Hadith: "The guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me are like abundant rain that fell on some ground*. A part of it was good, absorbing the water, so it brought forth abundant herbage and pasture; and there were some bare patches in it that retained the water by which Allah gave benefit to people who drank, watered, and grew plants. But some of it fell on another flat portion that could not retain the water or produce herbage. That is like the one who becomes versed in Allah's religion and receives benefit from the message entrusted to me by Allah, so he knows for himself and teaches others; and it is like the one who does not show regard to that and does not accept Allah's guidance with which I have been sent."

عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى رَضيَ اللهُ عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:
«مَثَلُ مَا بَعَثَنِي اللَّهُ بِهِ مِنَ الهُدَى وَالعِلْمِ كَمَثَلِ الغَيْثِ الكَثِيرِ أَصَابَ أَرْضًا، فَكَانَ مِنْهَا نَقِيَّةٌ، قَبِلَتِ المَاءَ، فَأَنْبَتَتِ الكَلَأَ وَالعُشْبَ الكَثِيرَ، وَكَانَتْ مِنْهَا أَجَادِبُ، أَمْسَكَتِ المَاءَ، فَنَفَعَ اللَّهُ بِهَا النَّاسَ، فَشَرِبُوا وَسَقَوْا وَزَرَعُوا، وَأَصَابَتْ مِنْهَا طَائِفَةً أُخْرَى، إِنَّمَا هِيَ قِيعَانٌ لاَ تُمْسِكُ مَاءً وَلاَ تُنْبِتُ كَلَأً، فَذَلِكَ مَثَلُ مَنْ فَقُهَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ وَنَفَعَهُ مَا بَعَثَنِي اللَّهُ بِهِ، فَعَلِمَ وَعَلَّمَ، وَمَثَلُ مَنْ لَمْ يَرْفَعْ بِذَلِكَ رَأْسًا، وَلَمْ يَقْبَلْ هُدَى اللَّهِ الَّذِي أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ».
[صحيح] - [متفق عليه] - [صحيح البخاري: 79]

Abu Mūsa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"The guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me are like abundant rain that fell on some ground. A part of it was good, absorbing the water, so it brought forth abundant herbage and pasture; and there were some bare patches in it that retained the water by which Allah gave benefit to people who drank, watered, and grew plants. But some of it fell on another flat portion that could not retain the water or produce herbage. That is like the one who becomes versed in Allah's religion and receives benefit from the message entrusted to me by Allah, so he knows for himself and teaches others; and it is like the one who does not show regard to that and does not accept Allah's guidance with which I have been sent."
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim] - [Sahih Bukhari - 79]

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), expressing amazement, likened the one who benefits from what he brought—of guidance and the path that leads to the ultimate goal—and from religious knowledge to a land upon which abundant rain falls. This land, in turn, is of three types: The first type: a pure and fertile land that absorbs the rainwater, causing abundant vegetation—both fresh and dry—to grow, from which people benefit. The second type: land that holds water but does not grow vegetation. It retains the water, allowing people to benefit from it—drinking from it, watering their animals, and irrigating their crops. And the third type: a flat, smooth land that neither retains water nor grows any vegetation. It neither benefits itself from the rainwater, nor does it benefit others. Likewise are those who hear what the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was sent with—of knowledge and guidance. The first type: the scholar who understands the religion of Allah, acts upon his knowledge, and teaches it to others. He is like the fertile land that absorbs the water, benefiting itself and causing the growth of the plantation, and thereby benefiting others. The second type: the one who memorizes and preserves knowledge but does not have a deep understanding or the ability to derive rulings. He collects knowledge and spends his time doing so, but he either does not act upon its supererogatory aspects or does not comprehend what he has gathered. He is like a tool for others— benefiting them—and is similar to land that holds water, from which people benefit. The third type: the one who hears knowledge but neither preserves it, nor acts upon it, nor conveys it to others. He is like a barren or smooth land that has no vegetation, neither absorbing water nor allowing others to benefit from it.

Benefits from the Hadith

1. A clarification of the virtue of seeking knowledge and teaching it, and a warning against turning away from both.
2. Using parables and analogies helps clarify meanings for people.
3. Al-Qurtubi said: Just as rain revives dead land, religious knowledge revives the dead heart. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) likened those who hear this knowledge to the various types of land upon which the rain falls.
4. People vary in their ranks in terms of their reception of religious knowledge.