Birds Chirping ..

Dear God,

On many previous occasions I have thought it odd to hear the odd bird chirping a few hours after midnight. The first time I heard this, I thought it was strange. I looked out of my window and it was pitch black, surely birds chirp nearer to dawn? I thought to myself.

Which they do, and the closer it gets to dawn the louder and more frequent is the sound of these beautiful winged creatures that You have created.

But then just now, I realised why the first bird chirps so very early, so just after midnight …

…It is the start of Tahajjud. So, when mankind is too lazy to praise You, the birds honour You.

In awe of Your Signs, Nasreen

My most favourite time of the day: pre-dawn

The other day I was sitting here with A. until the early hours, just chatting. We had not seen each other since we were 18 when I went to drop her off, there was an inexplicable peace in the air. A very faint birdsong could be heard, and even though it was still a little chilly, there was a warmth in the air, a sense of serenity.

‘You know, my most favourite time of the day has to be Tahajjud,’ I said. ‘What I get out of that prayer, I can never find in any of the others, even in the Fajr one. I always feel that I am the closest to God at that time.’

‘That is beacause He is closest to you,’ was the reply.