What is the ruling on the statement that the word "مطر" (rain) in the Holy Quran was used exclusively in the sense of torment, and that the correct words to denote water descending from the sky to irrigate the earth are "الماء" (water) or "الغيث" (rainfall/succour)?
Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 2026
The term "rain" (مطر) in the Holy Quran is often used in the context of punishment, as stated by Ibn Uyaynah, though scholars made an exception for the verse: "If you are afflicted by harm from rain" (Quran 4:102).
However, in the Arabic language and the Prophetic , it has been used in contexts of both mercy and punishment, and there is no difference between "amṭarat" (caused to rain) and "maṭarat" (it rained) in terms of usage.
Therefore, there is no harm in using it in ordinary speech, and it is not disliked.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/5981
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 5981
- Imported
- Translation status
- Source text, unreviewed
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy