Source/Credit: The Palm Beach Post | Opinion
By Mansura Bashir Minhas | November 16, 2010
Today, Muslims will celebrate Eid ul Adha, Islam's most important holiday, commemorating the sacrifice and obedience of the great patriarch, prophet Abraham. It is observed at the heels of the month of Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), the largest communal gathering of mankind in the world.
This year, Eid comes just one week before Thanksgiving. Imbued with a spirit of gratitude and thankfulness, most people will rejoice beyond the turkey and stuffing. Thanksgiving allows Americans to offer prayers and understand that in "giving back" lies the secret to giving thanks. The underlying spirit of Thanksgiving bears remarkable parallels to Eid and the Hajj.
Muslims also offer their sacrifices to demonstrate obedience to God and give thanks during this holy time. To demonstrate gratitude for their bounties, Muslims remember the poor and hungry and share their sacrifices with them. The spirit of Thanksgiving is cited in the following verse of the Quran: "If you are grateful, I will, surely, bestow more favors on you;" (14:8)
This November, we American Muslims have two opportunities to look beyond the rituals and reflect on the true spirit of both Eid and Thanksgiving. Needless to say, recapturing this essence is a need in these times.
MANSURA BASHIR MINHAS
Miami
Read original post here: Muslims' Eid shares values with U.S. Thanksgiving
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