Testing the earth to know what is inside it using modern devices and machines
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Fatwa number ( 8979 ):
Q: Given the deep-rooted and widespread phenomenon of groundwater exploration and digging wells by primitive means, relying on what they call the "murmazim" or "musmi'"—that is, the one who reveals the existence of a well in a specific location—if this murmazim or musmi' finds an aware environment, he does not claim knowledge of the water courses in the earth's depths, but rather states that this is from the knowledge of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). However, if he finds an ignorant environment, he informs them of the water courses and their directions in the earth's depths, as well as the colors of the earth layers that the well digger will encounter... and so on, of the unseen matters that cannot be attributed to experience and practice. Often, people are tried by the statements of these individuals, and what they predict comes true in most cases. Indeed, I do not know among the general public anyone who does not rely on the statements of these murmazims or musmis and the like. Since this belief is firmly established in the hearts of the general public, and even in the hearts of many of their intellectuals, and although these actions have been denied based on what is mentioned in books of creed regarding fortune-telling and divination, many believe that the prohibition does not include such murmazims or musmis, as they are called...
Therefore, we hope that you will offer advice and guidance, clarify the ruling on such matters, the ruling on one who dies holding this belief, and the methods by which one can dispense with these musmis or murmazims and the like.
A: If testing the earth to know what is inside it is done using modern devices and machines based on experiments conducted on the earth's layers and experience gained from these experiments, then this is not fortune-telling nor a claim of knowledge of the unseen. Rather, it is knowing the effects by their causes, such as a doctor determining the type of disease using modern medical devices. Such a thing is not denied, because it follows the cosmic laws of Allah, whereby Allah links effects to causes and the inner aspects of things to their outward appearances. Accordingly, there is no danger to the creed from this. However, if informing about what is in the earth's depths is based on guesswork not founded on cosmic causes and scientific experiments, then it is conjecture and deception, and it may happen to coincide with reality. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.