In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Impermissibility of Cursing the Wind

By Shaykh Zayd al-Madkhali may Allah have mercy on him

720.Ubayy (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Do not curse the wind. If you see something in it that you do not like, then say,

اللهم انا نسألك خير هذه الريح و خير ما فيها و خير ما أرسلت به و نعوذ بك من شر هذه الريح و شر ما فيها و شر ما أرسلت به

‘O Allah, we ask You for the best from this wind, for the best that it is in it, and for the best that You have sent with it. We seek refuge in You from the evil of this wind, from the worst that is in it, and from the worst that You have sent with it.'”

721.Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,

الريح من روح الله تأتي بالرحمة و العذاب فلا تسبوها و لكن سلوا الله من خيرها و تعوذوا بالله من شرها

“The wind is from the spirit of Allah and comes either with mercy or punishment. So do not curse it, but rather ask Allah for its good and seek refuge in Him from its evil.”

The Shaykh commented on these narrations in his explanation of al-Adab al-Mufrad by Imaam Bukhari on pages 326-327 Vol 2. He said,

 These two narrations contain warnings of cursing the wind and the ruling that doing so is impermissible (haraam). This ruling is connected to a reason; the wind is from the spirit of Allah. The wind can have benefit or it can have harms and punishments within. If the wind is described by Allah with a good quality then it is considered to be from His mercy.

Just as He said,

 وَجَرَيۡنَ بِہِم بِرِيحٍ۬ طَيِّبَةٍ۬ 

“…and they sail with them with a favorable wind…” [Yunus: 22] 

Then He (described the wind with a bad description),

جَآءَتۡہَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ۬ “…then comes a stormy wind…” [Yunus: 22] 

When Allah describes the wind with a good description then it is seen as a beneficial wind, but when it is described with a harmful description then it is seen as such. Because of this, it is not permissible to curse any of the different types of winds. Even if the wind were to blow dust into your eyes, it is not permissible to become angry and agitated because of what has happened and then curse the wind. The reason is that the wind is commanded by Allah, He is the One who controls the wind, and He is the One who causes benefits and harms to occur. 

Therefore, whoever curses the wind has fallen into a magnificent sin, because in reality they are cursing the One who commanded the wind. If one finds benefit from the wind then he must be grateful and appreciative to Allah, and if he is harmed by it then he must (restrain himself and) not curse the wind. Rather he should say the mentioned supplication, 

“O Allah, we ask You for the best from this wind, for the best that it is in it, and for the best that You have sent with it. We seek refuge in You from the evil of this wind, from the worst that is in it, and from the worst that You have sent with it.” 

He will be sufficed and if he finds good after making this supplication then he should praise Allah. If he finds harm from the wind after making this supplication then he should seek refuge in Allah – and Allah grants refuge to those who seek it from Him!

Translated by: Abu Awzaa’ee AbdusSalaam

الفقير الى الله