Winds of good tidings and torments

Wind is such an unseen phenomenon which we know is there, can only be felt, we feel the weak and strong winds. Sometimes we hear the screaming sound of strong winds or a cool mid summer breeze, but we take it for granted as a natural phenomenon and don't ponder over it. In fact, it (wind) is a great opportunity for us to remember Allah (either thanking Him or asking Him for forgiveness). Lets have a look at the different ways in which winds have been mentioned in the Quran. BTW the Arabic word for wind is "Rih" i.e. ريح.

Wind as a sign of Allah: Fertilizing winds, moving winds..

Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which is of use to mankind, and the water (rain) which Allah sends down from the sky and makes the earth alive therewith after its death, and the moving (living) creatures of all kinds that He has scattered therein, and in the veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the earth, are indeed Ayat (proofs, evidences, signs, etc.) for people of understanding. ~Surah Baqarah 2: Ayah 164

And in the alternation of night and day, and the provision (rain) that Allah sends down from the sky, and revives therewith the earth after its death, and in the turning about of the winds (i.e. sometimes towards the east or north, and sometimes towards the south or west etc., sometimes bringing glad tidings of rain etc., and sometimes bringing the torment), are signs for a people who understand. ~Surah Jhariyat 45: Ayah 5

And We send the winds fertilizing (to fill heavily the clouds with water), then caused the water (rain) to descend from the sky, and We gave it to you to drink, and it is not you who are the owners of its stores [i.e. to give water to whom you like or to withhold it from whom you like]. ~Surah Hijr 15: Ayah 22

The changing of winds is mentioned in the above verses. The winds go this way and that way, sometimes slow down, sometimes speedup, they are sometimes hot and sometimes cold, etc. And the winds move the clouds which waters the land and bring life to it. And when Allah commands, those clouds are moved somewhere else. Allah commands the winds and the clouds to stay right between the sky and the earth. When it rains heavily, it leads to flooding, destruction of the crops, property and even sometimes loss of human life. Hence the same clouds could be a means of life or loss of life.

Many of the world's most important crop plants are wind-pollinated. Wind pollinating plants release billions of pollen grains into the air so that a lucky few will hit their targets on other plants. These include wheat, rice, corn, rye, barley, and oats. On the other hand strong winds could even destroy the plants.

The sky is often covered with clouds of different shapes, which go on changing because of the wind, and no shape lasts nor resembles any other, and at night one sees the stars scattered in the sky in many different combinations and no combination resembles any other combination. 

Winds sent to destroy nation: Barren Winds

And in 'Ad (there is also a sign) when We sent against them the barren wind ~ Surah 51: Ayah 41

The nation mentioned in the above verse is "Ad". Prophet Hud (AS) was from this Arab tribe sent as a messenger from Allah to this nation. This nation worshiped idols, they were extremely powerful both physically and financially. They were extremely skill full and intelligent. Shaytan misguided them and they did not thank Allah for the abilities Allah had given to them. They started to mock Hud (AS) while he was delivering Allah's message and disbelieved in him. They did not spend their time and power in the cause of Allah (SWT).

Allah (SWT) sent the wind which started picking up and started to scream and eventually became violent. Allah (SWT) sent this wind for seven nights and eight days, this nation of "AD" were destroyed completely from the face of this Earth. The wind made rotten everything that it blew on. It is said that, they were lifted up and they would be smashed down on their heads. Their limbs would be out like roots, they were all destroyed. There are no remnants of that city or its people left to be traced.

Allah (SWT) mentioned the destruction of previous nations in the Quran for us to contemplate over it.

Ceased winds

If He wills, He causes the wind to cease, then they would become motionless on the back (of the sea). Verily, in this are signs for everyone patient and grateful. ~Surah Ash- Shuraa 42: Ayah 33

Favorable winds

He it is Who enables you to travel through land and sea, till when you are in the ships and they sail with them with a favorable wind, and they are glad therein, then comes a stormy wind and the waves come to them from all sides, and they think that they are encircled therein, they invoke Allah, making their Faith pure for Him Alone, saying: "If You (Allah) deliver us from this, we shall truly be of the grateful. ~Surah Yunus 10: Ayah 22

Stormy winds

The parable of those who disbelieve in their Lord is that their works are as ashes, on which the wind blows furiously on a stormy day, they shall not be able to get aught of what they have earned. That is the straying, far away (from the Right Path). ~Surah Ibrahim 14: Ayah 18

Extremely cold winds

The likeness of what they spend in this world is the likeness of a wind which is extremely cold; it struck the harvest of a people who did wrong against themselves and destroyed it, (i.e. the good deed of a person is only accepted if he is a monotheist and believes in all the Prophets of Allah, including Jesus Christ and Muhammad SAW). Allah wronged them not, but they wronged themselves. ~Surah Ale Imran 3: Ayah 117

Hadith: A wind blowing from the direction of Yemen

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah will send a wind from Yemen, softer than silk, and it will not leave anyone in whose heart is faith the weight of a grain but it will take him (his soul).” 

Sahih Muslim, Kitab Al Iman, Hadith No: 212. 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has told us of some of the things that will distinguish the believers from the Disbelievers before the Day of Resurrection. The above prophecy is also one of them.

To watch a glimpse of destructive winds, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acOXI3NpGCE