Prayer during a frightening event or calamity

The Prophet ﷺ used to turn to prayer whenever something difficult or frightening happened. Muslims follow his example whenever something scary or dangerous happens, like a bad storm, an earthquake, lightning, a lot of rain or hail, the sky turning red, a scary darkness in the daytime, a serious sickness spreading, or fear of an enemy.

It is narrated that whenever the Prophet ﷺ faced any difficulty or hardship, he would turn to prayer. Following that example, whenever a frightening event or calamity strikes (a severe storm, an earthquake, a lightning strike, stars falling frequently, continuous heavy rain, excessive hail, the sky turning red, terrifying lights at night, extreme darkness during the day, a widespread disease such as cholera or plague, or fear of an enemy) it is recommended to pray.

It is narrated that the Prophet ﷺ turned to prayer whenever difficulty or hardship befell him. On this basis, a two-rak'ah prayer is recommended whenever a frightening event or calamity occurs: a severe storm, an earthquake, a lightning strike, the frequent falling of stars, continuous heavy rain, excessive hail, the sky turning red, terrifying lights appearing at night, extreme darkness during the day, the spread of a widespread disease such as cholera or plague, or fear of an enemy.