Goodnight, My Love

It was late at night. The moon peeked at the bedroom window, round and silvery, like a giant night light from the sky.

But two pairs of little eyes were still open. Baby Mo tossed and turned. Baby Ais hugged her teddy bear tightly.

"Not sleepy yet?" asked Abi, sitting between the two beds.

"Not yet," they both said, though their eyes were already heavy.

Abi smiled. "Then let's get our hearts ready for sleep first. Just as we wash our hands before eating, we clean our hearts before sleeping."

Abi began turning off the lamps one by one, and the room grew dim and warm. "Let's forgive today first," whispered Abi. "If Mo fought with Ais over a toy earlier… it's forgiven now, okay?"

Baby Mo glanced at his sister. "Sorry, Ais," he mumbled. Baby Ais giggled softly.

"Now, let's entrust ourselves to Allah," said Abi. Then he recited softly, and the twins copied as best they could:

Bismika Allahumma ahyaa wa amuut. — "In Your name, O Allah, I live and I die." (Bukhari 6324, Muslim 2711)

"It means," whispered Abi, "we sleep in the embrace of Allah's protection. Allah keeps our breath safe until morning. So we don't need to fear anything."

Baby Ais yawned wide. Baby Mo felt his eyelids grow heavy, as heavy as a warm blanket.

Abi kissed both their foreheads. "Goodnight, my loves. Sweet dreams. Allah is watching over you."

The moon kept watch at the window. And beneath its gentle light, Baby Mo and Baby Ais drifted to sleep — not because they were tired, but because a heart entrusted to Allah can always rest in peace.

Goodnight, Baby Mo. Goodnight, Baby Ais. See you in a brand-new morning, insha'Allah.