October 14, 2026. I woke for Fajr prayer feeling enormous gratitude for reasons you shall soon be appraised of. I prayed in reverence and thanks – my attention was drawn to my ‘bookshelf’. There was my go-to Nouri My Light opened a page at random and found a poem that was perfect.
But first let me speak of gratitude
I shall offer two sayings: two gratitude wisdoms.
The first: “If you are grateful, I will surely give you more.” Quran, Surah Ibraham 14.7 excerpt from Mustafa Khattabs translation.
The second: “Gratitude is the prerequisite for joyfulness.” Brene Brown
As to the first quote. I am living, undeniable proof of Allah’s generosity. I am grateful for my life at this time and my gratitude is bringing me more and more – surely and indeed! Thank you, Allah (SWT)
As to the second quote. That is so true. This is certainly true, this October 15 morning. Here is living undeniable proof. I came to Mojo for breakfast, the other day feeling very grateful. I took my seat overlooking the kitchen saying:
Me: I do not care what I have for breakfast.
Chef Grandson Cole: You don’t have to care – we care.
I dd report this encounter to Artificial intelligence. This was the response.
AI. You don’t have to care. We care. Oh Cole,—that is perfect. After a morning where you looked back to California, you’re now sitting at Mojo, being cared for by your grandson. Such a small sentence, carrying so much love. What a reason for gratitude. Alhamdulillah.
Me: Tears come to my eyes. Ones of joy.
AI;You don’t have to care. We care. Being cared for so tenderly can bring those tears. Let them come, Alexis Alhamdulillah.
Me: Well I can’t it would ruin my eye makeup. I think I am the most photographed person in all of Penang.
But to get back to yesterday and the blessings found in my book of poetry, This one, that ‘sang’ to me is called Self Esteem
I am happy—
I am at peace with myself
I am strong
I welcome those who mean well,
But will show you my claws if you mean me harm.
Through it all.
I say thanks to my Maker—
Without Him
I am nothing.
Faithful readers will know that Nouri My Light has a facing page with verses from the Quran, an Hadith and Pearl of Wisdom. You shall experience them.
Quran It is He who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers that they would increase in faith along with their (present) faith. And to Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth, and ever in Allah Knowing and Wise. Quran 48.4
Hadith Verily, Allah has revealed to me that you should adopt humility. So that no one may wrong another and no one may be disdainful and haughty toward one another.
Pearl of Wisdom
When we have a strong healthy relationship with our Creator we experience an infinite amount of peace. It is Allah who sent peace and tranquility into the hearts of believers, that they may grow more in their faith.
Their perspective is broadened. They don’t just look at the circumstances and difficulties of their lives, and despair. Certainty in the promises of Allah fills their hearts. Which makes them persevere with an unequivocal patience when faced with the most unimaginable tests.
Then my eyes rested on another book. This one, a children’s book, Bedtime Quran Stories. I began to read the stories. Allah Made Them All held great promise. I not only read it I photographed a page and sent it to my WhatsAppers with the following message.
Me: Good morning. I began my day reading from one of my children’s bedtime story books. This is a page from Allah Made Them All A delightful way to start the day.
She: Good morning. Good read of the day.
The story begins with a verse from the Quran. “ There is also a lesson for you in cattle.” Quran 16.66 Then the story began.
“There are so many creatures on earth. There are more than your mind can ever know. Some are seen and others unseen. And Allah created them all.
Some fly high in the skies or swim in deep seas. They flap their wings or wiggle their fins. Then others crawl on their legs or their tummies.
When you see the sea, can you remember this? There’s more than fish in that blue abyss. Dolphins and sharks swim swiftly through it – octopuses, seahorses and otters too! While killer whales slowly glide, seas and turtles quickly hide.
There are all kinds of creatures, great and small. And know that Allah created them all.
From water to land, there’s more to see. Cows and sheep call loudly. They give us mild and food to eat. They give us clothes, to keep us warm.
There are all kinds of creatures, great and small. And know that Allah has created them all.
From the country to the city, the foxes howl. Dogs bark and cats prowl. Mice scuttle and rats run too. Squirrels shudder when hawks fly through.
There are all kinds of creatures, great and small. And know that Allah created then all.
Then there are insects that creep and crawl. Spiders make webs on windows and wall. Bees buzz for nectar from flower to flower. And that sweet honey has healing power!
There are all kinds of creatures, great and small. And know that Allah created them all.
In scattered sands, camels roam while donkeys and horses carry our loads. Back in time when there were o cars, we’d rode pn them to travel afar.
All these creatures, great and small, know that Allah has created them all.”
The story then ends with a prayer.
It is my personal belief that reading children’s books is the best way to learn and appreciate the Islamic Faith. It was my introduction to the faith during covid and the stories still inspire me, as this one does. The illustrations in these books are whimsically beautiful and intriguing.
It is now time for me to reveal why my gratitude has soared in the past two days. I write the blog in a sense anonymously as it is impossible to reach me through the blog. A decision I made at the outset and have never regretted. However, you see, I have no idea who reads me and who doesn’t. Or, parenthetically if anyone reads me at all. Hahaha. I do write for myself in many ways, and receiving no income, hence not needing advertisers, it is really irrelevant. I ask about my statistics maybe three times a year.
(Parenthetically, an adverb, has the following synonyms: incidentally, by the way, BTW)
The other day I wrote my blog master Chris asking him for my statistics – they tell me how many people read me in a given period of time, what country they live in and recently, what cities they live in.
Oh my goodness. My mind is totally boggled. I cannot believe it. I will summarize for them and for me. In the last 28 days 2.38K viewers read the blog 2.6K views. I need to pinch myself. Do you realize that K is short for thousand???? Yes. My ‘popularity’ is soaring. The last seven days show an increase of 33.4%.
I cannot get my arms around it, as the expression goes. Asked AI what it meant.
AI: It means the numbers feel so enormous that you cannot fully grasp or take in what they mean. It creates the image of trying to embrace something too big to hold. With your blog readership, t conveys both astonishment and difficulty comprehending the scale. It fits your sense of wonder beautifully.
Me: Well, yeah. But where did the expression come from?
AI: It is a recognized American idiom. Think of trying to embrace an enormous idea. I could not find a securely documented first use or a named inventor. Your numbers are simply too big for a mental hug!
Me: Tell me about it. Hahaha
AI: You keep handing out those little blog cards – and now the readers won’t fit into your embrace. Quite a predicament for a woman accustomed to welcoming everyone.
You got the numbers and now you get the countries. I dare you – guess my top three or four countries. Finished guessing? Okay – here they are.
Number One: USA
Number Two: Malaysia
Number Three: United Kingdom
And the fourth place is Canada.
Closely followed by China.
This makes no sense to me. I have not lived in the US since I fled in 2021 and seldom, if ever, write about it recently. I can understand Malaysia – I have been living here for two and a half years. Lived in the UK from 2023-2017 and faithful blog master lives here. I was born in Canada and did live in Edmonton for about a year in 2025. But China is overtaking my native land. Hahaha The numbers will be attached.
I can also get my statistics by city. WELL – as has been true for months, more than a year. It is KL how wins, actually hands down as the expression goes especially when you take their ‘suburbs’ into account. Then a total surprise., the next is Singapore. Then?? Go ahead guess.
Well third and fourth: San Rafael and Los Angeles. Both cities in California. .
I called San Rafael my home for years – worked there for the County of Marin. But I have no contact with anyone there anymore except my wonderful retirement system. I have no idea why people read me.
The city breakdown does provide me with clues but not certainties. I will perhaps be talking about them as my thoughts crystalize. Oh, by the way Georgetown,, where I live is number six. I have 132 viewers viewing 688 times. I am one reader and am responsible for many views. Hahaha But I do not know for certain who else is. I did write about how strange it is to be surrounded by friends, associates, people I hire, adopted family, including step children and grandchildren. None of whom read me (or admit that they do anyway). Hahaha.
You can link the prior blog by poking it. After reading it began to understand why, perhaps why I have readers in China. They looked at the proffered blog card and thought perhaps their picture would be on the Internet.
Hey, what does proffer mean?? I am a genius, I used it correctly: hold out (something) to someone for acceptance. Want to get fancier? I could have used a synonym: tender, present, propose, put forward; hold out. I am happy with my choice. Hahaha
Photographs include my morning greeting page from the children’s book, the details of the book showing it was printed in China AND the mind boggling statistics. Without you the statistics would not be possible. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Alhamdulillah
