Surah Al A'raf Tafseer

وَالْبَلَدُ الطَّيِّبُ يَخْرُجُ نَبَاتُهُ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِ

The vegetation of a good land comes forth (easily) by the permission of its Lord;

meaning, the good land produces its vegetation rapidly and proficiently.

Allah said in another Ayah (about Maryam, mother of `Isa, peace be upon him);

وَأَنبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا

He made her grow in a good manner. (3:37)

The Ayah continues,

وَالَّذِي خَبُثَ لَا يَخْرُجُ إِلاَّ نَكِدًا

and that which is bad, brings forth nothing but with difficulty.

Mujahid, and others such as As-Sibakh, etc, also said this.

كَذَلِكَ نُصَرِّفُ الايَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَشْكُرُونَ

Thus do We explain variously the Ayat for a people who give thanks.

Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Musa said that the Messenger of Allah said,

مَثَلُ مَا بَعَثَنِي اللهُ بِهِ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ وَالْهُدَى كَمَثَلِ الْغَيْثِ الْكَثِيرِ أَصَابَ أَرْضًا فَكَانَتْ مِنْهَا نَقِيَّةٌ قَبِلَتِ الْمَاءَ فَأَنْبَتَتِ الْكَلََ وَالْعُشْبَ الْكَثِيرَ

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.

وَكَانَتْ مِنْهَا أَجَادِبُ أَمْسَكَتِ الْمَاءَ فَنَفَعَ اللهُ بِهَا النَّاسَ فَشَرِبُوا وَسَقَوْا وَزَرَعُوا

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.

وَأَصَابَ مِنْهَا طَايِفَةً أُخْرَى إِنَّمَا هِيَ قِيعَانٌ لَاأ تُمْسِكُ مَاءً وَلَاأ تُنْبِتُ كَلَأً

And a portion of it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation.

فَذَلِكَ مَثَلُ مَنْ فَقُهَ فِي دِينِ اللهِ وَنَفَعَهُ مَا بَعَثَنِي اللهُ بِهِ فَعَلِمَ وَعَلَّمَ وَمَثَلُ مَنْ لَمْ يَرْفَعْ بِذَلِكَ رَأْسًا وَلَمْ يَقْبَلْ هُدَى اللهِ الَّذِي أُرْسِلْتُ بِه

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.