, that our Master al-Ṣādiq was asked about the tree in this verse, and he said: "The Messenger of God is its root, the Commander of the Faithful is its branch, the Imams from his progeny are its twigs, the knowledge of the Imams is its fruit, and their believing followers (the Shia) are its leaves." He said: "By God, a believer is born and a leaf sprouts upon it, and a believer dies and a leaf falls from it."

And from the book al-Sāfī also, on the authority of [Imam] al-Baqir, regarding what was mentioned about the Evil Tree, he said:

"Indeed, this is a parable of the Umayyads; they do not mention God in a gathering nor in a mosque, and their deeds do not ascend to heaven except for a few of them... etc."

And He Almighty said in Surat al-Mā’idah:

{Say, "Not equal are the evil and the good, although the abundance of the evil might impress you." So fear God, O people of understanding, that you may succeed.} (Al-Mā’idah: 100).

So contemplate, O seeker, the meaning of these verses with the eye of insight (‘ayn al-baṣīrah) and be among the thankful.