Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
Cloud seeding does not mean that humans have become capable of creating rain from nothing, nor does it conflict with the belief that Allah is the One who sends down the rain. Rather, it is an attempt to make use of causes and properties that Allah has placed in clouds and the atmosphere.
In this process, humans do not create clouds, water, wind, or temperature. They work with clouds that already exist and try to influence them through certain methods so that the likelihood of rainfall may increase.
Cloud seeding is a technique in which certain substances are introduced into suitable clouds in an attempt to help water droplets or ice crystals form and grow until they become heavy enough to fall as rain or snow.
Among the substances used in some cloud-seeding techniques are silver iodide, dry ice, and certain salts. These materials may be released into clouds by aircraft or other means.
However, the success of these operations depends on the presence of suitable clouds and specific atmospheric conditions. A person cannot simply take a clear sky with no clouds and produce rain whenever he wishes.
Allah says:
“Have you considered the water that you drink? Is it you who bring it down from the clouds, or are We the One who sends it down?”
[Al-Waqi‘ah: 68–69]
Humans do not create water, clouds, or the natural laws that lead to the condensation of water vapor and the falling of rain. They only attempt to make use of the laws that Allah created.
This is similar to many other things people do. A farmer plows the land, plants a seed, and waters it, but he does not create the life within it.
Allah says:
“Have you considered what you sow? Is it you who make it grow, or are We the Grower?”
[Al-Waqi‘ah: 63–64]
The meaning of this verse does not prevent people from plowing and farming. Rather, it explains that the actual growth and the properties Allah placed within seeds are from Allah’s creation.
The same applies to cloud seeding: humans take available means, but the final result is not under their absolute control.
Allah says:
“Indeed, Allah alone has knowledge of the Hour, and He sends down the rain.”
[Luqman: 34]
There is no contradiction between this verse and the use of cloud-seeding technology, because a human being’s ability to interact with some causes does not mean that he independently controls rainfall.
Humans first depend on the existence of clouds, suitable atmospheric conditions, humidity, and temperature, all of which are created and determined by Allah.
This is similar to a doctor using medicine. Allah is the One who heals, yet a doctor may give a patient medicine that serves as a means of healing.
We do not say that using medicine contradicts the belief that Allah is the Healer. Likewise, trying to seed clouds does not contradict the belief that Allah is the One who sends down rain.
No. Cloud seeding is not a guaranteed method by which people can make rain fall whenever they want.
Experts state that its success depends on the type and composition of the clouds and the surrounding atmospheric conditions. In some cases, it may result in a limited increase in precipitation, while in other cases it may not succeed.
For this reason, describing the technique as “making rain” can be misleading. It is more accurate to describe it as an attempt to stimulate or increase precipitation from clouds that already exist.
The basic principle concerning beneficial sciences and technologies is permissibility. If a particular technology is shown to provide a legitimate benefit without causing greater harm, there is no objection to using it in principle.
However, two matters should be taken into account:
The first is studying the possible harms of the materials used and their effects on humans, the environment, water, and soil.
The second is ensuring that the expected benefit is real and not merely commercial promotion or an unproven claim.
If it is established that a certain substance or method causes serious harm, then the general Islamic legal principle applies:
“There should be neither harm nor reciprocating harm.”
In one respect, yes: both involve making use of causes and laws created by Allah, rather than humans creating independently.
In artificial insemination, doctors do not create the egg, sperm, or embryo from nothing. They use existing biological means.
Likewise, in cloud seeding, scientists do not create water or clouds. They use methods that may assist a natural process when the necessary conditions are present.
This does not challenge Allah’s creation or power, because human beings themselves, along with their knowledge, tools, and abilities, are all part of Allah’s creation.
Islam does not command Muslims to abandon practical means. Rather, it combines taking appropriate means with reliance upon Allah.
A Muslim farms, seeks provision, and uses medical treatment. Likewise, when people need rain, Islam also prescribes the prayer for rain and supplication.
There is no contradiction between using permissible scientific means and asking Allah for rain, because such means are only causes, while the decree and occurrence of the results belong to Allah.
In summary: Cloud seeding is not the creation of rain from nothing, nor is it an independent power to bring down rain. It is the use of material means in clouds that already exist, and it may succeed or fail depending on the conditions. Therefore, in principle, it does not conflict with the belief that Allah created the water, clouds, and winds and that He determines when rain falls. It may be used if its benefit is established and its harms are reasonably avoided, while maintaining reliance upon Allah and believing that all causes and results occur by His will.
And Allah knows best.