Lava Tracts

Imagine this: It's the year 1256 of the Gregorian calendar (654 Muslim calendar), it's jumuah-- everyone in Madinah feels the tremors of over 18 earthquake shocks. In a time when alcohol and music were rampant in this holy city, the lives of the people quickly changed. Volcanic eruptions were vomiting lava and ash from cracks in the earth's crust, southeast of Madina. The businesses, homes, and the very lives of the Madinan people were at stake. People quickly threw out their alcohol and musical instruments, and urgently sought each other's forgiveness because they believed their imminent death was approaching if they didn't emigrate from the city. Most importantly, they sought Allah's forgiveness and mercy. As the lava quickly neared the inhabitants, miraculously the lava quickly shifted gears its current heading north!

SubhanAllah the sites of these lava tracts, as my sister puts it, reminds you of the desolate and barren land seen in The Lion King when Mufasa dies (that's the name of Simba's dad, right?) The difference is is that it's all black and there is no sign of vegetation or life. SubhanAllah one can only imagine how hot and desolate hell would be-- as the fire in hell is hotter than any fire we can conceive of in this world-- and it's black.

Last year at the rihla, there was a non-Muslim scientist (sorry I can't remember if it was an archaeologist or a geologist), who came to study these lava tracts. For years, people have been trying to figure out how exactly the lava shifted it's gear when it was heading south to north. This scientist's only explanation was that it was the prayers of the people that saved them-- something like this could only be a miracle from God. Allahu Akbar!

Please read the full story and see the pictures for yourself....http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200602/volcanic.arabia.htm