Thanksgiving is celebrated on different dates in the United States, Liberia, some of the Caribbean islands, and Canada. In the USA, it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It is known to be a day of giving thanks to God for the blessings. We Ahmadi Muslims thank God several times a day as it is the part of our faith. We thank Him for all the blessings He has showered upon us. In this regard, the Holy Qur’an states,“If you are grateful, I will, surely, bestow more favors on you” (14:8). While there are some duties we owe to our creator, there are some duties we owe to His creation as well. It is our duty to serve humanity and there are rights we have on one another. We should always be mindful for the well-being of others. Instead of spending money on wasteful matters, we should give in charity and help the needy. We should always be willing to be a cause for someone’s celebration even though it be for a moment. The Holy Qur’an states, “And do not forget to do good to one another” (2:238).
If one doesn’t have enough wealth to share, spreading happiness would also be a great thing to do. Simply having a welcoming glance at our faces is also a form of charity. According to Islamic teachings, serving humanity is the essence of Islam. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “One who is not grateful to others is not grateful to God.” May God Almighty enable us all to always be grateful to God and human beings and always strive to make others happy.