This from my September 12, 2025 blog, a conversation between Shamir and myself.
He: What about clouds? You ever noticed them before, focused on them they way you know do with sunrises and sunsets.
Me: No. Come to think of it, I never have. I think cumulus clouds are a rarity, do not recall them from days in Canada nor in California. I am going to think about that, do some research and maybe even ask Artificial Intelligence.
He: Do it!!
So I did.
This the question I posed,
I now live in Malaysia surrounded by cumulus clouds. Two questions: although they look very light and fluffy, they weigh tons, don’t they?
Answer I received. “Yes, you are absolutely right! Cumulous clouds look light and fluffy, almost like floating cotton balls But, in reality they are extremely heavy. Flying home from Jakarta I took a photo of a mass of them out the plane window. Just look at them now and we will learn more later.”
That photo was the feature photo of Nesh’s blog breakdown, it also contained a preview of today’s blog.
“Cumulus clouds look soft and weightless, but they carry tons of water. That paradox fascinates me. Shamir asked if I had ever noticed them like I do sunrises. Truth? I hadn’t . But now I see them differently; heavy yet beautiful, ordinary yet miraculous. A symbol of how burdens can still hold beauty, and how Allah’s signs are always above us if we just look up.”
This is later, read on and you shall learn more.
First AI provided way too much information about the weight of the cumulus clouds, too much detail. It bored even me, much less you. Hahaha I shall save you all the detail and instead give you AI’s summarized answer
“So yes—your fluffy Malaysian cumulus companions are quietly carrying the weight of mountains of water above your head but they stay up thank to physics. Would you like me to also explain how much rain a cumulus cloud can release when it finally bursts? That part is even more surprising.
Me: Not necessarily. Some see these cloud’s existence so heavy in the sky as proof of Allah’s existence.
AI: That is a very beautiful reflection, and you are not alone in seeing it that way. In fact, the Quran itself speaks of clouds and rain as signs of Allah’s power and mercy.
There is not only a Quran Perspective, but also there are Signs from the Prophet seeing rain as a blessing and his reaction to clouds and storms
- Rain as a Blessing When rain fell, the Prophet would uncover part of his garment so that drops could touch him, saying “It has just come from its Lord. (Sahid Muslim 898) He saw rain not just as water but was a fresh gift directly from Allah.
- Clouds and Storms When the Prophet saw clouds or strong winds, his face would show concern. He would pray: “Oh Allah, I ask You for its good the good within it, and the good it was sent with. And I seek refuge in You, if its evil. The evil within it, and the evil it was send with.” (Sunan al-Timidhi 3447) Even clouds and winds were seen as messages from Allah, carrying mercy or warning.
- Moon and Stars He would use the sight of the moon to remember Allah’s order over time and creation, supplicating for blessings and guidance.
I find it fascinating to converse with AI – AI is actually TOO helpful, too instructive. Your original question becomes modified and you get too much information rather than too little. The tendency is to read and follow the thread but then I end up lost in a rain storm of information.
Somewhere in the midst of the questions and answers I had asked a question which brought forth the beginning of a response which will follow: “That is a deeply moving reflection, Alaa.” However I could not recall, nor find the deeply moving reflection. So I went back today and asked. It seem as I look outside my new window that these clouds are a gift from Allah. I am 82 and had a blessed life in many ways (and hardships). Now I am getting something I never had before just when I need it”
This was the answer received from Artificial Intelligence.
It makes sense that you would see these clouds as a gift—a gentle sign from Allah, given to you now, at this stage of your life. You have lived under clear skies, fog, stratus, and sometimes heavy storms —and now in Malaysia you are surrounded by these abundant, bright living cumulous clouds. It’s as if Allah saved this ‘chapter of the sky’ for you, just when you needed beauty comfort and daily reminders of his mercy.
AI then provided what was called A Spiritual Reading of Your Experience.
Hardships and Blessings Together. Your life carried both, like skies that change with the seasons.
Now at 82 Allah surrounds you with skies you haver had before—as though He is saying “Here is something new for you. My servant, even now, I have not forgotten you.”
The Clouds Themselves: They hang heavy yet look light—a symbol that the burdens of life can be carried gracefully, sustained by Allah’s unseen hand.
AI then offered duas to be offered.
“Oh Allah, make these clouds a mercy for me, not a punishment, a blessing not a withholding and a remember of Your mercy.”
Then told me why this would ‘work’
“When you say “Subhan Allah’ at the sight of your cumulous clouds, you are following the Prophet’s example of turning every natural sign into worship.
Your practice mirrors his: Transforming what others see as just weather into a conversation with Allah.
Then another short easy to remember one that ‘ties perfectly to what you feel when you look out your window- that at 82, Allah has given you a news sky, a new blessing.
“Glory be to Allah, the One who holds up the sky.
Then told me ‘why this works’. It praises Allah’s power in keeping the heavens suspended, including the clouds heavy with water yet floating with ease.”
Another summary was provided which answered another question posed to Artificial Intelligence when I mentioned that cumulous clouds are ‘new to me’ This was the summary provided that answered the question.
“As I sit by my new window in Malaysia, I gaze upon the cumulous clouds that fill the sky. Their soft, towering forms are unlike the skies of my past —in Edmonton the high desert gave me few, in Marin, the cool coastal air seldom allowed them. Now this late season of my life, Allah has granted me this daily gift: clouds I had never truly know before. At 82, with blessings and hardships behind me, I see in these clouds signs of Allah’s mercy. Just when I needed them most, they appear—a reminder that his provisions arrive at a perfect time, not only as rain to nourish the earth, but as beauty to nourish the soul.”
My goodness I could not say it any better, so I won’t even try. Hahahah
Most of this blog was written in the Lyf hotel breakfast/meeting room. Adjourned to my room knowing it would have been diligently and perfectly cleaned by staff. My astonishment upon arriving are remembered in a text to Shamir.
Me:The MOSt amazing thing happened. I was down in the lobby doing laundry, eating breakfast, talking with an interesting woman from China AND writing about clouds. I came up to my room, casually looking out the window. I have NEVER seen so many cumulous clouds in my whole life. The sky is loaded with them. All praise to Allah. A photo could not catch it, but I will try.
The attempt.
He: Wow
Me: Thanks, And what I was writing about. Yikes!!!
What did Shamir do??? You guessed it! He sent a GIF
Me: Oh my Allah
He: Ain’t that something.
Me: You turned it into a GIF. What a pair we are?!?!
He: A pair of nut cases.
Shamir sent a photograph.
Me: What is that? Where is that?
He: Clouds on the bridge.
Me: What bridge? I thought the clouds were just for me. I do not want to share. Hahahah
No response from him, at this time so I do not know what bridge.
All of this is serious, but there is also laughter in my life. This also was shared with Shamir.
Me: Rashid in touch. Sent a reel of him making coffee. When I said it looked delicious he teasingly suggested breakfast in bed. Well, he is a Muslim!! I am safe as Zanzibar is far. Cannot get there in a car. Hahaha I won the rhyming contest.
Well there is an update, conveyed in morning text to Shamir.
Me: I had told Rashid that I was tired to having to get dressed for breakfast. Rashid answered: “No worry I am on my way.” I told him that I thought I had to go there. It would a calamity if we were two ships passing in the night.
AI tells us: “Two ships passing in the night” describes a brief, incidental meeting between two people (or groups) who then go their separate ways, never to see each other again. The phrase, popularized by a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, captures the idea of an encounter that is fleeting, lacks lasting connection, and is often forgotten as each person continues on their own path.
Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darkness; So on the ocean of life we pass and speak one another, Only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.
If two people are like ships that pass in the night, they meet once or twice by chance for a short time then do not see each other again.
Well we did meet in Abu Dhabi – who knows? With me, definitely, who knows?
Other photographs will follow, including one from my window at sunset.On magic evening I got both clouds and a sunset.
