الريح العقيمConceptThe Barren Destroying Wind in the Quranالريح العقيمHistory5Verses5Surahs14Connections#594of 828

Key Verses

1. 41:16FussilatWarning
   فَأَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ رِيحٗا صَرۡصَرٗا فِيٓ أَيَّامٖ نَّحِسَاتٖ لِّنُذِيقَهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلۡخِزۡيِ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ أَخۡزَىٰۖ وَهُمۡ لَا يُنصَرُونَ
   Therefor We let loose on them a raging wind in evil days, that We might make them taste the torment of disgrace in the life of the world. And verily the doom of the Hereafter will be more shameful, and they will not be helped.
   In context

   So I sent upon them a wind that had with it a disturbing noise, on days of misfortune for them, due to the punishment which came to them. So that I may make them suffer a punishment of humiliation and disgrace in the world. And indeed, the punishment of the Hereafter that awaits them is more humiliating for them; they will not find anyone to help save them from the punishment.

2. 46:24Al-AhqafWarning
   فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ عَارِضٗا مُّسۡتَقۡبِلَ أَوۡدِيَتِهِمۡ قَالُواْ هَٰذَا عَارِضٞ مُّمۡطِرُنَاۚ بَلۡ هُوَ مَا ٱسۡتَعۡجَلۡتُم بِهِۦۖ رِيحٞ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٞ
   Then, when they beheld it as a dense cloud coming toward their valleys, they said: Here is a cloud bringing us rain. Nay, but it is that which ye did seek to hasten, a wind wherein is painful torment,
   In context

   Then when the punishment they hastened for came to them, and they saw a cloud appearing in one direction of the sky, heading towards their valleys, they said: “This is a cloud which will bring us rain”. Hud said to them: “The matter is not as you think, i.e., that it is a cloud which will rain upon you, but rather it is the punishment you hastened for.

3. 54:19Al-Qamar
   إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ رِيحٗا صَرۡصَرٗا فِي يَوۡمِ نَحۡسٖ مُّسۡتَمِرّٖ
   Lo! We let loose on them a raging wind on a day of constant calamity,
   In context

   I sent on them a severe cold wind on a day of evil and misfortune that will continue with them until they arrive in Hell.

4. 69:6Al-Haqqah
   وَأَمَّا عَادٞ فَأُهۡلِكُواْ بِرِيحٖ صَرۡصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٖ
   And as for A'ad, they were destroyed by a fierce roaring wind,
   In context

   As for the ‘Ād, Allah destroyed them with a severely cold, relentless wind that reached the height of harshness upon them.

5. 51:41Adh-Dhariyat
   وَفِي عَادٍ إِذۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلرِّيحَ ٱلۡعَقِيمَ
   And in (the tribe of) A'ad (there is a portent) when we sent the fatal wind against them.
   In context

   And in Ad, the people of Hud, is a sign for one who fears the painful punishment, when I sent upon them the wind which does not carry rain or pollinate trees, nor were there any blessings in it.