Is the practice of "melting lead and pouring it into cold water over the head" from Islam?

Sources

• ✓ 13:17 · Ar-Ra'd

  13:17 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌۢ بِقَدَرِهَا فَٱحْتَمَلَ ٱلسَّيْلُ زَبَدًۭا رَّابِيًۭا ۚ وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِى ٱلنَّارِ ٱبْتِغَآءَ حِلْيَةٍ أَوْ مَتَٰعٍۢ زَبَدٌۭ مِّثْلُهُۥ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَٱلْبَٰطِلَ ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَآءًۭ ۖ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ

  He sendeth down water from the sky, so that valleys flow according to their measure, and the flood beareth (on its surface) swelling foam - from that which they smelt in the fire in order to make ornaments and tools riseth a foam like unto it - thus Allah coineth (the similitude of) the true and the false. Then, as for the foam, it passeth away as scum upon the banks, while, as for that which is of use to mankind, it remaineth in the earth. Thus Allah coineth the similitudes.

• ✓ 22:21 · Al-Hajj

  22:21 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  وَلَهُم مَّقَٰمِعُ مِنْ حَدِيدٍۢ

  And for them are hooked rods of iron.

• ✓ Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 13:17

  Sunni

  Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 13:17

  This noble verse contains two parables illustrating the truth and its permanence, contrasted with falsehood and its fading away. Allah says: "He sends down water from the sky," meaning rain, "and the valleys flow by their measure," indicating that each valley receives as much water as it can contain. Some valleys are large, able to hold a great deal of water, while others are small, taking only a small quantity. This refers to the hearts of people and their differences; some hearts can encompass much knowledge, while others cannot hold much and become constricted. The verse continues, "and the flood carries foam, scum rising on it." This foam on the flowing water is a metaphor for what comes upon the water's surface—something light and useless. The second parable is introduced with, "and from what they burn in the fire," referring to the metals like gold and silver, and what is cast in the fire to be melted, such as copper and iron, aiming to make ornaments or other useful items. The impurities or dross float up as foam or scum on the molten metal, which is then discarded. Allah thus sets forth the example of the truth and falsehood: when they meet, falsehood does not remain stable nor endure, just as the foam does not remain with the water or with the gold and other metals smelted in the fire. The foam disappears and is swept away. Therefore, Allah says, "As for the foam, it passes away as worthless," meaning it has no benefit; it disperses and vanishes into the riverbanks, sticking to trees, or blown away by the wind. Similarly, the impurities in gold, silver, copper, and iron vanish and leave no useful residue; what remains and benefits people is the water or the purified metal. Hence, Allah states, "And as for that which benefits the people, it remains in the earth," just as the beneficial water nourishes the land, and purified metals serve useful purposes. This verse's parables emphasize that the truth remains firm and enduring, while falsehood fades and disappears. As Allah says elsewhere, "These parables We present to the people, but only those who have knowledge comprehend them" (29:43). Some early scholars said that when they encountered a parable in the Qur'an they did not understand, they wept for themselves, for Allah declares that only those with knowledge truly grasp them. Ali ibn Abi Talhah reported from Ibn Abbas that the phrase "He sends down water from the sky, and the valleys flow by their measure" is a parable about hearts varying in certainty and doubt. Doubt is not helpful when combined with actions, but certainty benefits its possessors. This corresponds to the verse, "As for the foam, it passes away as worthless," referring to doubt, "and as for that which benefits the people, it remains in the earth," meaning certainty. Just like ornaments placed in the fire have their pure part extracted and the dross left behind, so too does Allah accept certainty and reject doubt. Al-Awfi said that Ibn Abbas explained that the stream carries foam and branches from the valley. The metals like gold, silver, copper, and iron are melted in fire to make jewelry and tools. Copper and iron have impurities, which Allah likens to the foam on water. The beneficial metals remain for people’s use, while the earth benefits from the water that nourishes it. This illustrates how good deeds remain with their owners, while bad deeds vanish like foam. Similarly, guidance and truth come from Allah; those who act upon the truth benefit and their reward endures. This tafsir and similar interpretations are also reported from Mujahid, al-Hasan al-Basri, Ata, Qatadah, and several early and later scholars. Allah likewise gave two parables of fire and water in the beginning of Surah al-Baqarah regarding the hypocrites (2:17-19), and two in Surah an-Nur for disbelievers (24:39-40), depicting their deeds as illusions or darkness. Additionally, there is a sound hadith from Abu Musa al-Ash'ari in which the Prophet ﷺ compared the guidance and knowledge he brought to rain falling on various lands—some that accept it to produce abundant vegetation, others that hold water but produce little, and some barren that do not retain water or yield crops. This is a parable for those who comprehend and benefit from the religion versus those who reject it. Another hadith narrated by Abu Huraira describes a man who kindled a fire that attracted moths and insects who tried to enter it despite his efforts to keep them away. The Prophet ﷺ said this is a parable of himself and his followers: he protects them from the fire (hell) but they may overcome him and enter it. Thus, the water parable in this verse teaches the enduring nature of truth and goodness, contrasting with the transitory nature of falsehood and evil.