That is a period of judgment that God deals with people.
Damn, did he go to the desert to fast? (see my sig line, deserts are cool for that kind of thing)
He's back, so I'll guess that God dealt with him successfully?
The desert is a true treasure for him who seeks refuge from men and the evil of men. In it is contentment In it is death and all you seek (Quoted from "The Bleeding of the Stone" Ibrahim Al-Koni)