This 80‑year‑old learned recently that maturity of thought, and the ability to make sound assumptions, does not necessarily come with age, but is instead a God‑given blessing that one may possess even in youth.
On the evening of March 2, she wanted to step out for some urgent kitchen supplies but hesitated due to the possibility of emergency alert sirens. While I, thinking myself ‘mature and wise’, reassured her that no enemy attack would occur before around 10pm, basing my confidence on something I had once read about the adversary being considered a ‘highly religious country’ among Islamic nations.
I later felt ashamed of this misplaced assumption as the sirens sounded at 8.39pm, right at a time when Muslims, after breaking their long Ramadan fasts, were engaged in extended Ramadan prayers in the mosques – something I never imagined a supposedly religious nation would interrupt with an attack, especially during such a sacred month.
Even after the sirens, I could still hear sounds from several mosques through my window, and at exactly 10pm, the distant voice of someone reciting the Holy Book from a majlis reached my ears.
Muhammad
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