As I begin writing this article at 3:56pm, Tuesday, the house is dark once again and outside there is no sign of the sun. The clouds look ominous, enveloping the entire troposphere with a gray hue as far as my eye can see and there is an eerie orange color that usually precedes a sandstorm. What will come down from the skies upon the already beleaguered city of Riyadh? If only it would be just a sandstorm! I should never complain about a dusty house again astaghfirAllah.

'Aaishah narrated that whenever the Messenger of Allah saw a cloud or a wind a kind of distress would be seen on his face. I told him once: 'O Messenger of Allah! I observe that whenever people see a cloud in the sky they become happy hoping that it might contain rain but when I look at your face I notice displeasure.' The Prophet answered: "O 'Aaishah! What can assure me that there is no torment in it? A nation had been tormented with wind. When the people saw the cloud of torment, they ignorantly said: 'This is going to give us rain." (Muslim)

My first indication of a weather change outside is when the inside of my house turns an orange glow, signaling a sandstorm.

Yesterday it started getting dark about 4 hours before maghrib, a dusk that was way too early.

My husband told me to look out the window because it was raining. In no time, the rain came pelting down hard on the ground and the palm trees started to bend in the fierce wind. My husband became anxious as a dumpster almost collided with his car.

Finding the torrential rains too difficult to drive in, a little school bus pulled over into the parking lot of our building right outside the window I was peeking out of. A big Suburban followed, its emergency lights blinking off and on. The winds rocked the school bus to and fro and then it was pelted by hail. The kids inside began to scream and cry.

The roar of the wind and the sound of the hail beating down on our roof was very loud. I thought it sounded like there was going to be a tornado. My son covered his ears and there were tears in his eyes.

There was ample rain and it was a good opportunity to make du'a...

Narrated Sahel Ibn Sa'ad (RA): that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: 'Two will not be rejected, Supplication when the Adhan (call of prayer) is being called, and at the time of the rain'. [Al-Hakim 2: 114, and Abu Dawud #2540, ibn Majah]

Transfixed by the sights outside my window, I could not form the words to make du'a for myself. Instead, I asked Allah to bring us all only good from the rain and withhold the evil from us. A little while after this the hail abruptly stopped, the winds died down and the rain became calm.

My husband attempted to drive to work after the storm ceased. He returned home with the news that his usual routes were blocked. A felled street light obstructed one way and along another way, the underpass on King Abdullah Road was flooded.

If I thought that what I saw outside my window was bad, it was much worse in the streets and underpasses. Even houses and businesses were flooded. I didn't know the magnitude of the disaster until I saw the pictures and videos on the internet. I feel sorry for those who suffered material losses but what is more important than that is that their lives were spared alhamdulillah.

He is Allâh beside Whom there is Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allâh! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him. (Surah Hashr 59:23)

Oh Allah, yesterday I witnessed Your power when You sent strong winds, rain and hail upon us. Forgive us!

I then witnessed Your mercy as You gave us respite from it all. Thank you!

Truly, Allâh is full of kindness, the Most Merciful towards mankind. (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:143)