What Giving Thanks Really Means

DAILYREFLECTION

Gratitude is not bound to any nation or culture. It is one of the most universal virtues, yet it becomes hollow when left vague. Real gratitude asks uncomfortable questions. To whom are we grateful. And what does gratitude look like in a world where blessings are often taken through force.

The stories we learned about Thanksgiving spoke of pilgrims and peace, but failed to mention stolen land, broken treaties, and the suffering of Native peoples. Gratitude without justice easily becomes a mask. A pleasant story that hides a painful truth.

In our tradition, gratitude is not a polite phrase. It is honoring the One who gives and honoring the people through whom blessings arrive. Allah teaches us to work in gratitude. It is a posture of courage and clarity, not comfort.

Prophet Ibrāhīm was asked to offer what he loved most. His test was not cruelty. It was trust. Would he cling to the gift or trust the Giver. True gratitude freed him from fear, and Allah returned his son unharmed. Gratitude becomes transformative when we let go of attachment and rely on the One who provides.

History offers examples of gratitude betrayed. The Oneida Nation, once allies of early colonists, lost ninety percent of their land. Palestinians continue to endure the logic of settler colonialism that strips a people of home and dignity. Gratitude becomes an obscenity when built upon someone else’s erasure.

Yet gratitude can also heal. In 2019, a woman in New York returned nearly thirty acres of land to the Oneida people. No holiday. No applause. She simply recognized a wrong and made it right. Her act echoed the spirit of Ibrāhīm. Trust in Allah over fear of loss.

Gratitude requires that we remember injustice rather than gloss over it. It calls us to feed the hungry and care for the vulnerable. It calls us to gather with family not because a holiday tells us to, but because Allah has gifted us each other. Gratitude is feeding a family in Gaza. Gratitude is supporting those in need before waiting to feel thankful.

True gratitude purifies the heart. It draws us closer to Allah. It makes us generous, just, and unafraid to give. May Allah make us among His truly grateful servants. Ameen.

REFLECT ON THIS:

How will you “work in gratitude” today?

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WATERMELONWATCH

• UN agencies reported that fuel shortages again forced hospitals in northern Gaza to scale back critical services. Local volunteers organized neighborhood blood-donation drives to keep emergency rooms functioning.

• Al Jazeera noted intensified shelling around Khan Younis that pushed more families toward already crowded shelters, while community kitchens run by youth groups continued distributing hot meals to displaced families.

• Reuters highlighted new diplomatic pressure at the UN urging expanded aid corridors. Civil society coalitions in Europe are raising funds to send additional medical kits through partner NGOs.

• ICRC teams said electricity blackouts disrupted water pumping again, though engineers from local municipalities managed to restore partial access in several neighborhoods.

• UNRWA staff reported rising cases of dehydration among children in central Gaza. Despite the strain, teachers inside shelters are organizing informal lessons to give children a sense of routine and comfort.

QURANCORNER

Ilā (إِلَى) — To / Toward

Ilā points the heart forward. It’s the word of journey to your Lord is the return, to Him belong the heavens and the earth. Whether it’s returning in prayer, turning in repentance, or walking the path of guidance, ilā reminds us: we are always headed somewhere. And the most beautiful direction… is toward Him.