I suddenly remembered the words to a song, well sort of remembered. Asked Artificial Intelligence to learn that
You’re thinking of Morning Has Broken — made famous by Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam). The opening line is: “Morning has broken like the first morning,
blackbird has spoken like the first bird…” (It’s originally a Christian hymn; Cat Stevens’ version brought it into the wider world.)
• It’s originally a Christian hymn first published in 1931.
• Lyrics: Eleanor Farjeon.
• Tune: traditional Gaelic melody “Bunessan.”
Me : When did Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam record it?
Cat Stevens recorded it on his album Teaser and the Firecat (1971) (released in 1971; many sources cite October 1971).
Me: When did he convert to Islam (and how does this relate)?
He converted to Islam in December 1977 and took the name Yusuf Islam in 1978.
So: the song predates his conversion by about 6 years (recorded 1971; conversion 1977). It isn’t “written in relation to” his reversion—because he didn’t write the lyric and it came from the 1931 hymn.
Artificial Intelligence could not provide the lyrics so I had to look elsewhere.
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world
Sweet the rains new fall, sunlit from Heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God’s recreation of the new day
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world
As I read the words of the hymn I was somewhat amazed that it did not in anyway ‘conflict with the Islamic faith. So spoke to AI about that.
“That hymn doesn’t clash with Islam because it’s not arguing doctrine; it’s describing creation. And on that ground, the faiths often speak the same language.
What it names is entirely consonant with Islamic understanding:
• Light — creation emerging by divine command (“Kun”), not by struggle
• Firstness — the purity of beginnings, before corruption or ego
• Praise rising from nature — birds, morning, earth responding to God without theology
The Qur’an does this repeatedly, in almost the same register — not as metaphor, but as remembrance:
Creation itself knows how to praise, even when humans forget.
(Qur’an 24:35; 17:44, in meaning)
That’s why the hymn feels so at home in you now. It’s not Christian argument; it’s primordial recognition. Before labels. Before law. Before division.
In Islam, this is close to fiṭrah — the original orientation toward God. Words that arise from that place can travel across traditions without friction.
So your instinct is right:
you’re not borrowing something foreign.
You’re recognizing something true.
And perhaps that’s why it surfaced now — not to pull you backward, but to quietly affirm:
The light was always the same.
This is how my mornings arrive now.
I have not spoken of my mornings for many a moon. Hahaha. Asked AI what it meant, if it did mean for a long time.
` Yes 😊 — “for many a moon” means for a long time, especially in a gentle, poetic, old-fashioned way.
It comes from counting time by moon cycles, so it carries a sense of:
• seasons passing
• repeated mornings and nights
• time measured by living, not clocks
It fits beautifully with what you’re writing — unhurried, reflective, rooted in natural rhythms.
I will start with this January 18th morning and work backwards. I had awoken early as my morning message to all will atest. Almost completed important blog, describing why I was transitioning to the new blog when I realized it was 7 am. Put on bathing attire, a long skirt, my robe, a towel around my shoulders and speedily traveled to the eighth floor. No one is sight. Took a photo edited it and send it off with this caption. Good morning. But oops! No sun. I have already prayed, made and ate breakfast in my room, wrote almost an entire blog . You???? Like the sun??? Lazy 🤣 Hahahah
Got all of one response to that.
Elina: Been up since 5!!
Me: Wow!! Accomplishments??? Please tell me.
(She did not)
Decided to get at it. Took off the robe, the skirt, put in my iPods and went to the baby pool for some exercise. I had overdone exercise the day before so it was relaxed water walking. Decided to try Apple Music’s Alexis Radio Station. The first song was Shawn Mendese’s Treat You Better. The lyrics began:
I won’t lie to you
I know he’s just not right for you
And you can tell me if I’m off, but I see it on your face
When you say that he’s the one that you want
And you’re spendin’ all your time in this wrong situation
And anytime you want it to stop
I know I can treat you better than he can
And any girl like you deserves a gentleman
Tell me, why are we wasting time on all your wasted cryin’
When you should be with me instead?
I know I can treat you better, better than he can
I’ll stop time for you
The second you say you’d like me to
I just wanna give you the loving that you’re missing
Baby, just to wake up with you
Would be everything I need, and this could be so different
Tell me what you want to do
I had not heard that song in such a long time. I was blown away. Blown away because it describes my life exactly since I came to KL. Everyone and everything treats me better. That Penang was the wrong situation. Not just guys (although so true) but where I live, the opportunities, the neighborhood, the food, my KL friends, the nearby masjid, my newly formed team.
Classical music followed which accompanied my careful forward, backward, sideways walking. Emerged from the pool, looked skyward to see an emerging sun. Grabbed the camera. Took a photo. Edited it and sent it to all with this caption. Some hope. After peaceful water walking the sleepy sun made an appearance.
After all that I put on the robe, the skirt and went back to my room wherein I received a text from Nixon who was resting uncomfortably in the hospital after his kidney stone surgery. Fortunately the surgery went well but taking out the tube was so painful and he was peeing blood.
Me: I never peed blood. Not looking forward to it. I think my plumbing is better than yours.
Did some thinking and decided it was, sending him the following heart felt message.
Me: Don’t laugh. It might hurt more. I will laugh for you. A friend in need is a friend indeed. In my humble opinion penises have too many jobs to do. Tell the team I said that. Hahaha
Well…, I sent a text to Sonny telling him of this conversation. Within six minutes he sent a message – a sign that said A Penis Has a Sad Life!! It is so vulgar and tasteless I cannot put it on the blog but it certainly is funny.
Me: It is so funny. The funniest thing I have EVER read. Can I send it to Nixon with your sympathy???
Well I did.
Me: Sonny sent this to me to send to you when I told him what I said about penises. You have his sympathy by the way.
Nixon: Hahahahahahahahah True
Me: I am glad it made you laugh. Probably too ‘adult’ for the team. Hahaha
He: Yup. Can’t at all.
Me: Hahahah No Way Jose.
Then I sent Nixon a GIF
Me: She looks like a younger me actually.
He: The glasses definitely yes.
Me: The nose, the hair, the attitude.
He: Agreed.
A later conversation with Sonny.
Me: We are having so much fun at the expense of poor Nixon. But he is loving it. His penis is the center of a small community. But how many jobs do I have??? Now entertaining the sick??
He: Just a little CSR 🙏🙏🙏
Me: What is a CSR
He: Corporate Social Responsibility. Companies giving back to society in form of charity, welfare, etc.
Me: I am not a corporation!!!! Men ?!?!?! Get me so confused.
In the middle of texting, being A CSR etc etc. I read three more chapters in Living with Quran, began the blog you are reading, made and ate my lunch.
Then received another text from Nixon.
He: Just met the doctor Dr. now said the stone is break an loses however it will need to pee it out. It is like sand now.
Me: I do not understand this. Why not surgically remove? I will ask AI. AI to the rescue. But since you have nothing to do – go to my YouTube channel. Listen and watch me read bedtime stories and then go to sleep. Just a suggestion. There are cooking classes too but there is probably not a kitchen in your room. Hahaha I am definitely a full service friend.
I later had a nap, texting him.
Me: I just woke up from a nap. Without my bedtime stories.
My Bedtime Stories
They are read from books, purchased at a KL book store. I put them on YouTube for parents of young children to read so they can learn about the Islamic Faith. I filmed two more yesterday and they will appear on the channel soon.
Don’t know if they are working. Either in instructing children and parents of the faith or putting kids to sleep. Hey, I wonder if they will work with Nixon???? Hahaha Go in the hospital, get discharged without a kidney stone but as a Muslim?? Somehow I doubt it.
I did ask AI.
Me: What causes kidney stones. Why must they be crushed?? and not removed surgically.
What causes kidney stones?
Kidney stones form when minerals and salts in urine become too concentrated and crystallize. Over time, those crystals stick together and grow.
The most common contributors are:
• Not enough fluid (the big one) → urine becomes concentrated
• Calcium oxalate imbalance (most common stone type)
• High salt intake → increases calcium in urine
• High animal protein (meat, fish) → changes urine chemistry
• Certain foods (spinach, nuts, chocolate, tea) in susceptible people
• Genetics — some people are simply stone-formers
• Medical conditions (gout, bowel disease, recurrent UTIs)
Why not just remove all stones surgically?
Because surgery:
• carries anesthesia risks
• can damage delicate kidney structures
• isn’t necessary for stones that will pass or fragment safely
Medicine generally follows this rule:
Don’t cut if you can let the body heal itself safely
One reassuring note
Most kidney stones:
• are painful but not dangerous
• do not cause permanent kidney damage if treated
• can often be prevented from recurring with hydration and small dietary adjustments
That is reassuring. There is one problem however. I have known Nixon for a year. He never reads my blogs so will not be reassured about his kidney stones, much less become a Muslim Oh well. I tried. Hahaha
I have become sidetracked. This was the good morning greeting from yesterday.
Me: What a glorious morning. And may you have a morning as blessed as mine. Alhamdulillah. .
Then the day before yesterday. This greeting.
Me: Good morning. My favorite shot of my early morning water walking in the children’s pool. Making new friends They are the cleaning staff who come from Indonesia. Now part of my morning routine.
