The Quran highlights the wind's fertilizing role primarily in Surah Al-Hijr (15:22), stating, "And We have sent the fertilizing winds (lawāqiḥ), and sent down water from the sky, and given you drink from it...". While classical scholars interpreted "fertilizing winds" as impregnating clouds for rain, modern understanding reveals its dual meaning: winds carrying pollen (anemophily) for plant pollination, a concept unknown at revelation, showcasing the Quran's depth as a sign of divine power and creation.
Key Quranic Verse:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
وَأَرْسَلْنَا ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ لَوَٰقِحَ فَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ فَأَسْقَيْنَـٰكُمُوهُ وَمَآ أَنتُمْ لَهُۥ بِخَـٰزِنِينَ ٢٢
We send fertilizing winds, and bring down rain from the sky for you to drink. It is not you who hold its reserves.
[Surah Al-Hijr (15: Ayat22]
Translation: "And We have sent the fertilizing winds, and sent down water from the sky, and given you drink from it. And you are not its retainers".
Interpretations & Significance:
Classical View (Water Cycle):
The primary interpretation by scholars like Ibn Kathir and At-Tabari was that winds (riyāḥ) carry moisture, causing clouds to become heavy and precipitate rain (fecundating clouds).
Modern Scientific Insight (Pollination):
The Arabic word lawāqiḥ (fertilizing/impregnating) also applies to plant reproduction, where winds carry pollen from male to female flowers, enabling fertilization (anemophily).
Dual Miracle:
This dual meaning—fertilizing clouds and pollinating plants—is seen as a linguistic and scientific miracle, demonstrating the Quran's multifaceted wisdom known across different eras.
Sign for Reflection (Ayah):
The verse serves as a sign (ayah) for humanity to reflect on Allah's intricate design in nature, leading to faith and gratitude for divine provision through unseen means.
Related Verses (Context of Rain & Growth):
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ ۖ لَّكُم مِّنْهُ شَرَابٌۭ وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌۭ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَ ١٠يُنۢبِتُ لَكُم بِهِ ٱلزَّرْعَ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلنَّخِيلَ وَٱلْأَعْنَـٰبَ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ١١
He is the One Who sends down rain from the sky, from which you drink and by which plants grow for your cattle to graze. With it, He produces for you ˹various˺ crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and every type of fruit. Surely in this is a sign for those who reflect.
[Surah An-Nahl/16: :ayat 10-11]
Describes how rain from the sky brings forth crops, olives, dates, grapes, and fruits, linking water, wind, and plant life.
Surah Ar-Rum (30:48): Mentions how Allah sends winds that gather clouds, bringing rain to revive dead lands, producing fruits.
Wind pollination:
Role of wind.
In the Quran, wind is related to pollination. Skeptics claim that whoever wrote the Quran made a mistake; insects are responsible for pollination, not wind. Toda,y scientists confirm that wind plays a vital role in pollination.
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male part of a plant to the female part. Pollinating agents are insects, animals, water, and wind. Some plant species even rely solely on wind for pollination.
"Anemophily
Anemophily or wind pollination is a form of pollination whereby pollen is distributed by wind. Almost all gymnosperms are anemophilous, as are many plants in the order Poales, including grasses, sedges, and rushes. Other common anemophilous plants are oaks, sweet chestnuts, alders, and members of the family Juglandaceae (hickory or walnut family)."
Wind plays a major role in pollination. This was known recently; however, this was portrayed in the Quran 1400 years ago.:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
وَأَرْسَلْنَا ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ لَوَٰقِحَ فَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ فَأَسْقَيْنَـٰكُمُوهُ وَمَآ أَنتُمْ لَهُۥ بِخَـٰزِنِينَ ٢٢
We send fertilizing winds, and bring down rain from the sky for you to drink. It is not you who hold its reserves.
[Surah Al-Hijr (15: Ayat22]
And We sent the seeding winds, then caused the rain to descend from the sky, and gave you water to drink, though you are not the guardians of its stores.
٢٢ وَأَرْسَلْنَا الرِّيَاحَ لَوَاقِحَ فَأَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَسْقَيْنَاكُمُوهُ وَمَا أَنْتُمْ لَهُ بِخَازِنِينَ
Today we know that wind plays a major role in pollination. But scientists just discovered that strong winds hinder pollination.
"Effects of wind on pollinator activity
Honeybees are the most recognized insect pollinators and are valued because of the wide variety of crops they pollinate. Honeybees can forage as far away as 3-5 miles from their colony, although most foragers tend to stay within a few hundred yards of the colony if it is in or adjacent to a crop with adequate food rewards (nectar and pollen).
Honeybees do not forage in rain or in wind stronger than 12 mph. A honeybee normally flies at a speed of 18 mph empty and 15 mph carrying a load (e.g. pollen, nectar and water). However, when agitated and empty, honeybees can fly 20-21 mph.
Effect on pollen fruits
Strong winds may injure flowers and cause loss of pollen. High temperatures, wind, and low humidity may cause desiccation of the style and reduce the receptive period of the blossom for pollination. If the style dries too quickly (before the pollen tubes have a chance to grow down to the ovary) fertilization can be affected, even if pollination has occurred.
For fruit with more delicate flowers, such as prunes, a few days of dry winds can destroy crop potential. Winds reduce cross-pollination in prunes, and in some cases apricots, when the desiccated pollen clumps on the dehisced anthers make it more difficult for bees to collect."
Energy Central. Effects of wind speed on foraging behavior of insect pollinators, 2020
Strong winds hinder pollination. This was known recently, however this was portrayed in the Quran 1400 years before it was discovered.;
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
وَفِى عَادٍ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلرِّيحَ ٱلْعَقِيمَ ٤١
And in ˹the story of˺ ’Âd ˹was another lesson,˺ when We sent against them the devastating wind.1
[ Quran 51:41 ]
And in Aad. We unleashed against them the infertile wind.
نَا عَلَيْهِمُ الرِّيحَ الْعَقِيمَ
"Akeem عَقِيمَ" means cannot have offsprings. Aad had strong winds. Today we know why the wind of Aad was infertile; because strong winds hinder pollination. No mistakes in the Quran.
How could an illiterate man who lived 1400 years ago have known about pollination?
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