87—Ubayd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn Ali informed us; Ahmad ibn Ali ibn al-Ala' informed us; Yusuf ibn Musa narrated to us; Abu Usamah narrated to us, from Burayd, from Abu Burdah, from Abu Musa, from the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, who said:

“Indeed, the likeness of the guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is that of rain falling upon land. Part of it is good soil: it absorbs the water and produces abundant pasture and herbage. Another part is barren ground that retains the water, by which Allah benefits people: they drink from it, give their animals water, and graze them. And it falls upon another part, flat barren land that neither retains water nor produces pasture.

“That is the likeness of one who gains understanding of Allah’s religion and benefits from that with which Allah has sent me: he learns and teaches. And it is the likeness of one who pays no heed to it and does not accept the guidance of Allah with which I was sent.”

Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.