The third tract of land is a level, low-lying plain: it supports no vegetation and retains no water. However much rain might fall upon it, it derives no benefit at all.

Such is the likeness of a heart that will accept neither knowledge nor fiqh (1), allowing no insight to take root within it (2). It resembles a barren wasteland that produces no crop and stores no water, or a pauper who owns nothing and would not know how to keep wealth even if he had it.

The first category, then, is a learned scholar and teacher, a caller to Allah upon clear insight; he is one of the heirs of the Messengers.

The second is a memoriser who faithfully conveys what he has heard; he passes it on to others (3), and it is they who trade with that capital and make it grow.

The third is neither of the two: he would not accept Allah’s guidance, nor even lift his head (4) to heed it.

In this way, the hadith (5) embraces all classes of people with respect to the Prophetic summons and their stations: two groups are fortunate, while one is wretched (6).