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Fatwa CenterRuling on setting up Nuclear power stations
Question
asalamualikum,does islam support setting up of nuclear power plants(considering its environmental hazards)?please throw light on 30:41 of the holy Quran.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Among the established rules in Islamic legislation is that Islam came to bring and complete the advantages [in a given matter], and remove or reduce the disadvantages. Thus, any beneficial matter is legislated (permitted) in Islam and any harmful matter is forbidden. Sometimes, the benefits [in a given matter] may be so great that they become preponderant, although they may result in some disadvantages, to a lesser degree. It may also be that the disadvantages [in a given matter] are great and preponderant, and so, they are given consideration over the lesser benefits.
Nuclear power stations have many advantages, among which is the production of energy from these stations. According to experts, the most important of these energy sources is the nuclear fission of radioactive elements like uranium, which gives thermal energy that is equivalent to that produced from the combustion of three million metric tons of coal or 12 million barrels of oil. In contrast, there are disadvantages too, the most notable of which is that uranium continues to emit dangerous radiations for a long time after being used as fuel for nuclear power. The most serious harm of this is that exposure to radioactive elements causes cancer and their disposal is a problem, since the radioactive wastes remain in the environment.
Therefore, the experts in this field must be consulted in order to weigh the pros and cons and determine whether its use is either permitted or prohibited.
As regards the verse in Chapter Ar-Room in which Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He [i.e. Allaah] may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].}[Quran 30:41]; then its meaning is a warning of the danger of sins and the adverse effects that they can have on the land and sea by disrupting the benefits (or advantages) of each. In the land, it includes all that can happen from environmental pollution, like the destruction of crops and fruits, the death of animals and the spread of pests, etc. In the sea, it is the disappearance of its riches, like the death of marine life and the depletion of its mineral wealth, such as pearls, coral etc.
Indeed, it is from the Mercy of Allaah The Almighty to His slaves that He makes such an affliction as a warning for His slaves to repent to Him and to seek his Forgiveness. If they do so, Allaah The Almighty will take away this affliction from them.
For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 129858, 85072 and 47818.
Allaah Knows best.
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