Sunan ad-Darimi — Hadith #56168

Abu Nu`aym told us, Fitr told us, on the authority of Abu Ishaq, on the authority of Al-Harith, on the authority of Ali, may God be pleased with him, who said: “Among the people are those who are given faith.” The Qur’an is not given, and among them are those who are given the Qur’an and faith is not given, and among them are those who are given the Qur’an and faith, and among them are those who are not given. Neither the Qur’an nor faith. Then he gave them an example, saying: As for him who has been given faith and has not been given the Qur’an, his likeness is like a sweet-tasting date. A fragrance to it, and as for the parable of one who was given the Qur’an but was not given faith, then the parable of the myrtle tree has a pleasant fragrance, but a bitter taste. He who has been given the Qur’an and the faith, then his likeness is like a citron, with a pleasant scent and a sweet taste. As for one who has not been given the Qur’an nor the faith, his likeness is like a “Coconut, bitter in taste, has no scent.”