Saba (wind)

The Ṣabā (Arabic: الصبا, romanized: aṣ-Ṣabā [asˤˈsˤabaː]) is an east wind that blows in the west of the Arabian peninsula. Because of its gentleness (riqqa) and pleasant breeze, it was especially popular among the Arabs, and was called "Wind of the lovers" (rīḥ al-ʿuššāq). The Ṣabā was considered the wind that gathers the clouds and brings rain and, unlike the west and south winds, does not cause dryness (haif). The Arabs living in the Desert are said to have set up their tents in a way that they could capture the Ṣabā with their openings. In classical Arabic lyrical poetry, the wind is highly praised and plays a role similar to the Zephyrus of the Greco-Roman world. Since there is a canonical Hadith stating that Muhammad is said to have enjoyed the support of the Ṣabā wind, it holds religious significance in Islam as well. In Arabic-Islamic meteorology, the term "Ṣabā" later became a general term, independent of its local occurrence, to refer to the east wind which, alongside the north wind (šimāl), south wind (janūb), and west wind (dabūr), constitutes one of the four cardinal winds of the wind rose.

Etymology

According to the Arabic encyclopedist al-Nuwayri, the Ṣabā wind is said to be named so because the people are fond of it due to its pleasant breeze and air (taṣbū ilaihā). The Arabic word "ṣabwa" indeed means "affection, desire".

The Ṣabā-wind as a motif in literature

Significance in classical arabic poetry

According to Jaroslaw Stekevych, he is "as bearer of perfumed messages from the beloved" the wind of love memories, and the messenger of joyful tidings.