Dear Little Brother,

Do you know that whenever your two older sisters watch you sleep, we are overcome with emotion and unconditional love?

All that angst and sibling banter that lingers, fades into nothingness. This same ball of untamed energy and “Salmanness” is sedated into this beautifully peaceful, charming, innocent, sleeping, harmless child. In that moment I want nothing more than to protect you forever, from the vices of the world, from yourself, from anything that hurts you. In that moment – naturally, instinctively I make a dua from deep within my chest to make you the best version of yourself, to beautify your character, for Allah to give you everything good in this universe and for Him to keep you safe and sleeping like this forever. Today it was the vibrations of the rumbling from your deep slumber, mixed with the sounds from your iPad from the soccer match (which you fell fast asleep before you could turn off) that lead me into your room in the middle of the night. As I silently tucked you in and turned the buzzing technology off – I found that all my worries that had kept me up on this Saturday night has eased. And as I watched you, I realised how much I love you. And that despite every odd, how much I will always love you.

– From your one older sibling you still haven’t gotten over the fighting phase with