Chapter: The Prohibition of Reviling the Wind

On the authority of Ubayy ibn Kaʿb ﵁: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Do not curse the wind. If you encounter something in it that you dislike, then say: ‘O Allah, we ask You for the good of this wind, the good that is within it, and the good for which it has been commanded; and we seek refuge in You from the evil of this wind, the evil that is within it, and the evil for which it has been commanded.’ ” (1) Al-Tirmidhī declared the report sound.

Relevance of this chapter to the Book of Tawḥīd: Reviling the wind amounts to reviling the One who governs it—Allah, Exalted is He—for it blows only by His command; cursing it therefore undermines pure monotheism.

Biographical note: Ubayy is Ubayy ibn Kaʿb ibn Qays al-Anṣārī, leader of the Qur’an reciters. He witnessed the Pledge of ʿAqabah, the Battle of Badr, and every subsequent campaign. It is said that he died during ʿUmar’s caliphate, and it is also said during ʿUthmān’s, in 30 AH.

“Do not curse the wind”: that is, do not abuse or damn it because of any harm that comes through it.

“When you see something you dislike”: meaning—of the wind—whether its intense heat, its biting cold, or its violent force.

“Then say, ‘O Allah…’ ”: this is returning to its Creator and Administrator, asking Him for its good