Amina and the Grateful Moon

Amina tossed and turned in her bed. She couldn't sleep. She looked out the window and there was the moon, big and golden, smiling at her from the sky.

"Can't you sleep either?" Amina asked in a tiny voice.

"I work at night," answered the moon in a gentle voice. "Come down to the garden for a moment, I want to show you a secret."

Amina tiptoed downstairs with her little cat Nur, who followed her everywhere. The garden lantern glowed warm like a tiny star.

"Look up," said the moon. "Each star is a lovely thing that happened to you today. That one is Mama's hug. That one over there, the warm bread at breakfast. And that other one, your brother's laughter."

Amina counted stars and stars, and her heart filled up with thankfulness: Alhamdulillah for every single one.

Back in her bed, Amina yawned happily. She didn't want to count sheep anymore: now she counted gifts.

"Thank you, moon," she whispered. "Alhamdulillah for this day."

And with a grateful heart, she fell asleep before she reached the tenth star.