Thanksgiving: An Islamic View

By: Shamsi Ali Al-Kajangi

Every fourth Thursday of November in the US is celebrated as Thanksgiving Day. It is a significant occasion and one of the biggest national holidays. For many Americans, it is a day for family gatherings to express gratitude to one another. People often travel great distances to reunite with their loved ones.

From a historical perspective, however, Thanksgiving Day may not be entirely desirable to celebrate. It originated when European settlers arrived in what would later become America and celebrated their dominance over the Native Americans, known as Indian Americans.

Because of this, the celebration is not universally embraced, particularly by non-white Americans. Some African Americans and Native Americans choose not to observe Thanksgiving. Instead, they commemorate their own occasions, such as “Native American Day.”

Islam’s Perspective on Thanksgiving

Despite its historical background, Thanksgiving has been widely accepted and celebrated, becoming an integral part of American culture. Many traditions and practices, though historically undesirable, have evolved over time into cherished cultural milestones. Often, they are no longer directly connected to their original historical context.

In this light, Islam evaluates such practices based on their essence and meaning, rather than their historical origins. When considering cultural traditions, Islam emphasizes principles and values over historical details.

Thanksgiving, as an American cultural practice, has been celebrated for generations and is not tied to any specific faith or creed. For Muslims, as part of this diverse society, it can be embraced as a cultural practice. However, Islam encourages its followers to align all their actions with its principles and values.

From this perspective, Muslims approach Thanksgiving by defining it within the framework of Islamic teachings. While the outward practice may resemble that of others, the intention and principles underlying it are distinct.

In Islam, the concept of gratitude is deeply rooted and expressed through the terms shukr (Arabic) and tashakkur (Persian), both derived from the root shakara, meaning to thank, appreciate, and be grateful. Gratitude is a fundamental principle in Islam, emphasized in many verses of the Quran and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Allah says:
“Be thankful to Me, and do not be ungrateful.”

He also says:
“If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.”

What to Be Grateful For

There are countless blessings in life to be grateful for, but they can be summarized into three key areas: