Nassir H. Sabah
According to modern meteorology, hail is produced from huge clouds that are like mountains in that they can be up to 20 km high and can weigh as much as 1000 tons.
That clouds could resemble mountains in height and weight was unheard of at the time the Quran was revealed in the the 7th century CE. Nor were weather conditions associated with different types of clouds.
Yet, Verse 43, Chapter 24, of the Quran states: “…and He sends down hail from mountains of clouds in the sky…” …وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن جِبَالٍ فِيهَا مِنۢ بَرَدٍ… The verse clearly associates hail production with mountainous clouds.
Heavy clouds (سَحَابٌ ثِقَال) are referred to in two other verses, Verse 57, Chapter 7, states: “He it is Who sends the winds as glad tidings ahead of His Mercy, so that when they bear heavy clouds, We may drive them toward a land that is dead, and send down water upon it, and thereby bring forth every kind of fruit…”
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُرْسِلُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ بُشْرًۢا بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَقَلَّتْ سَحَابًا ثِقَالًا سُقْنَـٰهُ لِبَلَدٍ مَّيِّتٍ فَأَنزَلْنَا بِهِ ٱلْمَآءَ فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦ مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ…
Verse 12, Chapter 13, states: “He it is Who shows you lightning,arousing fear and hope, and Who produces heavy-laden clouds.”
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُرِيكُمُ ٱلْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنشِئُ ٱلسَّحَابَ ٱلثِّقَالَ
The heaviness of clouds is quite nonintuitive, as clouds seem to float in air, so one would not think of them as heavy objects.
No human in the 7th century CE could have entertained the heaviness of clouds or the production of hail in mountainous clouds. So, how can the Quran be of other than divine origin?
