Thinking back to videos ages past, I seem to recall a few views of approaching sandstorms and their inevitable swallowing of the filmer, so I decided I would set out to find them again. What I found then after finding a few storms, was a strange video of what appeared to be a sand fountain, or sand geyser of some kind.
Most all of the video descriptions copy the same description word for word, but this blog post (which has a loud streaming song playing in the background, press the green “pause” button on the left above the COEXIST image to mute it) is the only one that seems to have any spacing adjustments, as if everyone else just copy-pasted it into theirs. However, the feed she links to is the popularly linked Muxlim.tv feed. She notes, “In KSA was reported..” which I thought might be a news outlet of some kind, but just means Kingdom of Saudia Arabia. The town is purportedly Al Ahsaa City (or Al-Ahsae City) in Eastern Saudi Arabia. Here is the wiki entry for Al-Ahsa (which also lists it as Al-Hasa), describing it as an oasis.
The earliest posted version I’ve been able to find is a MySpace TV post from October 27, 2007 but it has a website watermark that doesn’t appear in the others which leads me to suspect they came upon the video and reposted it with the music muted, adding the watermark. Due to the waviness and quality of the picture when the camera moves, I presume it to have been taken from a cellphone.
Many of the descriptions refer to the Qur’an for such peculiar events, quoting an ambiguous passage referring to the earth releasing its burdens (which could apply to dozens of things, like volcanos).
A forum post here seems to dismiss the event as a common event, this one just happen to be with sand. For the moment, I personally simply presume it to be a pocket of natural gas (or a broken pipe, perhaps) finding an easy route to the surface. Notice how the sand doesn’t mound up on the edges of the geyser, but the ground seems to remain flat, leading me to suspect it is falling back down inside.
I will update this post, here, as I find new details.
Update 1 This version on YouTube is from June 16, 2007, which to my knowledge is not a statistic one can fake, since YouTube itself automatically assigns the date of the post.
Update 2 This version, lacking the music background and watermark, is dated by YouTube as December 26, 2006.
3. This version sounds as if it has on-scene audio (but a different watermark) for a brief period before the music cuts in. The watermarked site is a “games and rare videos” site mostly in arabic.
4. After reading quite a few suggestions, I have come to suspect that it may actually just be muddy water — especially the fact that it does not pile up on the sides as water naturally would not. It could very simply be a burst water main gushing up through a hole in the ground near the road. The color of the mud is likely what led to the suggestion of sand — I can find no particular evidence other than mere suggestion that it is actually sand spewing out, notably because sand tends to pile up.
the ablestmage press 
ALAH WAKBARE
Nice analysis 🙂
i came a cross this a few weeks back and didnot know the event was dated back 26 december 2006 or prior
it was also my assumption that massive reserves of Natural Gass might be ressponsible for this
but last i heard was that Aramco Geological Team was investigating it i havent read any reports from them yet
an wayz Good work 🙂 hope to see more
and ReCCO im nost sure if your Muslim or not but the Arabic word is
ALLAH Hu Akbar — God is the Greatest –or It is The God Who is Great
not ALAH Wakbare .. i dont even know what Wakbare means or if it is an arabic Word
Any wayz 🙂
Peace
I did a little research and found out that Alhasa (the oasis where the sand fountain was discovered)
is actually in a county that contains Rub Al Khali or the Empty Quarter of Saudi Arabia..
The Empty Quarter is known for its Marshlands and the Biggest Sand dessert in the World
and “The largest oil field in the world”
so I’d say that the most obvious reason would be Natural Gas since all the prerequisites for Natural Gas deposits are there
Oil Deposits, Marshlands .. but it seems though that the pressurized natural Gas has found a way to the surface
Peace!
Hi brothers. As Aramco Geological Team is investigating or has finised their investigation and not making it public for whatsoever reason, this fountain is exceptional. As you have lloked on the video very carefuly, you see as well that four people are standing beside teh fountain. If natural gases were coming out or leakage in gas pipe no one can stand beside such a huge discharge or leakage. the other thing that makes it strange is the wind. it seems to be very low wind and sand/ very course mud (does not seems water at all, even aramco would have never asked its geologists to investigate) is flowing like a Real Fountain, its realy scary and exceptional. whether you link it with God/Allah or not but it seems to be exceptionaly strange phenomena.
The reason they are not making the findings public is, I suspect, because the causes are ordinary, everyday, common causes and nothing particularly exciting or newsworthy. The only exceptional thing about it so far has been that it has drawn so much attention from people who know very little about ordinary fountains.
bullcrap only allah brainwashed idiots would believe this
now, why do you have to make such insulting comment !
I’m a Muslim and I think this has nothing to do with a Miracle (generally speaking if we exclude everything of being a miracle).
One more thing. @ablestmage, The soundtrack is not a “song”… It’s recitation of Quran Aya’s. I would humbly request you to please edit your words as it is considered disrespectful by followers of 2nd largest religion on earth to call Quranic recitation as a Song.
By the way, the term used for recitation in Arabic is “Tilawat”. You can use that if you want to. But, please kindly accept my request.
Hadi:
To be “disrespectful” is a deliberate intent of misinformation, and to call the recitation a song is not disrespectful. The recipient of the purported “disrespect” has the responsibility to discern as to whether the idea presented is genuinely disrespectful or a mistaken interpretation on behalf of the recipient — the latter of which is the case, clearly. “Song” applies in many widely varied forms, of which this also qualifies. Call it what you wish.
I find it really funny that you took it onto yourself the comment that I made. What I meant to inform to you was what’s considered by Muslims as disrespectful.
Nowhere have I stated that you intentionally called the recitation of a Quranic verse a song. Moreover, any following Muslim readers will acknowledge the fact that you didn’t do this on purpose now that you have stated that.
And, to clarify my appraisal of this issue. As any sane person would know that every religion has its code of conduct and the way its aspects are handled.
For example, in Christianity, they are ok to make a portrait of their God and prophet while Muslims do not make pictures and portraits of their God (Allah) and Prophet (PBUH). Similarly, Muslims do not associate the recital of Quran as something that is meant for leisure and entertainment like a “song”. Quran’s recital doesn’t have an orchestra. So, there’s a difference between a song and Quran’s recitation.
Meanwhile, I would again humbly request you to be a bit more considerate while using your vocabulary on this public forum.
I’m not sure how it could be funny — I am the administrator.
In Christianity, it is not OK to paint a portrait of God according to the graven images commandment — but it is done by many because there is no legal penalty due to the separation of religious expression and secular government, being dissimilar to most Arab nations in which Muslim code is so intricately woven into the legal system. There is disagreement among Christians as to whether depictions of God are permissible, but agree that it is not the government’s authority to assert punishment.
You speak of one specific, narrow interpretation of song. Song applies to leisure and frivolity in some cases, but also applies to deep, thoughtful, holy, sacred worship in other cases. The psalms of David, for instance, are sacred scripture — but also songs. Songs in general do not imply musical instruments, orchestration, performance for profit, nor a predetermined structure, meter, rhythm, pace or style, nor purpose, meaning or value.
While the recitation may not fit with the particular variety of song you cited, it does falls under the broad category of song. Whether Muslims consider this disrespectful is unrelated.
I sternly advise you to revise your impression that my vocabulary is in error.
@ablestmage…
I understand the point you are solely comming from, and try to understand the point the muslims are comming from. The Qur’an verses in this video are not mean to be used in such cases. The Qur’an is meant to be read or heard in the rememberance of Allah, and not in any form of songs which you have casted.
What @Haidi meant was muslims dont see or portrait our god/allah and/or prophets. Whereas you see other cultures/religions display portrait and and even worship through portraits, symbols and even statues. Hope you got the message.
Ok, my purpose was to aware you of how a large majority of people (ie, Muslims) have a way of treating their particular religious aspect of recital.
After that, it’s your choice. My work here is done.
I lived in Saudi Arabia for a few years (also referred to as the “Magic Kingdom”), and what I’ve experienced, is that the majority of the population is intensely superstitious as well as religious.
Religion personally interpretive to say the least and when you mix ignorance with an occurance such as this, the individual can come up with almost ANY explanation as to how it occurs.
I agree that the most probable cause is a high pressure release of either water or natural gas. There is so much sand in the air most of the time, when it rains, it’s like muddy raindrops falling out of the sky. So it is not far fetched to believe that this could very well be a liquid release of some sort.
Even if the Red Sea was divided into two, people nowdays will always have an explanation as to what happened. Miracle is nature to them. There’s no point of asking them as to WHO is responsible because to them IT DOESNT MATTER But thank god for some this kinda thing will be a reminder of the power Allah and what is to come. Respect!! Assalam.
@ablestmage…
I understand the point you are solely comming from, and try to understand the point the muslims are comming from. The Qur’an verses in this video are not mean to be used in such cases. The Qur’an is meant to be read or heard in the rememberance of Allah, and not in any form of songs which you have casted.
What @Haidi meant was muslims dont see or portrait our god/allah and/or prophets. Whereas you see other cultures/religions display portrait and and even worship through portraits, symbols and even statues. Hope you got the message.
Hadi
You insult all Muslims.
If its is not spoken but is “sung” as in the case of the video then it is song, and even Allah would understand that, you should be punished for you ignorance.
Insult is in the eye of the hearer, not in the mouth of the speaker. You must first decide whether you will permit yourself to be insulted, then decide whether the words spoken were actually insulting or merely misplaced. It is impossible to insult all Muslims unless they all agree to allow themselves to be insulted and they all agree that the insult means the same thing.
Assalam to all muslims and hi to all
…I visited this page and found it very interesting, I mean for me trying to find out what is sand fountain really is. There is also an interesting discussion I would say it here, about muslims and other beliefs.
Anyway, just out of the blue questions to the administrator, why my country flag is not showing on your Flag Counter..?
Thanks for sharing though!! Happy ‘ramadhan’ or fasting month.
To my knowledge, the flag counter only lists the top-most numbers of visitors from each country that has visitors to the site, rather than just numbers of specific countries in general (with the US flag at the top since I get the most from the US, where I live) and that your country would show up if there were more visitors than the last country shown. I don’t have any active control over which countries are listed, and as far as I know only the top 30 or so countries who visit the site are listed rather than me getting to pick which ones to show =)
The gas hypothesis seems unlikely due to the casual behavior of the observers; one would assume that being so near that amount of methane gas –and with so little wind at that– would either cause them to pass out or at least show visible signs of distress… I have looked into ‘sand blows’, ‘sand geysers’, and ‘sand volcanoes’ as well, and I can’t say that these are very likely since there was no earthquake mentioned, the plume did not erupt like that of a liquid expulsion (too broad, unfocused, etc.), and if it were from geothermal/volcanic activity, the heat would cause visible distortion directly above the eruption (as would gas) and quite possibly cause the observers to move back (due to the lack of water to absorb the heat through vaporization, as in the case of geysers). It seems to last much longer than sand blows as well…
I am no geologist or an expert in these matters by any means, but I’m fairly logical, and though this may very well be explained by rational, scientific means, I still think it is extraordinary and quite ‘miraculous’. To simply discount its peculiar nature would, in my opinion be a disservice to its ephemeral and exceptional occurrence. When things like these happen, as with much of our planet’s recent geologic displays of enigmatic and anomalous behavior, I think it’s only fitting to call it a ‘Miracle of Allah’, or ‘Act of God’ for the non-Muslims out there, or even ‘Mysterious Phenomena’ for those who do not believe.
Whether it is a sinkhole that swallows up a city block, a much needed storm in a drought, or an eruption of sand from the ground, I say Masha’Allah; Allah does whatever Allah wills. Some will see such natural events as happenstance, normal, explainable, meaningless; others of us see lessons, signs, miracles, meaning… Either way, are we not all correct in our own realities?
I think Aidy stated it very well… “Even if the Red Sea was divided into two, people nowdays will always have an explanation as to what happened. Miracle is nature to them. There’s no point of asking them as to WHO is responsible because to them IT DOESNT MATTER”
As with this whole dispute between what is disrespectful, what is mistaken, what is punishable, what is correct in definition.. I don’t see why such time should be placed on correction and settling one another right, having one’s own stance be proven to be more reasonable or ‘right’ than the others’. So the recitation ‘Tilwat’ was accidentally called a ‘song’ by one who did not know; is not Allah the Ever-Merciful, the All-Forgiving? To one who does not recognize the Qur’an, do they not simply hear singing in Arabic? It is a pleasant sound, after all. I think we can let this dispute pass and take comfort that no disrespect was intended (as was stated), that the point was clarified as to what was ‘recited’/’sung’, and that we all have been heard and understood enough by now. We should educate and advise, yes, but also remember to forgive.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this discussion and respond about the sand fountain; I only recently discovered this and was very interested in what others had to say and/or found out about it. I still don’t know of any official ruling on the geologic/rational explanation, but I still find it to be another one of Allah’s marvels.
Allahu Akbar, SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah.
salam
The background voice is reciting of Holy Quran.
You know I cant say I am an expert in various religions but from what I understand the god figure that every religion has is the one that decides our fate. Correct me if im wrong but if that is the case, then why do we have all kinds of idiotic comments regarding “what offends me and my people” Listen, every god will judge each of us so no matter who is write or wrong… let people be with their individual opinion. The idiots are those that expect that one must be politically correct to everyone on a public forum. News flash……. if you feel offended by something o a webpage, do what rational people would do…. change the webpage. WOW what a simple yet so hard to understand concept. And we wonder why people shy away from organized religions. Who wants to hate someone because of their love of their god. Yeah…. that makes total sense huh? So in that regards. A great day to everyone…. thanks for the video that included a very beautiful song, chant, prayer……. whatever the hell you want to call it. It was a beautiful composition of sounds. Thanks to everyone and I really hope there isnt any self-centered idiots out there that have something to say about a particular choice of words on a PUBLIC forum. And please remember… Each god is the only one that knows our fate… not someone with a narrow mind trying to interpret it. Thanks guys… and much respect for all your religions… Extremism: A self centered egotistical point of view on a topic where every believer can only read the information provided… and no believer was there during the time to say they know with absolute certainty. But like I said… as a spiritual person…. I choose not to take on the world… I chose to coexist in the world… and hopefully, whoever my god is, will know that my thoughts and actions were good in nature. Pretty sure every god wants that from each of us. Thanks for reading. And a wonderful day to all of you, regardless of race or religion.
Sorry for the rant… I just dont understand how we let the very things we are supposed to hold sacrid… be the match that lights the fires of hatred towards one another. One thing I do know for certain and so does the rest of the world….. We all live on the same planet and we were all put here for a reason. We all feel good when good things happen…. and we all feel like crap when bad things occur. Lets wrap all that up to sum up what??? We should all be happy and get along cause we all have live on the same beautiful planet. We all have varied opinions because we all have slightly different genetic makeup. Is it really worth living your life upset because the world doesnt agree with YOU? Who the hell are you… just one of billions in this world. So get over your own sense of inferiority, mature a little, and learn to live peacefully with everyone, understanding that you wont always agree… but we dont have to because HUMANS ARE NOT THE JUDGES OF HUMANITY, WE ARE TOO FALLIBLE FOR THAT. THAT IS WHY EACH OF OUR GODS HAS BEEN ASSIGNED THAT TASK. Thanks again and to all a wonderful day on this beautiful earth. Please… I humbly request you stop being so self centered and you might actually find true happiness in this life and beyond.