Artificial rainfall – facts and scholarly opinions
Question

                What is the Islamic ruling on so-called rainmaking or cloud seeding? 

Is it valid to compare it to test-tube babies or artificial insemination?
Praise be to Allah.
	Firstly:

	Definition of 
	rainmaking and how it is done:

	In al-Mawsoo‘ah 
	al-‘Arabiyyah al-‘Aalamiyyah it says:

	Rainmaking is a 
	process by which rain is made to fall from the clouds by a purely scientific 
	method conducted on cloud formations in the sky. It is also called cloud 
	seeding. People use this method to increase the amount of rainfall in a 
	specific area, or to produce water for irrigation or for the generation of 
	energy in hydro-electrical stations. It is also used to prevent heavy 
	rainfall in agricultural areas, to prevent destruction of crops. In some 
	instances, experts are able to reduce the severity of storms by causing the 
	cloud to be formed before reaching those areas. A number of US scientists, 
	working independently, developed methods of rainmaking during the 1940s.

	There are three 
	ways of rainmaking:

	The ways of 
	making rain: rain occurs when water vapour in the clouds forms ice crystals 
	or droplets of water that are heavy enough to fall to earth. In some 
	instances, it is possible to increase the probability of rainfall by adding 
	some substances known as seeding agents to the clouds. This method of 
	seeding works best in a cloud that has a better chance of producing rain. 
	The material used as a seeding agent depends on the temperature of the 
	cloud.

	At temperatures 
	above zero degrees Celsius, the main seeding agent used is a liquid composed 
	of ammonium nitrate or urea. The particles of this agent cause water vapour 
	to form around them. This seeding agent is sprayed on the cloud from below 
	by airplanes.

	When the ice 
	crystals form, they fall to earth in the form of small icy pellets. If they 
	pass through an area that is above zero degrees Celsius, they melt and form 
	rain. 

	The temperature 
	of dry ice, which is solid carbon dioxide, is approximately minus eighty 
	degrees Celsius. When the pellets of dry ice are dropped onto the clouds 
	from a plane, they reduce the temperature of the water in the cloud, and 
	when the temperature is reduced, the water forms ice crystals. Crystals of 
	silver iodide resemble crystals of ice, which makes the water, which is 
	extremely cold, form ice crystals around it. Devices such as flares and 
	generators are used to produce and distribute water vapour containing 
	crystals of silver iodide. This vapour is produced by burning silver iodide 
	with other materials, and the vapour is distributed by means of a plane; it 
	is also possible to use generators to distribute it from the ground.

	Cloud seeding 
	caused a great deal of controversy and discussion. Scientists have not been 
	able to prove how effective it is in all situations. In addition to that, 
	some people believe that increasing rainfall in certain areas may lead to a 
	shortage of rain in other areas. End quote.

	Secondly:

	Comments of some 
	environmental and meteorological experts:

	1.
	
	The 
	environmental writer As‘ad Siraaj Abu Razeezah said: 
	

	In 2003 CE, the 
	National Academy of Science in the USA stated that up until now there is no 
	definitive evidence or authentic scientific proof to confirm that this 
	technology is effective. 

	The American 
	Meteorological Society stated that there are indications that it is possible 
	to increase the amount of rainfall by ten percent after cloud seeding or 
	rainmaking.

	Dr William 
	Cotton, of the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State 
	University says: We have not seen – except in very rare cases – any 
	definitive proof to confirm that rainmaking produces results.

	The Commonwealth 
	Institute of Science and Industry stated in a report: It is impossible to 
	end drought by creating rain artificially, and it confirmed that the success 
	of some experiments was dependent on the type of cloud targeted, and that 
	most types of clouds cannot be made to produce rain through artificial 
	means. End quote.

	2.
	
	He – As‘ad 
	Siraaj – also said: 

	The 
	environmental impact of this technology needs to be researched and 
	understood from all angles, because the material used in cloud seeding is 
	toxic – according to the classification of international organisations. The 
	Office of Environment, Health and Safety at the University of California, 
	Berkeley, classifies silver iodide as a dangerous chemical, not organic, 
	substance. It is not soluble in water and it is toxic to humans and fish.

	The US 
	Environmental Protection Agency classifies silver iodide as a dangerous and 
	toxic substance.

	Numerous medical 
	studies on the effects of silver iodide on human health have proven that it 
	may enter the body through the digestive and respiratory systems, or via 
	absorption through the skin, and it may cause various sicknesses, beginning 
	with digestive upsets or discolouration of the skin (argyria, in which the 
	skin turns blue or bluish-grey) in cases of mild poisoning, but may lead to 
	enlargement of the heart and extreme respiratory problems in high doses. End 
	quote.

	Saudi newspaper 
	al-Watan (Wednesday 23 Jumaada al-Oola 1429 AH/28 May 2008 CE, issue no. 
	2798, 8th year).

	3.
	
	Shaykh ‘Abd 
	al-Majeed az-Zandaani quoted Dr Muhammad Jamaal ad-Deen al-Fandi - professor 
	of meteorology in the Faculty of Science at Cairo University as saying:

	The natural 
	conditions that lead to the formation of clouds and rainfall cannot be 
	reproduced artificially by man, nor does he even have any way of controlling 
	it. The issue of artificial rainfall is not in fact artificial rain, because 
	rain cannot be made by man in a laboratory; rather it is a kind of rain of 
	which man tries to hasten the fall. As for producing rain from passing 
	clouds, there were only a few experiments which have not yet been proven to 
	be successful. Even if they were to become successful, it is still essential 
	for nature to provide the same conditions as needed for natural rain in 
	order for it to be possible to produce rain artificially; in other words, 
	the role of meteorologists does not go beyond simply lighting a spark. End 
	quote.

	Tawheed 
	al-Khaaliq 
	by Shaykh ‘Abd al-Majeed az-Zandaani (p. 223)

	Thirdly:

	Fatwas of some 
	of the scholars concerning this issue:

	1.
	
	Shaykh ‘Atiyyah 
	Saqar (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked:

	Some scientists 
	have been able to produce artificial rain. Is this contrary to the words of 
	Allah, may He be exalted (interpretation of the meaning): “He 
	sends down the rain” 
	[Luqmaan 31:34]?
	

	He replied:

	We all know that 
	the condensation of water vapour in the clouds, or in the atmosphere in 
	general, may occur because of several factors, which leads to the fall of 
	rain or the formation of dew, and this cannot be interpreted as something 
	else playing a part in thedivine actions of which Allah, may He be exalted, 
	says, (interpretation of the meaning): “He 
	sends down the rain” 
	[Luqmaan 31:34], 
	because the formation of clouds and the atmosphere being filled with water 
	vapour to such a large extent is something that Allah causes to happen 
	through the means and factors that He has created, for He is the Creator of 
	the vapour and of the heat of the sun, and it is He Who controls the 
	temperature of the atmosphere and the wind, which He causes to drive the 
	clouds. By His might and power, He is able to control all of that, and thus 
	make it not produce any results, as He, may He be glorified, says elsewhere 
	(interpretation of the meaning):

	“See 
	you not that Allah drives the clouds gently, then joins them together, then 
	makes them into a heap of layers, and you see the rain comes forth from 
	between them. And He sends down from the sky hail (like) mountains, (or 
	there are in the heaven mountains of hail from where He sends down hail), 
	and strike therewith whom He will, and averts it from whom He wills”

	[an-Noor 24:43].

	The processes 
	through which some people try to make rain fall from the clouds are similar 
	– to some extent – to other processes, such as the process of separating 
	salt from water in order to make the water fresh and palatable, which is 
	based on evaporation and condensation, as happens in the alembic or 
	distilling flask that is used in the extraction of fragrances. This action 
	of theirs is not interfering with Allah’s creation; rather it is using 
	material that Allah has created, for no one can create heat or cold water 
	through any means or material other than what Allah has created in this 
	universe.

	Moreover, their 
	attempts are to no avail, because the countries of many of these scientists 
	are suffering drought and lack of water, and destruction of crops and 
	livestock. If they had the power to control the rain, water and wind – as 
	Allah controls them – so that they could save themselves from drought, they 
	would have done so and would not have kept quiet. But the power of Allah 
	supersedes their power and the will of Allah supersedes their will. 
	Similarly, treating a sick person with medicine made from material created 
	by Allah does not justify attributing the real source of healing to anyone 
	other than Allah.

	In addition to 
	being incapable of saving themselves from drought, they are also unable to 
	ward off whatever strikes them of storms, thunderbolts, floods, earthquakes 
	and volcanic eruptions that strike the land of people who regard themselves 
	as civilised and advanced, and take pride in their sciences and inventions. 
	All of that increases us in faith and belief in the words of Allah, may He 
	be exalted (interpretation of the meaning):

	“O 
	mankind! it is you who stand in need of Allah, but Allah is Rich (Free of 
	all wants and needs), Worthy of all praise.

	If He will, He could destroy 
	you and bring about a new creation.

	And that is not hard for 
	Allah”

	[Faatir 
	35:15-17].

	End quote.

	2.
	
	The scholars of 
	the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas said:

	So-called 
	artificial rainfall is not proven – as far as we know – to be as they say it 
	is. Rather there is some exaggeration concerning the matter, but this issue 
	– praise be to Allah – should not cause any confusion, because Allah has 
	caused them to learn that rain happens by His decree when various factors 
	come together and interact. Then they tried to bring about these factors, 
	and they may or may not achieve some results. If that does happen, it is on 
	a very small scale, not like the rain that Allah, may He be exalted, sends 
	down from the clouds. We know – as others know – that the countries which 
	use what is known as artificial rainfall do not benefit from it. If Allah, 
	may He be exalted, did not send down rain from the sky, they would 
	experience drought and famine. End quote.

	Shaykh ‘Abd 
	al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz, Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh, Shaykh Saalih 
	al-Fazaan, Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd

	Fataawa 
	al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah, 
	vol. 2, 1/241

	Conclusion:

	1.
	
	So-called 
	artificial rainfall was first invented in 1946 CE. If they had succeeded in 
	doing what they claim, the entire earth have turned green and no country 
	would suffer drought. But it did not go beyond this stage of 
	experimentation.

	2.
	
	Even what they 
	claim to have achieved, they would not have been able to achieve without the 
	presence of clouds which are created by Allah, may He be exalted, and 
	without the potentials that Allah, may He be exalted, has instilled in the 
	clouds of producing rain, and – by the same token – other conditions that 
	must be met in order for the cloud to produce rain. 
	

	3.
	
	Whatever 
	scientific knowledge is attained in the East or the West is only attained by 
	the help of Allah and His inspiration. No one will ever have power greater 
	than that of Allah or knowledge without Allah granting it to him.

	4.
	
	As for the water 
	that they claim to bring down by means of rainmaking, if it is proven 
	definitively that they did that, it could not happen except by Allah’s 
	leave. If Allah so willed, He could make their planes crash or cause their 
	cannon to backfire on them, and He could cause the cloud to reach wherever 
	He wanted, or cause the water in that cloud not to come down. If the 
	non-Muslim West does not understand that, then it should not be absent from 
	the minds of Muslims even for one moment.

	This is like 
	planting crops – or artificial insemination, as the questioner mentioned. 
	Allah, may He be exalted, tells us that He is the One Who causes crops to 
	grow and fruits to form and mature. What some farmers do of spraying 
	chemical or natural substances that cause quicker growth does not mean that 
	it is contrary to what is said in the Qur’an. Rather it is Allah, may He be 
	exalted, Who has enabled them to do that and taught them how to do it. There 
	may be some harm (in that material), such as when they use chemical 
	substances, or the materials may be beneficial, such as when they use 
	natural substances.

	5.
	
	The water that 
	Allah, may He be exalted, has guaranteed to send down from the clouds is 
	ghayth (rain). This is how it is described in the verse which speaks of 
	the five unseen matters, (“He 
	sends down the rain [ghayth]” 
	[Luqmaan 31:34]). 
	This is the rain that Allah, may He be exalted, sends as help to the land 
	and people, from which streams and oases are formed, by means of which He 
	brings forth crops and causes the earth to withhold whatever He wills 
	beneath the ground. As for what some claim to be able to bring forth from 
	the clouds by means of rainmaking, it is not the water that gives life; 
	rather it is – as some of them call it – imaginary water. In fact it is 
	harmful water, as explained above.

	6.
	
	Muslim states 
	should not be influenced by the claims and advertising of commercial 
	companies and forged research. Rather they should think of the real 
	situation in the countries from which these companies come, for if what 
	these companies claim was true, they could have transformed their own 
	deserts into gardens.

	7.
	
	The Muslims 
	should not neglect the prayer for rain (salaat al-istisqaa’), for it 
	is real rainmaking. It is proven in the saheeh Sunnah that the Prophet 
	(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed and asked his Lord for 
	rain when there was no cloud, great or small, in the sky, then Allah, may He 
	be exalted, brought clouds laden with rain (ghayth). Thus He helped (aghaatha) 
	the land and the people. Whatever these people claim, they cannot undertake 
	the process of rainmaking unless there is a cloud in the first place! So 
	which of the two most deserves to be called rainmaking, and which of the two 
	groups is more true in speech?

	And Allah knows 
	best.