His words, “one of Allah’s winds,” mean one of the winds that Allah has created; the possessive construction here denotes creation and origination.

Part of the Prophet’s guidance—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was to say when the wind blew fiercely: “O Allah, make it fertilizing, not barren.” Al-Bukhārī narrated in al-Adab al-Mufrad from Salama ibn al-Akwaʿ—may Allah be pleased with him—who said: Whenever the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—experienced fierce winds, he would say: “O Allah, make it fertilizing, not barren.” 1 “Fertilizing” means that it fertilizes the clouds. Allah Most High says: “We send the winds to fertilize, then send down water from the sky and give it to you to drink; you are not its keepers.” 2 That is, We subject the winds—the winds of mercy—to fertilize the clouds just as the male fertilizes the female. By Allah’s permission, water then results from this, which Allah gives as drink to His servants and their livestock and with which He waters their crops. It remains stored in the earth for their needs and necessities. All praise and blessing belong to Him alone; He has no partner.

A Muslim may glorify Allah upon hearing thunder. Al-Bukhārī narrated in al-Adab al-Mufrad from ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Zubayr—may Allah be pleased with them both—“Whenever he heard thunder, he would stop speaking and say: ‘Glory be to Him whom thunder glorifies with His praise, as do the angels in awe of Him.’” 3

He also narrated from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbbās—may Allah be pleased with them both—that whenever he heard the sound of thunder, he would say: “Glory be to Him whom you have glorified.” 4

Glorifying Allah on such an occasion expresses reverence for the Lord—glory be to Him—whose perfect strength and power are manifested in thunder. It also joins in harmony with the thunder as it glorifies Allah with praise, though we do not comprehend its glorification.