MINA: Over the past seven decades of his life, Sudanese Fadlullah Amr, said only one memory will remain in his mind and that was when he received a call from the Sudanese Ministry of Islamic Affairs informing him that he was invited by the Saudi government to perform Hajj this year as a guest of the King Salman program for Hajj and Umrah.
But this was no coincidence. Amr was the father of a Sudanese soldier, Al-Noorain, who died earlier in Yemen as he was a member of the Sudanese military troops taking part in Operation Decisive Storm against Houthi and Saleh militias. King Salman instructed that families of all those who had died in the battle against the anti-legitimate government militias in Yemen, in recognition and appreciation to the deceased soldiers’ services, be hosted for Hajj this year.
Noorain had served 17 years in the Sudanese army and held the rank of sergeant. He was chosen to take part in the military operations in Yemen, his father said, adding that his son used to call his family almost every week and checked on every member of the family.
“After my son left, I had to depend on myself to take care of the family. Mostly, I used to work in the livestock market to make my family’s ends meet,” he said. The Sudanese pilgrim recalls his last chat with son over the phone last Ramadan.
“It was a strange call because he had told me that I would be performing Hajj this year, as if he knew what was going to happen. The next day we received a call from the town mayor informing us that my son was killed in the battle,” Amr said, adding that he takes pride in what his son had done in defense of the righteousness against the deviants.
As for the reason of burying his son in Al-Baqi Cemetery, he said: “Noorain always hoped he would be buried in Al-Baqi Cemetery [in Madinah so his wish came true and he got what he wanted. As for me, the unexpected has happened and I was chosen to be one of the guests of the king’s program for Hajj and Umrah, and now I can realize my new dream of visiting his tomb in Madinah.”
He said his happiness is beyond describing for being invited to perform Hajj, expressing his gratefulness to Saudi Arabia and to King Salman for this unforgettable gesture.
Father of slain Sudanese soldier visits son’s grave in Madinah, thanks King Salman for hospitality
Father of slain Sudanese soldier visits son’s grave in Madinah, thanks King Salman for hospitality
Saudi meteorology center warns of heavy rain across Kingdom, public told to avoid flood-prone areas
- Stay away from valleys and waterways at least until Thursday, Civil Defense cautions
- National Center for Meteorology center warns of possible thunderstorms and dust storms
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology (NCM) has warned of thunderstorms across the Kingdom that could lead to flash floods, and officials cautioned the public against venturing in low-lying places prone to flooding.
In its weather forecast for Sunday, the meteorology center said “moderate to heavy thunderstorms are expected, leading to flash floods, accompanied by hail showers and active winds that will stir up dust and sand” in several provinces of the Kingdom.
These include Riyadh, Qassim, Hail, Madinah, Makkah, Al-Baha, Asir, Jazan and parts of the Eastern Province. Light to moderate storms are expected in parts of the Northern Borders, Al-Jouf and Tabuk, the NCM said.
In a separate advisory, the General Directorate of Civil Defense urged the public to avoid places prone to flash floods and valleys at least until December 18.
Since the past few days, various parts of Saudi Arabia had been blessed with light to moderate rain as full winter weather set in.
In separate reports, the Saudi Press Agency published images of beautiful landscapes that have emerged after being revitalized by rain.
Deserts rejuvenated
Among these are Al-Nafud (The Great Nafud Desert) in the Kingdom’s north, where moderate to heavy rainfall have “transformed the landscape, turning the golden sand dunes into stunning formations,” and also created streams and lakes.
“The cool weather has since made the Nafud a prime destination for desert and camping enthusiasts from inside and outside (Rafha) governorate,” SPA said.
Rain have also rejuvenated the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Royal Reserve, the Kingdom’s second-largest nature reserve, spanning parts of the Northern Borders, Hail, Qassim, Al-Jouf and Eastern Province.
In the Northern Borders province, the Wadi Arar has come alive, refilling the province’s 11 operational dams.
“The deserts of Arar City ... have become an enchanting destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts following recent rainfall. The resulting rainfalls have created a stunning scenery, with flowing streams winding through sand dunes and ravines,” SPA said.
Cool, verdant mountains
In Asir and adjacent provinces in the southwest, fog shrouding mountain peaks and the city of Abha have resulted in beautiful winter sceneries, attracting nature lovers and photography enthusiasts.
Futher south in Najran province, days of rain have increased vegetation cover and revitalized the valley’s natural streams.
One of the foremost attractions is the Wadi Mughaydid on the slopes of the Sarawat range’s Maghra Mountains in northwest Najran, renowned for its pristine natural beauty.
Stretching 25 kilometers from Bir Askar Park to Shaab Baran, the valley’s unique geography combines verdant plains with towering mountains, making it an ideal destination for hiking and nature enthusiasts, according to SPA.
