Before I refer to the Quran or explain the scientific background to this topic, let me ask you what you think about the weight of clouds. Do you think they are light or heavy? Some of you, including me, may have thought that they were light because it just seems so. They float in the air. But the truth might shock you. They are a lot heavier than they appear.
Weight of a Cloud
A cloud is composed of tiny water droplets and ice crystals that form when water vapor condenses in the atmosphere. As these tiny particles collide with one another and other objects, they begin to float upwards. The reason they float upwards is called buoyancy, which is the upward force that acts on an object in a fluid (like air).
Cloud’s typical volume is around 1km3, and its density is around 1.003kg per m3, which is about 0.4 per cent lower than that of the surrounding air. That’s why clouds float. So after doing some maths, we find that a typical cloud weighs around a million tonnes pounds or around 450 thousand kilogramms.
Let´s see what the Quran says about Heavy Clouds
He is the One Who sends the winds ushering in His mercy. When they bear heavy clouds, We drive them to a lifeless land and then cause rain to fall, producing every type of fruit. Similarly, We will bring the dead to life, so perhaps you will be mindful.
It is He who shows you lightning, [causing] fear and aspiration, and generates the heavy clouds.
The Qur’an comes from a time and especially a place with very little to no general scientific knowledge. It would be very tempting to assume that the clouds were light objects in the air. In fact, people still assume so. But Allah, the Creator of those same clouds, would not make such a mistake. These verses are proof that the Holy Qur’an is God’s divine word.
