A Season Filled with Thankfulness
We all know the history behind Thanksgiving and how people showed thankfulness, but do people stop to think about why they are showing gratitude on a specific day?
Thanksgiving this year is on Thursday, November 26th. However, as an American Muslim, I think that Thanksgiving should not be limited to one day, but should instead be celebrated every day. I pray to God for the things He has provided me, for the food I eat and the clothes I wear, for the loving family He has given me, for the little things we take for granted and lastly I pray to show my gratitude towards Him, as He brought me into this world.
Not only should we give thanks to God, but we should also be grateful to His people. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be on him) said, “One who is not grateful to people is not grateful to God.” I try to practice this saying and attempt to follow this message. A way of showing gratitude to others could be through a smile, a greeting, or holding the door for someone. We should aim to go to homeless shelters and donate items of daily use. Writing cards to friends, family, the sick, and our troops are also a way of showing appreciation. Even small tasks like doing chores or helping someone to ease their lives is a way of showing gratitude. No action performed is big or small because our intentions overpower the action.
This Thanksgiving, we should aim to show gratefulness to others and should spread this spirit to all the other months and seasons.
