Example of the Good Land and the Bad Land

“And the good land – its vegetation emerges by permission of its Lord; but that which is bad – nothing emerges except sparsely, with difficulty. Thus do We diversify the signs for a people who are grateful.” (Surah Al-A’raf:58)

When rain falls on pure land that is not contaminated, vegetation grows by Allah’s Permission. This example is like that of a believer. When a believer receives revelation, he accepts it, learns it, benefits from it, grows with it, and benefits others around them. 

When rain falls on polluted, unclean land, nothing beneficial emerges from it. This is similar to the disbeliever. When revelation comes to a disbeliever, they are not affected by it. They are heedless and produce no benefit. 

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, 

“The parable of the guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is that of an abundant rain falling on a land, 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, 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. The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allah’s religion and gets benefit which Allah sent me with, by learning and teaching others. The last example is that of a person who does not care for it and does not accept the guidance Allah sent me with.” (Al Bukhari)

Ways to Jannah 

By which Allāh guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path (Surah Ma’idah:16)

The Quran enlightens a person by making the person more focused on the Hereafter. Allah guides people through the Quran. Through the Quran, a person knows what he has to do in order to make Allah happy. As he reads the Quran, it shakes him and reminds him. The person develops the desire to become a better believer. With the desire to improve, Allah SWT gives that person the ability to act upon the knowledge. 

Such people are ones who pursue Allah’s Pleasure. Allah SWT guides them to ways of security and safety. Ultimate peace and security can only be found in Paradise, not this world. 

Allah guides them to ways that will allow them to enter Jannah.  Notice how the plural form (ways) is used, not the singular form. There is not just one way to Jannah. There are many righteous deeds that lead one to Jannah. Jannah has many gates. People who fast will enter Paradise through one gate. People who give sadqah will enter through the gate of sadqah. Others will be invited through the gate of Salah.  

Every person has a unique set of talents. One person may be good at giving dawah. Another person may be excellent in teaching the Quran. Some are excellent in fasting. Others generously give sadqah. There is always one act a person excels in. Through that act and striving, he is keen to attain Allah’s pleasure.

But a person can only do this through the Quran. Once he reads the Quran, he will get ideas.

Allah brings such a person out from darkness into light. He will discover opportunities to do good. He will see more and more chances to perform righteous deeds. 

The Quran takes a person out from kufr to Islam. From ignorance to knowledge. It takes a person out of bidah to Sunnah. It takes a person to the Straight Path.