Indonesian Clerics: Weather Modification Technology Aligns With Islamic Faith

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has affirmed that weather modification technology, used to induce rainfall, does not contradict Islamic faith. This clarification comes as the Indonesian government increasingly utilizes such technology to combat drought and mitigate the effects of heavy rainfall.

According to KH Miftahul Huda, Secretary of the MUI Fatwa Commission, weather modification is considered a permissible 'ikhtiar' or effort within Islamic jurisprudence, provided it is undertaken for the benefit of the community. This includes efforts to reduce flood risks or assist regions suffering from severe drought.

Huda referenced verses from the Quran (Surah Al-Waqi'ah, verses 68-70) which challenge humanity to consider the water they drink, questioning whether they brought it down from the clouds or if it was sent by God. The verses also state that God could make the water undrinkable, urging gratitude. Huda explained that this passage serves to remind people of God's omnipotence and to foster gratitude, thereby strengthening faith.

"In the verse, we can also understand that one form of our faith is to believe that Allah is All-Powerful, one sign of His power is that rainwater is not salty," Huda told Republika. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) have been actively employing weather modification techniques. As of November 2, 2025, during the second phase of operations in Central Java, they had used 31 tons of NaCl and 14 tons of CaO to manage weather conditions in Semarang and its surrounding areas, aiming to mitigate wet hydrometeorological disasters.

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In the verse, we can also understand that one form of our faith is to believe that Allah is All-Powerful, one sign of His power is that rainwater is not salty.