As American Muslims, should we stand with the Pilgrims or the Indians?

Since Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation in 1863 in the midst of the Civil War, Americans have celebrated a November Thursday as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise. Since 1970, a Native American group in New England has observed this same day as a National Day of Mourning. They are descendents of the indigenous Wampanoag Indians who encountered the Pilgrims that landed at Plymouth Rock. Each year at Plymouth Rock itself, the group - along with hundreds of allies - mourn the theft of their lands and food by the Pilgrims, and the enslavement and subjugation of their ancestors. At the same time, they also look forward to an America filled with justice and freed of brutality.

So, should American Muslims give thanks and praise the Creator, or should we mourn on this day? We should both give thanks and remember the past. We should stand in earnest compassion with the Pilgrims and in genuine solidarity with the Indians, helping each in their needs. As the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "A person should help his brother whether he is the oppressor or the oppressed. If he is the oppressor he should prevent him from doing so, for that is his help; and if he is the oppressed he should be helped against oppression."

As Muslims, we should always be thankful and truly grateful for all that we have. Although things could be better, things could also always be much, much worse. We should be mindful of the distance we need to go - as individuals, as a community and as a country. As America marks a Day of Thanksgiving, let American Muslims also commit ourselves to both an unfailing gratitude and to the struggles for racial & economic justice and peace.

Let's make this a day of thanksgiving and remembrance of our heritage as American Muslims. Let's recount the warts and all, so we can better understand our role in America in these remarkable times.

This Thanksgiving, let's remember the Muslims who arrived in America in the hulls of slave ships after crossing the Middle Passage. After all, Malcolm X did say, "We didn't land on Plymouth Rock; Plymouth Rock landed on us!" Historians estimate that a quarter of African slaves brought to America were Muslim. When Alex Haley traced his Roots, he traced them through Kunte Kinte to a Muslim village in West Africa. Historian Sylviane Diouf has eloquently described this experience in her book "African Muslims Enslaved in the Americas". Let's give thanks for those lifted out of slavery, and for the dignity in struggle of the late Rosa Parks and her generation.

Let's remember the vision of religious pluralism of our Founding Fathers. According to James Hutson, chief of the Library of Congress' Manuscript division, the Founding Fathers - especially Thomas Jefferson & George Washington - "explicitly included Islam in their vision of the future of the republic". Thomas Jefferson was more proud of his effort to pass Virginia's landmark Statute for Establishing Religious Freedom in 1786 than he was of his presidency. (Some say a future president would be similarly more proud of his stint as the manager of baseball team in Texas.) In his Autobiography, Jefferson praised the Virginia Statute's "mantle of protection," which included "the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan, the Hindoo and the Infidel." Let's give thanks for the religious freedoms we enjoy.

Let's remember the hand of friendship extended by the Sultan of Morocco, who made Morocco the first country to recognize the independence of the United States. Isn't it amazing that it is a Muslim land that has that honor? The 1787 Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Morocco and the United States stands as the basis for the longest unbroken treaty relationship between the US and any foreign country in the history of the Republic. Let's give thanks for those sincere efforts at peacemaking and bridge building in our time.

Let's remember the great American landmark, the Washington Monument on the Capitol Mall in Washington, DC. It was completed in the 1880s in part with the gift of funds from the Ottoman sultan in Istanbul, who as Caliph was also the figurehead leader of all Muslims. The Sultan's subjects included the populations of today's Middle East hotspots: Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. If you go to the Washington Monument, you can see the Sultan's commemorative plaque inside the Monument, which features a specially commissioned calligraphed poem in the Arabic script for the American people. Let's give thanks for wisdom, foresight, and small kindnesses in our leaders, communities, and families.

Let's remember the first American colonial conquest & occupation in the Muslim world which occurred during the Philippines-American War in the early 20th century, a war in which about 1.4 million Filipinos died. General Pershing accomplished in 10 or so years what the Spanish couldn't in 400 years. Fresh from fighting the Sioux at Wounded Knee, Pershing helped conquer the Muslim Moro peoples of the southern Philippines. The Colt .45 Gun, which was the standard issue handgun of the US Armed Forces until 1985, was invented specifically for the conquest of the Muslim Moro peoples. In one fateful siege, the Battle of Bud Bagsak, American troops killed 2000-3000 Muslim men, women, and children. Let's give thanks for those Muslims and Christians in the Philippines and around the world who are today breaking barriers and working for a new dawn free of oppression, exploitation and hate.

Let's all remember our own shortcomings, and give thanks for the infinite mercy, forgiveness, and love of our Creator.

Let's give thanks. Let's pray and work for a future of peace, justice, and nonviolence.

Brilliant analyses of Thanksgiving that can help shape our Islamic culture in America.

Our collective identity as Muslims in this land needs to establish a positive and recognizable form that truly represents Islam and is culturally American. The emergence of American Muslim cultural norms is all we have to pass on the next generation.

this is great Masood! finally someone is speaking about Native Americans and thanksgiving in the same sentence. I remember at berkeley I used to go to alcatraz every thanksgiving to observe (mourn) the day with native american groups.

i think its ok to observe thanksgiving as long as we are least cognizant that historically the day has painful memories for many.

Masood: you should write more frequently!

I don't know that there is any particular observing of Thanksgiving that applies to Muslims. We should be giving thanks on a daily basis.

The history primer was definitely interesting but I do fail to see the particular relevance the cojoining of Thanksgiving and this history has for Muslims in America.

If the point is, we should be thankful in general - then we do need reminders of that. If the point is let's use Thanksgiving for particular thanks etc. I don't think that applies to us as Muslims. Nor should we wish to make it apply to us.

Dear GM my salaams to you,

Islam is a universal religion for all time and the core values and principles are manifested via different nations, languages and cultural settings. If you decide to make your role as God's vicegerent on earth in the USA, then it is axiomatic to culturally progress American holidays and social customs closer to the divine teachings of Allah. There are many shared values with Islam and the American practice of the Thanksgiving holiday, and there aspects of the holiday that needs much more enlightenment as the article so aptly points out. One dimension of defining American Muslim culture is to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong with respect to US national holidays. I believe this is a natural outcome of creating a Muslim presence in America that will last for generations to come. God knows best÷

Levent,

The history primer was informative.

My point is: we don't need a holiday (Thanksgiving) to express our gratitude or thanks to Allah. Thus, my distaste for the emphasis on thanks as a by product of this holiday for Muslims.

The whole idea of one day of 'official' thanks-giving is not something I buy into. And so I don't want the legitimate worship we do(inlcuding giving thanks) to be associated or conjoined with this celebration.

OK, don't celebrate then, no one says you have to, But, all the same, your opinion shouldn't be used to forbid others from celebrating Thanksgiving. There is no shirk that I can see involved in it as there would be with Christmas or Easter. I think what's really going on here is tht you seem to be resisting cultural assimilation. Fine, but you shouldn't expect people to avoid assimilation or staying in the culture (for us converts) based on what I think is not a solid reasoning and probably unfounded in Islam.

I like the part about morocco best. That tidbit of knowledge should be incorporated into every grade school curriculum as part of the unit on the amercian revolution. we never learn about how other countries (other than britain) reacted to the formation of this country. similar to how we never learn about where the slaves came from other than 'africa'. anyway, thank you for the article. i also need to check out the arabic inscription at the washingon monument. props for an informative and wonderful article.

Hey, GM, I heard you're laying off 30,000 workers. What's up with that? Talking about Thanksgiving is waste of time, considering the thousands of families that will suffer from your selfish, profit-grabbing, CEO pocket lining, factory-closing, Japanese envying decision. Hey!

Sounds like a lot of hot air to me, nothing personal. Typical American Muslim drivel, lot of hot air and little substance. Scratching around and desperately trying to find something "Islamic" to attach to America's formative years. As if we Muslims were an integral part of building America. Reality is "our founding fathers" did nt give two hoots to Islam, Islamic philosophy or Islamic theology. Apparently did nt take their slaves' religion too seriously. "superstitious mumbo jumbo, worhsipping the moon god aa'lah."

Sorry, Asif, but this is not "typical American Muslim drivel." What's typical is mosque sermon makers doing everhything they can to save their children from "becoming American" though they have no idea what that means, because they surround themselves with "movement" books and spices, and can't feel, see, or smell anything but. What's typical is feeling strange victory that their children don't dress for halloween and eat turkey on TG, but have no idea or clue how to negociate for these kids who will bolt (not because of American inticements, but because of "typical" irrelevance of Muslim leaders, especially of the movment ilk) an Islamic ethos that can work with life, whether in America or elsewhere. What's typical are people looking for superficial markers of piety, but completely miss everything else. You can bet that every Friday after Thanksgiving, a thousand plus mosques in America will have the same khutba that "in Islam, everyday is thanksgiving . . . " which pretty much sounds drivelesque. What Thanksgiving does is not silence gratitude the rest of the year. Also, the founding fathers didn't have many hoots to offer mainstream Christianity either, and I'm don't only mean the King's Church. They were too humanist for the fundies' taste. This is not hot air at all. The more we know of history, the more familiar people become. For the majority of Americans, the Muslim presence happened yesterday and so the "problem" is recent and entirely alien. Knowledge does do something to human beings. There is a strong pre-Columbian Muslim presence, etc. It's stupid and superficial to think that these factoids and major shifts in perceptions will have zero effect on people. The thing is, we've never really tried it.

OmarG

- Nowhere did I say my 'opinion' should be used to forbid that celebration should you wish to celebrate it

- Likewise should you wish to assimilate or not is not my concern

- In general, I don't wish to 'assimilate' as you term it - my culture/religion, indeed way of life is Islam - what I do try is to learn from whichever culture I'm in that which is best and compatible with my religion.

My point is a very detailed and specific point - should you wish to celebrate the secular holiday of Thanksgiving as a Muslim, do as you like. But please don't associate it, conjoin it, relate it or justify it with regard to Islam. This last part is my only critique with regard to the article which was generally informative and enlightening.

Migocup - well I was gonna send your pink notice later on but now I'm reconsidering:-)

Well, I didn't get the impression that the author was trying to claim it was an Islamic holiday or anything of the sort. I think he was trying to show that it was reasonable to celebrate it, but we should keep in mind the history of the Indians and how Muslims figure in that history as well.

>>my culture/religion, indeed way of life is Islam

I don't think Islam *itself* is a culture; it influences the cultures of its adherents. You are surrounded by culture in every waking minute and I bet, no matter what country you're in, most of the culture has nothing to do with Islam. But, that's just me. And BTW, if you do live in the West and want to remain seperate, WHY?

>>please don't associate it, conjoin it, relate it or justify it with regard to Islam.

But, if Islam is a way of life as you mention for yourself, then everything we do must be justified with Islam. Indeed, there are plenty of people and groups which insist on exactly that.

I would say, the reality of human existence is such that given free reign, debauchery, greed and injustice tend to permeate the very fabric of society. From the Romans to the pre-Islamic Arabia to Europe even at its most enlightened, history is testament to the fact. As such, modern day America is no exception. Society there in general is debacherous and destructive, Americans are in Iraq and in the Middle East in general, because there way of life cannot survive measures of austerity that would free them of Middle Eastern oil (for which now we are told there is a voracious appetite in China as well).

Behind all inncocent seeming "holidays" and other paraparnalia in America is a a strong hedonistic undercurrent of consumerism and corporate connivance. Is there anything in America that is truly genuine and wholesome, free of marketing and salesmanship. From the local theme park to the local ball game to the local TV station to the local institution of learning to of course the local holiday????

The question therefore is this. Can Islamic culture's co-exist as a minority subculture and as such overtime overshadow debauchery or does Islam have to reign supreme for debauchery to be marginalized in society.

>>or does Islam have to reign supreme for debauchery to be marginalized in society.

FYI, debauchery is actually pretty widespread in Iran (Islamic Republic of, ).

OmarG:

The impression I got was that the author was trying to relate, associate etc. this holiday to Islam - otherwise I wouldn't have said that was my critique of the article.

SImply put Islam is a culture. It is a culture of best practices, relationships etc. If you don't accept that, then you're missing part of the religion.

Everything that one does must be compatible/justifiable within Islamic practices but there are plenty of things that have not been specifically forbidden or allowed and thus left out. Eg. driving a car

'And BTW, if you do live in the West and want to remain seperate, WHY?'

I thought that this comment deserved its own post. Generally, I don't use abusive language in forums where I'm fairly new but that comment is absolutely retarded.

What does separate mean?

Does separate mean I have values, beliefs, practices that are different from the majority? Yes, and I will not change fhem for anybody or in any place.

This is the argument bigots use against people who are different. 'Hey, veiled girl - why don't you take that hijab off - why you wanna separate youself off? Hey, Sikh guy, why do you insist on that turban in the workforce - why you wanna separate yourself off? Hey, Indians, why do you only go to Indian stores and why do you live in Indian only neighbourhoods - why you wanna be seperate?'

Are you a bigot? Do you insist on 'if you're in Rome, do as the Romans do'? Do you insist that when people emigrate to a country they discard their own beliefs and cultures in favor of the local ones?

>>but there are plenty of things that have not been specifically forbidden or allowed and thus left out. Eg. driving a car

...and the *option* of celebrating non-shirk secular holidays, like Thanksgiving and, oh no, July 4.

>>Do you insist on 'if you're in Rome, do as the Romans do'?

I've been to 5 continents and dozens of countries. When I stay for long periods in a particular place, I adapt as much as possible to the local culture as a sign of respect for my hosts and purposefully place myself outside of the American hang-outs and such. Travel and emmigration are different, however. Would I do so for the rest of my life instead of a temporary stay? Probably to an extent. Imagine: if I refuse to mix with the locals and intentionally conduct myself in a way thats at odds with the values of the locals ("Gimme some Beer!" "Go, bikinis, woohoo!" etc.) and act the ugly American, is that not deeply offensive to the locals and a directly intentional *rejection* of them despite my living among them? Now, I don't expect fellow Muslims (I hope that answers your Q: "Are you a bigot?") to drink beer and so on since that is specifically forbidden to us. I do expect immigrants to show some respect and not explicitly reject our culture and then claim that Allah makes them do it. Why come in the first place if a person's home culture is so much more better in thier eyes? Hmmm, sounds like such people simply want to exploit our economy and social resources; sounds alot like reverse colonialism to me.

You can celebrate what you like - my critique of the article is clear and specific

What/how do you adapt? ie. in Arab countries, are you wearing galabiyah etc.??

Are you saying that Non-Muslims in Muslim countries don't order beer in restaurants or that they don't wear bikinis on the beaches of Dubai for example? They most definitely do.

Are those acts offensive to me - yeah they are in some ways - would I exclaim to that person you are rejecting my culture - why don't you do as I do? Never -because he's not of my culture and I'm not of his culture.

What do you mean by respect and reject 'our culture'? Are you saying that if I don't celebrate Thanksgiving/4th of July -I'm rejecting 'your culture'? Wow, if that is so you have a rather warped sensitivity about 'your culture'.

I didn't choose to come to this country - my parents brought me. BTW - I'm writing from Canada. But I love Canada. My parents came for economic opporutunities and they entered this country legally at the invitation of the gov't.

I assume the Puritans and every other arrival to the States didn't come 'to exploit our economy and social resources'!! Please - what a half-baked statement.

And yes my 'home culture' is better than the US one because it is Islamic. What is not better is the economic/social and gov't situation, which is practically devoid of Islamic principles, and the US ones are better without question.

Do you have any idea what colonialism is??? Colonialism is the military/economic and social conquest of a place without invitation for the express benefit of the conqueror. You are telling me that my family is practicing 'reverse colonialism' by coming to Canada at the specific invitation of the gov't. Get real.

For your own benefit - reread each of your posts and statements so that what you're saying is in some way connected to reality and within reason.