I read in the news that in the UAE they are using technology to cause artificial rain, is this the way of Dajjal?
Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
The permissibility of this type of action will be based on Sharia rulings, not on a perceived similarity to what Dajjal will do.
فَيَأْمُرُ السَّمَاءَ فَتُمْطِرُ، وَالْأَرْضَ فَتُنْبِتُ
Nawwas bin Sam`an reported that Allah’s Messenger said, ‘Then he will command the sky and it will shed its rain. And he will command the earth and it will bring forth crops.’ (Muslim, 2937 – 110).
It is established in the above Sahih Hadith and other narrations that Dajjal will command the sky to rain and it will rain. The nature of this is differed over amongst the classical scholars. Some believed it is genuinely miraculous and others believed it is not.
وَهَذَا كُلُّهُ لَيْسَ بِمَخْرَقَةٍ، بَلْ لَهُ حَقِيقَةٌ امْتَحَنَ اللَّهُ بِهَا عِبَادَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ. (البداية والنهاية).
And this is not all fabrication, rather there is a reality to it, with which Allah (Most High) will test His slaves at that time. (Ibn Katheer, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah).
Imam Ibn Katheer said the above, after mentioning that Imam al-Tahawi, Ibn Hazam and others have said that the miracles of Dajjal are not real, rather fabrications. He disagreed as did Qadi Iyad, they believed these are actual miracles that Dajjal will be given to test the people.
This discussion and difference of opinion is relevant to the question because the opinion of Imam Ibn Katheer and others would completely negate the concept of using technology to produce artificial rain being Dajjalic in any way. As his will be a miracle and this is the use of normal means (Asbab Dahihrah).
Even if one were to say it will not be a miracle for Dajjal, it still does not mean it is prohibited to produce artificial rain. On the contrary, there are many things Dajjal will do that are already common in our society and we do not consider them prohibited. Dajjal will have the ability to travel very fast and we have technology that allows us to do so too. However, we do not find scholars giving Fatwa that taking a flight is Dajjalic and therefore prohibited. This is just one example, there are many others besides.
The issue of producing artificial rain should be judged on its own merits and harms. We know that engaging with nature in such a way can have significant knock-on effects, so these should be analysed by experts and provided to legal scholars (Fuqahaa). Then legal rulings of prohibition or permission can be discussed, based on the teachings of Quran and Hadith.
And Allah (Most High) Knows Best.
– Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (19.07.2021)
See also:
Are all Hadith in Bukhari and Muslim Sahih?
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