Saudi Arabia: Makkah mountains turn green after heavy rain

The mountains in and around the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia have turned green after weeks of heavy rain and last month’s flash floods, the Saudi Press Agency has reported. The agency shared a video clip on Twitter last Thursday showing the effect of the excessive rainfall.

#فيديو_واس | جبال مكة المكرمة تكتسي باللون الأخضر.#واس_جودة_الحياة pic.twitter.com/CkdA9QU4TT

— واس جودة الحياة (@SPAqualitylife) January 5, 2023

Several parts of the kingdom have seen arid landscapes turning green, particularly in western Saudi Arabia. The growth of vegetation, brought on by warm weather as well as the rain, has been caught in satellite images provided by NASA.

Green scenery after a recent downpour of rain in Makkah, Madina, and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia. pic.twitter.com/5gog7NGVW8

— 5Pillars (@5Pillarsuk) January 8, 2023

Images and videos of the unprecedented phenomenon have circulated on social media taking many users by surprise. Some have linked the sudden greenery in Makkah to a narration by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who is reported to have said: “The Last Hour will not come till the land of Arabia reverts to meadows and rivers.”

However, one user has cautioned against reaching premature conclusions, pointing out that the phenomenon is temporary and has happened before.

The torrential downpour in the country followed a call in November by King Salman for people to perform the special prayer for rain known as istisqa.

Saudi Arabia: Flash floods hit the city of Makkah