Once again, the holiday season is upon us! Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving with family and food on November 22, 2018. As an Ahmadi Muslim woman, I’m often asked if I celebrate Thanksgiving and I have detected a sense of hesitation to reciprocate my Thanksgiving greetings, for fear that individuals have committed a faux pas if they wish me a Happy Thanksgiving. As such, I’d like to make it clear that Muslims do celebrate Thanksgiving, as it is an American tradition, not a holiday associated with any particular religion. The Islamic concept of giving thanks is not only once a year, but every day, and the best way to render thanks to God, according to Islamic tradition, is by giving to the needy. During the holiday season, I laud my fellow Americans’ spirit of giving, which is a wonderful gesture of gratitude for one’s blessings throughout the year. God says in the Holy Qur’an, “If you are grateful, I will, surely, bestow more favors on you” (14:8). I wish all readers a most blessed holiday season and a very Happy Thanksgiving!
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
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