Sooraya Qadir, alias Dust, was created by writer Grant Morrison and artist Ethan Van Sciver for the comic book series New X-Men #133 (December 2002).

This event, known as "Decimation," significantly impacts the dynamics at the Xavier Institute, forcing the school to restructure and leading to a reduced student body.

Despite these obstacles, Sooraya demonstrates unwavering faith in her Islamic beliefs, choosing to wear her religious attire instead of the standard training uniform.

[6][7] However, Sooraya consistently demonstrates her bravery, using her unique sand-based powers to battle enemies like William Stryker and the villain Belasco.

[8][6] Despite facing injuries and moments of self-doubt regarding leadership,[9][10] Sooraya continues to overcome adversity, even confronting powerful mutants like a nanotech-controlled Sentinel and Predator X.

[14] Following a major schism within the X-Men, Sooraya initially sides with Wolverine's team but ultimately chooses to remain with Cyclops' faction.

[17][18] Sooraya is depicted as a quiet and reserved individual, initially struggling to adapt to life at the Xavier Institute, particularly with her outspoken roommate Noriko.

Despite these initial difficulties, Sooraya demonstrates unwavering faith in her religion, choosing to wear a hijab instead of the standard training uniform.

[3] Throughout her time at the institute, Sooraya develops friendships with other students like Icarus, though her religious beliefs occasionally create conflict with other characters.

Her mother is happy that she lives somewhere where she is able to make those choices[19] Dust is a transmorph, able to transform herself into an explosive cloud of sand-like silicon particles and maintain control of her sand form.

"[21] Marc Buxton of Den of Geek said, "We have the devout Muslim warrior Dust, one of the bravest X-Men to join Xavier’s team in the 21st century.

When a slave trader forcibly tried to remove her niqab, Sooraya Qadir manifested her power to turn her body into sand and flayed him alive.

In the alternate time line depicted in X-Men: The End, Sooraya remains at the institute as the caretaker of Cyclops and Emma Frost's children.