BİRİNCİ FEN · ÜÇÜNCÜ BÂB · ÜÇÜNCÜ FASIL · İkinci Madde
**Article Two**
Concerning the various winds occurring in the lowest stratum of the aerial sphere and the directions of this world.
Know, O esteemed one! The philosophers have said: The occurrence of diverse winds is revealed through the movement of the element of air like the movement of water at the bottom of a sea, creating waves. Just as the waves on the surface of the sea arise from some parts pushing others in different directions.
The elements of air and water are like two tranquil seas, yet the movements of aerial particles are light, while the movements of watery particles are dense. One cause of winds is that smoke rising from the earth due to the influence of the sun or other causes, when it reaches the cold stratum having lost some of its heat while ascending, immediately moves with the intention of falling back down. And in this way, the aerial sea undulates, and thus a wind arises. If they retain their heat, however, they ascend towards the fiery sphere. The fiery sphere then sends back downwards, through that revolving movement mentioned earlier, the earthy matter contained within those fumes. It is with this descending motion that the air undulates and becomes a wind.
Another cause of winds is that clouds in the zemheri stratum become heavy and, moving downward (pushing against each other), it is by this pushing action that they reach a certain warmth and transform into air, becoming a wind in their own right. This push causes the layer of air to undulate and itself becomes a wind.
Another cause of winds is that cloud layers pile upon one another, creating congestion. Thus, they push the air, producing an undulation which generates a breeze. Or, if the clouds do not cohere in consistency, but dense layers displace lighter ones, as the light clouds move from one place to another, the air undulates and this undulation produces wind.
Another cause of winds is that the warming of the air causes condensation and compression on one side; since this condensation is an increase in mass occurring without any other body joining it, it pushes the surrounding mass of air. The surrounding pushed mass of air then begins to push those around it successively, and with the movement of these successively pushed masses of air, the aerial sea undulates. This pushing action gradually diminishes as it spreads out, bringing the movement in the air to its lowest level, eventually becoming completely still. Just as when a stone is thrown into the middle of a stagnant pool of water, an undulation arises (spreading from the point where the stone fell), so too does the previously tranquil aerial sea undergo such an undulation due to the emergence of the causes mentioned above.
Another cause of winds is that when a certain mass of air concentrates and gathers in one place, it creates an undulation in the aerial sea. For it is impossible for an empty space to remain vacant; as the aforementioned mass of air gathers and shrinks, the surrounding masses of air are compelled to move towards the vacated side, and this movement results in the formation of a wind. Another cause of winds is that layers of smoke rising from the earth transform into air before reaching the cold stratum and begin moving from one side to another. It is due to this movement that wind arises.
As for the cause of the scorching *sam yeli* (hot wind), it is the result of the remnants of fiery celestial stones mixing with masses of air, and the emergence of movement caused by the gathering of burning substances within themselves. Or, it is due to pure, unmixed air passing through hot climates and warming up. Thus, the *sam yeli* arises.
As for the hurricane, they call it a *zevbe’a*, which sweeps across the earth, encircling it, standing erect like a pole or column, rising towards the sky. They call this *umm züb’a* (the mother of hurricanes). The most common cause of hurricanes is that the wind descending from the zemheri stratum encounters clouds, and as the clouds revolve with various winds, the descending wind also begins to turn, and in this way it descends to the earth.
The hurricane appears like a circle, carrying debris, dust, and whatever lies in its path (spinning around). Sometimes it happens that winds blowing from different directions on the earth’s surface meet each other, engaging in a struggle as if preventing one another from blowing, defending themselves with what they tear from the ground. It is at this time that objects caught in the midst of the conflict become compressed and bent upwards, rising like a minaret. They appear as if belonging to a living being, their limbs intertwined. Sometimes a hurricane encounters a ship in the seas and turns it over as well. At times, this *umm züb’a* encounters a portion of clouds in its path; as the hurricane rotates them, (to those looking from the ground) this spectacle appears like an immense vortex.
As for the number of directions on earth, people consider them to be six: one's upper side, lower side, front, back, right side, and left side. Astronomers have determined the four directions of the world as follows: the direction in which the sun rises is east, the direction in which it sets is west; for a person facing east, his right side is south, and his left side is north. And they added four more directions to these four, thus determining…
The world's directions are eight: east, west, south, north, northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest. These have been determined in relation to the eight winds. They have counted the four winds moving from the directions of east, west, south, and north as the primary winds. The winds blowing between these have been accepted as secondary winds; through knowledge of these secondary winds, ships have sailed in every direction on the seas and been directed to the desired shores. Now consider the immense power and magnificent might of God, the possessor of limitless power who directs and sends all these winds – so that they may drive heavily laden ships and direct clouds from place to place (with countless and very many benefits, some of which are now being discovered with today's scientific knowledge). For it is said, "Were there no winds, all would perish on earth." We suffice ourselves with this much explanation regarding the movement of air.
Now let us explain some of its qualities and various functions so that everyone may know that in every breath they take, they are receiving two separate blessings; so that everyone may individually realize that they are swimming in a sea of limitless bounty, and strive to give due thanks to the Possessor of Power – the true owner of those bounties.