Muslims attending the Umrah pilgrimage to the Ka’bah in Mecca were given a surprise on Thursday night during night prayers when they were graced with a sudden, unexpected heavy downpour of rain.
Mecca, which is located in Saudi Arabia’s desert climate, only usually experiences brief downpours four or five times a year on average.
For this reason, pilgrims were extra excited to get a rare chance to pray in the rain in the vicinity of the holiest place in Islam.
The overjoyed pilgrims then circumambulated the Ka’bah chanting the words ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is Great) heartily.
The Ka’bah, which had its foundations laid by the first man Adam and then later completed by the Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael, is considered to be the first place of worship on earth dedicated to God.
Every year, in the Islamic month of Dhu’l-Hijjah, millions of Muslims from all over the world come to fulfill their Hajj pilgrimage rites at the Ka’bah in what is one of the biggest and most diverse gatherings of people.
Outside the Hajj season, many Muslims also come to fulfill the minor pilgrimage known as Umrah.