Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question:
Assalamu ‘alaykum.
The angel Mika’il is known as the giver of rain, which waters the land and helps to provide food for people. However, cloud seeding makes artificial rain, so doesn’t it contradict this narrative that the Angel Mika’il is the giver of rain? The atheists are denying angel Mika’il claiming because of this, Islam is not true, etc. I’m very depressed because of this. Moreover, I didn’t find any reference that these duties are given to Mika’il.
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
Allah Controls Everything
One of the points of the Islamic creed is that Allah Most High is the one who creates and controls everything. What we see are causes and their apparent effects. In reality, Allah creates what we see as the cause, such as a fire. He also creates the effect when the ’cause’ meets certain conditions, such as the fire coming into contact with something flammable.
We’re so used to seeing things in a particular way that this point is not clear to some – especially those who see only the material world. But then we have events that cannot be explained through conventional means, such as the Prophet Ibrahim (peace and blessings be on him) not being burned by the fire, or large quantities of water coming out of the hands of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Such matters are an undeniable reality, and there are many other examples of them. So, Allah creates the causes and their effects. These causes are not needed, and in Paradise, for example, someone can just wish for something, and it will be there without a cause, by the power of Allah.
Allah Creates the Rain
Rain is also the direct creation of Allah. There are many verses of the Qur’an that directly attribute the descent of rain to Allah:
“Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky, then the earth becomes green? Surely Allah is Most Subtle, All-Aware. “(Qur’an, 22:63)
“He is the One Who sends down the rain after people have given up hope, spreading out His mercy. He is the Guardian, the Praiseworthy. “(Qur’an, 42:28)
So, as with all things, Allah is the creator of rain. Everyone and everything else in the process – artificial or otherwise, physical or metaphysical – is a created element. The created elements are there due to the wisdom of Allah. He created us in a world of means, a place of causes and effects.
Don’t worry about the comments of the atheists. Their understanding is developing, whereas God has revealed the truth to those who want to benefit. Even on a material level, the universe is beyond the understanding of humans.
Matter seems to be solid, liquid, gas, or plasma – but on an atomic level, it is energy and basic forces. How can this be? On a quantum level, how can two particles light-years apart be ‘entangled’ and affect each other?
Mika’il (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him)
Many wisdoms are present in the way the universe has been created. One of them is the manifestation of power. For example, seeing either angels carrying the throne – which is not like a physical chair but is far larger than our universe – on the Day of Judgement will give a greater appreciation of Allah’s power than simply being told He is omnipotent.
Another wisdom is to show the specialness and honor of certain beings in the sight of Allah. The angel Mika’il (peace and blessings be on him) has been given a particular role related to rain, just as Jibril (peace and blessings on him) has been given roles, such as conveying revelation, punishing the rebellious people in this life, and informing the inhabitants of the skies of Allah’s love for particular people.
Mika’il is one of the means that Allah has created for the rain to descend, just as the elements within cloud seeing are. If he wanted no rain to come down, cloud seeding from the beginning of time to its end wouldn’t yield any results. He is an honored servant of Allah and part of the process through which Allah creates rain.
His role was mentioned in a narration found in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad, where the Jews of Medina were asking who brings revelation to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). When he said Jibril, they refused to believe as he was the angel the brought punishments down. They said, “Had it been Mika’il, who brings down mercy, and [causes] vegetation and rain [we would have believed.] “(Ahmad)
There is no need to feel depressed about any of this. Root yourself in sound knowledge, and don’t actively seek out what atheists are trying to confuse people with. That’s the best approach.
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
