Many non Muslims try to find scientific correlation of events and working of the universe from the Qur'an - an analysis never applied to earlier three Divine Scriptures, that is Psalms, Torah and the Gospel. Though Qur'an answers many such queries, Qur'an is not a book of science or fiction. In fact the Quran is a book of guidance for the entire mankind. It is the ultimate source of guidance for all aspects of life, providing direction on spiritual, moral, social, and legal matters. The Quran itself emphasizes its role as guidance for humanity in several verses.
Here we would only refer to the very first verse on guidance as mentioned in the second verse of Surah Al-Baqarah (2:2):
"This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah." This verse explicitly states that the Quran is a book of guidance for those who are mindful of Allah, often referred to as the "muttaqin" or the God-conscious.
We would write a comprehensive post on guidance as mentioned in Qur'an and many a hadith in a while. But for now we share a Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in which rain is used metaphorically to explain the concept of guidance.
This Hadith is mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī (Book 3 Knowledge / كتاب العلم / Chapter 20: The superiority of a person who learns (Islam, becomes a religious scholar) and then teaches it to others / باب فَضْلِ مَنْ عَلِمَ وَعَلَّمَ ) as Hadith 79, given herein under:
Narrated by Abu Musa:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. (And) another portion of it was hard and held the rain water and Allah benefited the people with it and they utilized it for drinking, making their animals drink from it and for irrigation of the land for cultivation. (And) a portion of it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation (then that land gave no benefits). The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allah's religion and gets benefit (from the knowledge) which Allah has revealed through me (the Prophets and learns and then teaches others. The last example is that of a person who does not care for it and does not take Allah's guidance revealed through me (He is like that barren land.)"
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ بُرَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَثَلُ مَا بَعَثَنِي اللَّهُ بِهِ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْعِلْمِ كَمَثَلِ الْغَيْثِ الْكَثِيرِ أَصَابَ أَرْضًا، فَكَانَ مِنْهَا نَقِيَّةٌ قَبِلَتِ الْمَاءَ، فَأَنْبَتَتِ الْكَلأَ وَالْعُشْبَ الْكَثِيرَ، وَكَانَتْ مِنْهَا أَجَادِبُ أَمْسَكَتِ الْمَاءَ، فَنَفَعَ اللَّهُ بِهَا النَّاسَ، فَشَرِبُوا وَسَقَوْا وَزَرَعُوا، وَأَصَابَتْ مِنْهَا طَائِفَةً أُخْرَى، إِنَّمَا هِيَ قِيعَانٌ لاَ تُمْسِكُ مَاءً، وَلاَ تُنْبِتُ كَلأً، فَذَلِكَ مَثَلُ مَنْ فَقِهَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ وَنَفَعَهُ مَا بَعَثَنِي اللَّهُ بِهِ، فَعَلِمَ وَعَلَّمَ، وَمَثَلُ مَنْ لَمْ يَرْفَعْ بِذَلِكَ رَأْسًا، وَلَمْ يَقْبَلْ هُدَى اللَّهِ الَّذِي أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ ". قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ وَكَانَ مِنْهَا طَائِفَةٌ قَيَّلَتِ الْمَاءَ. قَاعٌ يَعْلُوهُ الْمَاءُ، وَالصَّفْصَفُ الْمُسْتَوِي مِنَ الأَرْضِ.
Explanation of the Hadith:
- Guidance as a Blessing (As mentioned in Qur'an): The Quran frequently likens divine guidance to rain that brings life to barren land. For instance, in Surah Al-Hadid (57:17): "Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. We have made clear to you the signs; perhaps you will understand." Just as rain revives dead land, divine guidance revives the hearts and souls of people.
- Different Receptions of Guidance: The hadith describes three types of land, which symbolize three types of people:
- Fertile Soil: Represents those who absorb the guidance, understand it, and act upon it, bringing benefit to themselves and others. This aligns with the description in Surah Az-Zumar (39:18):
- "Who listen to speech and follow the best of it. Those are the ones Allah has guided, and those are people of understanding."
- Hard Land: Represents those who hold onto the knowledge and convey it to others, even if they might not fully benefit from it themselves. This can be related to Surah Al-Baqarah (2:269):
- "He grants wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. But none will remember except those of understanding."
- Barren Land: Represents those who neither accept nor benefit from the guidance. This is reflected in Surah Al-A'raf (7:179):
- "And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. Those are like livestock; rather, they are more astray. It is they who are the heedless."
- The Role of the Prophet (ﷺ): The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was sent as a mercy and a source of guidance to all of humanity.
- Surah Al-Anbiya (21:107) states: "And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds."
- The hadith emphasizes the varying effects of his message on different people, illustrating the idea found in Surah Al-Kahf (18:29): "And say, 'The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve.' Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds [their] faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place."
The hadith from Sahih Bukhari uses the metaphor of rain and different types of soil to explain how people respond differently to divine guidance. This metaphor is consistent with various Quranic themes, where guidance is depicted as a life-giving force, and people's varied receptivity to it is acknowledged. Those who understand and act upon the guidance are likened to fertile soil that brings forth vegetation, benefiting themselves and others. In contrast, those who reject the guidance are compared to barren land that remains unproductive.
So let us benefit from guidance from Qur'an and many a hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which further explain the concept of guidance. Remember Qur'an and Hadiths are to interpreted with wisdom and not with a tainted mindset. It is only then we would start to know what is Siraat e Mustaqeem and true guidance.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Oft asked Queries from Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more Hadiths on the subject
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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