Work this very early morning, actually it was a night time wakening. For a reason I shall never understand the words of a song kept coming to mind. This not happened for awhile. It is always a sign that Allah is speaking to me. The words are ‘romantic’ songs but it is not the love of a mere mortal man that I am seeking and rejoicing in. It is the love of Allah – the only perfect love, the only real love.
The name the song is Fly Me to the Moon.
“Fly Me to the Moon” is a popular standard song written by Bart Howard in 1954. It was originally titled “In Other Words,” and was introduced by Felicia Sanders in cabarets. The song became known popularly as “Fly Me to the Moon” from the first line of the B verse, and after a few years the publishers changed the title to that officially.”
Here are the lyrics.
Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
And let me see what spring is like
On a -Jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, baby, kiss me.
Fill my heart with song
And let me sing forevermore
You are all I long for ‘
All I worship and adore.
In other words, please be true
In other words, I love you
Fill my heart with song
Let me sing forevermore
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore.
Another words please be true
In order words, I love you
Isn’t it a precious analogy, which for these purposes is defined as “a thing which is comparable to something else in significant respects.” Asking Allah (SWT) to fly you to the moon, play among the stars, letting you see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars. Filling your heart with song and letting you sing forevermore. No mere mortal man, no mere mortal woman is going to do that for we mere mortal souls. Our only source is Allah (SWT).
The Quran tells us that Allah (SWT) is ALL that we should long for, all that we should worship and adore. In other words we are to love Allah, with all our hearts and with all our souls. .
Hmmm. I wonder if Bart Howard was of the Islamic Faith – I do somehow doubt it. Looked him up and Wikipedia confirmed my suspicion.
Howard died February 21, 2004, at age 88, in Carmel, New York. He was survived by his partner of 58 years, Thomas Fowler and a sister Dorothy Lind of Burlington, Iowa
Why don’t you take some time out, listen to Frank Sinatra sing the song. It is joyous, it i which is capable of attracting and holding interest.
How early is it on this August 5, 2025 morn??? It is 5:41 am. Not even time for Fajr prayer, which this morning, in Georgetown, Penang is scheduled for 5:53 am. I must now go and perform wudu’ (ritual ablution performed before prescribed prayers, and other acts of worship).
After offering my prayer, made myself some coffee, honored my intention, reading another chapter from Nurturing Emotional Intelligence. Chapter 4 addresses Self-Regulation.
What is self-regulation? Self regulation is a skill we use to manage our emotions in the heat of a moment. It is the ability to think before we act and chose a wise reaction. It empowers us to control unproductive and damaging emotions and behavior.
Other words, then later on the same page.
This does not mean that an emotionally intelligent person is always timid and smiling even if his or her rights are usurped. A person who is able to self-regulate knows when to remain silent and when to be emotionally authentic and share their concerns and point of view in a wise manner that that the other person can understand.” (Pg. 83).
Anger Management is the topic discussed next. “Verily the strong one is not the one who can outpour others (in fighting/wrestling) but the strong one is one who can restrain or control their anger. (Bukhari) These golden words of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) sum up the significance of self-regulation: that true strength is not how much physical power we possess, but our ability to regulate our emotions in difficult situations and not allow our feelings to control us so we end up doing something we regret. (Pg.84)
This treasured book is not only emotionally challenging, but also provides ‘helpful hints’.Page 72 provides spiritual steps ‘we can take to assist us in transforming our bad habits and getting closer to our Lord. Twelve steps were provided. Number 8 is not difficult, but I have found to be most effective.
“8. Saying “bismillah” before doing anything. Once one gets into the habit of staring any act by remembering to Allah by saying ‘bismillah” or the relevant alkhar and du’a, it becomes automatic. If a person is about to engage in an evil act and tries to say “bismillah” they shy and be unable to say it to start the act; hence, it would aid in remembering and fearing Allah and leaving the act.”
It was then time to send my WhatsApp folk their morning greetings. I thought of a clever idea, but fortunately (for all) my dear friend Alice sent a peaceful and powerful photo which you shall see. Yesterday she sent a photo of her home in the countryside which provides peace and solitude. This morning she wrote: Good morning. Coconut trees cover the sunrise.
Me: Oh my goodness. How beautiful!! I think I might use it for my greeting to others. I wrote of the beauty of solitude on my blog of yesterday.
You will never guess what happened next. Alice sent a totally funny GIF featuring Homer Simpson. You will get to see it.
Me: I absolutely 100% love it. I will HAVE to share it on the blog of today.
What followed was more GIF sharing with Alice and then with Shamir and Nesh. Much laughter – on my part anyway and theirs which was communicated via emoji. Then it was down to breakfast – the new untested tried and true one here at Lyf. The fun thing about these breakfasts are the people. The long tables makes mingling possible, and even necessary. A fascinating young couple from Pakistan – both so creative in their own field, so imbued with enthusiasm. They had both been film majors in school. I am going to be a movie star tomorrow – well sort of. I ended up doing a trail run. They asked me why and how I became a Muslim – which is the topic of tomorrow’s filming. It has been scripted by Nesh. I get to fill in the details. It was a blessing – know I have to have tissue at the ready as I am going to cry and to minimize the eye makeup so it does not run down my cheeks.
Did not eat that much, returned to my room in a state of exhaustion actually. Had a sort of nap, communicated with Shamir and Nesh and then Nesh made the announcement.
He: The blog breakdown is up!
Me: Wow what great timing as I have just enough preliminary words. I can just now incorporate your masterpiece into the written blog.
Then after I read the blog breakdown.
Me: WOW you are getting even better at these blog breakdowns. Did not think that could be possible. Sent chills through me. Good chills.
What you need to do now is to go to Instagram/Facebook/TikTok and see the blog breakdown which is posted under my name. Read the blog breakdown which is much better than than the blog of yesterday.
Then go to my YouTube and see the newest entries. The ones hidden my Chris, my ‘faithful’ blog master and found by Shamir. And you will see that good overcomes evil as the Quran tells the world. Alhamdulillah. Or in my own words: All praise to Allah (SWT)
Photo of Alice’s sunrise hidden by the coconut tree. And the first funny GIF she sent me. Then perhaps our continuing conversation with links to my Instagram and more silly GiFs.
Pictured will be my lunch. A tongue sandwich. I laughed about it to Nesh
Me: I am officially starving. I am going to have lunch. I will have the tongue sandwich. Sounds kinda sexy.
He: Almighty ooohhh
Me: It is just a sandwich. I am laughing.
He: The videos are up
Me: Wow. I am gonna watch and eat the tongue. Sandwich of course. Hahaha
I live in a Muslim majority country. The tongue is halal, not haram.
