وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَاهُ بَيْنَهُمْ لِيَذَّكَّرُوا
And indeed We have distributed it among them in order that they may remember,
means, `We cause rain to fall on this land and not on that, and We cause the clouds to pass over one land and go to another, where We cause sufficient rain to fall so that its people have plenty, but not one drop falls on the first land.'
There is a reason and great wisdom behind this.
Ibn Abbas and Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with them said;
"One year does not have more rain than another, but Allah distributes the rain as He wills. Then he recited this Ayah;
وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَاهُ بَيْنَهُمْ لِيَذَّكَّرُوا فَأَبَى أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ إِلاَّ كُفُورًا
And indeed We have distributed it (rain or water) amongst them in order that they may remember the grace of Allah, but most men refuse (out of) ingratitude."
meaning, so that they may be reminded, when Allah brings the dead earth back to life, that He is able to bring the dead and dry bones back to life, or that those from whom rain is withheld are suffering this because of some sin they have committed, so that they may give it up.
فَأَبَى أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ إِلاَّ كُفُورًا
but most men refuse (out of) ingratitude.
Ikrimah said,
"This refers to those who say that rain comes because of such and such a star."
This view of Ikrimah is similar to the authentic Hadith recorded in Sahih Muslim;
one day after a night's rain, the Messenger of Allah said to his Companions;
أَتَدْرُونَ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ
Do you know what your Lord says?
They said;"Allah and His Messenger know best."
He said;
قَالَ
أَصْبَحَ مِنْ عِبَادِي مُوْمِنٌ بِي وَكَافِرٌ فَأَمَّا مَنْ قَالَ مُطِرْنَا بِفَضْلِ اللهِ وَرَحْمَتِهِ فَذَاكَ مُوْمِنٌ بِي كَافِرٌ بِالْكَوْكَبِ وَأَمَّا مَنْ قَالَ مُطِرْنَا بِنَوْءِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَذَاكَ كَافِرٌ بِي مُوْمِنٌ بِالْكَوْكَب
He says;
"This morning some of My servants became believers in Me, and some became disbelievers. As for the one who said, `We have been given rain by the mercy and grace of Allah,' he is a believer in Me and a disbeliever in the stars. As for the one who said, `We have been given rain by such and such a star,' he is a disbeliever in Me and a believer in the stars."