Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Muhammad bin Sirin narrates from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “(If a person wants to say in Arabic that I have cultivated the crop) he should not say «زَرَعتُ», rather he should say «حرثت».” Then Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Have you not heard the statement of Allah Almighty: «أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا تَحْرُثُونَ ٭ أَأَنْتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَّارِعُونَ» “Tell Me about the seed that you sow in the ground. Is it you who make it grow, or are We the Grower?” (56-Al-Waqi’ah: 63, 64)