Chicago, Illinois

  The lunar Islamic calendar gives Muslims the unique opportunity to perform their ritual practices throughout the entire Gregorian year. Sometimes, this is most welcome: such as Ramadan occurring in the month of December, with its short days and long nights. Other times, this presents a difficult challenge: such as the current situation with Ramadan, which will be in the summer months for the next decade. And as always, the juxtaposition of the various Islamic holidays with those of other Abrahamic faiths allows constant reflection over the importance of acknowledging and working together as people of faith.

Yet, this year, the calendar coincidence could not have been more perfect: this year, the day of Arafat is on Thanksgiving.

I was blessed to perform the Hajj more than six years ago, and it was the most powerful and uplifting spiritual experience of my entire life. And I remember the day of Arafat as if it was yesterday. Arafat is a large, flat desert plain outside of Mecca. Indeed, there is a small mountain associated with it, but its expanse goes way beyond it. It is said that at Arafat, Adam and Eve were first re-united after their expulsion from the Garden. On the plain of Arafat, pilgrims gather on the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah to stand before God and beg for His mercy and forgiveness. It is a dress rehearsal, of sorts, for Judgment Day.

Our accommodations at Arafat were quite comfortable: I was in a large, carpeted, air-conditioned "room" (more like hanger) with all the food and drink I needed. Most of the day was spent in quite reflection, prayer, reading of scripture, and sipping of sweet, hot tea. After the prayer of Asr, however, everything changed; everything became serious, for the business of forgiveness had begun.

Several people gathered in groups to pray for forgiveness together and out loud. I preferred to be by myself, with all of the sins I had accumulated over my relatively short life on earth, alone with my Lord. There I was - almost naked - on my knees, thinking over all that I had done in my life that was so unbecoming of a grateful servant to whom life was given by the Precious Beloved Lord. There I was, knocking upon the Lord's door and hoping against hope that He would not reject and turn me away. There I was, kneeling in shame and humiliation before the Kind One, praying that He takes me into his Soothing Arms, despite all that I had done. The emotion quickly became overwhelming.

As I prayed, and prayed, and prayed; as the sun slowly sunk beneath the horizon, and the power of that moment in my personal spiritual history became palpable; as I crumbled under the weight of His Beauty and my ugliness, I could not stop the emotion weeping out of every recess of my soul. Yet, as the sun set and darkness blanketed the desert of forgiveness, a wonderful feeling of elation crept over me: I was saved, and I could feel it.

And after elation came enormous gratitude.

Historical research has cast doubt upon the innocent story which I was taught about the origins of the Thanksgiving holiday, but the concept of the day remains untainted: this day, at least, should be spent in giving thanks to our Lord for all the blessings and goodness we have received. Thus, there could not be a day that is more fitting to coincide with Thanksgiving than the day of Arafat.

As I, and the millions of my fellow pilgrims, moved on from the plain of Arafat to Muzdalifah, one cannot help but be grateful to God for His forgiveness. One cannot help but be grateful to God for His acceptance and grace; His opening the Door of Forgiveness to all who come; His Beautiful Face that He showed all who struggled to come to the Holy House. Those who are on the plain of Arafat right now are feeling the same thing, and I cannot help but smile when I think of their grateful elation.

Moreover, many Muslims will this day be fasting the daylight hours in solidarity with those blessed to be on the Hajj. Although Thanksgiving is most thought of as a feast: it is more fitting for it to be a fast. Even though, thankfully, the day is short and the sun will set early, as Muslims deprive themselves of food and drink, they are reminded of the countless people across the globe who forgo food and drink not out of choice, but out of dire deprivation. And that includes people who reside in this very country, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently reported. Therefore, we should be doubly motivated to help those who are less fortunate. If one is to be truly thankful for the bounties bestowed, then she should do all she can to help those in need.

The juxtaposition of Islamic holidays with prominent non-Muslim ones is always a great opportunity to educate and remind people of the beauty of our faith. I am sure that one day - quite soon, in fact - I will be writing about the connection between Ramadan and Independence Day. Yet, when I thought about the coincidence of Arafat and Thanksgiving, it truly gave me pause, for I cannot see two seemingly unassociated events be so similar in their meaning and significance. It may be a coincidence that is once in a lifetime.

Assalam Allaikum,

What a wonderful story. We should all keep this in mind whenever we fast. I am a recent convert and I'm still learning as I go about the Day of Arafat and Eid al-Adha which comes upon us tomorrow and Friday, respectfully, but I'm very excited.

Happy Eid Mubarak!

@belladonna2054: welcome to the club and best wishes for a Happy Thnaksgiving and an Eid Mubarak!

Belladonna ~ MashAllah. Thats excellent. Suck as much marrow out of the experiences as you can and may Allah SWT bless all your days of rememberance and contemplation.

I love that this article uses English and American English terms of expression for the Islamic experience. Often, the languages of import like Arabic or Urdu, have taken on a sublime religious significance in the minds of people. That has in turn prevented people from expressing their feelings of connection to Allah through Deen in their mother tongues and using their cultural context.

Its been a major obstacle to the progress of the cause of Islam. Not that we are not supposed to familiarise ourselves with the traditional learning. Its just that the schizophrenia that existed out of resistance to the English, has translated into a poor effort of Islam in english.

uhm .. sweet article?

Over two million Muslim men, women, and youngsters will be performing the annual Islamic ritual of Hajj in the city of Makkah (Saudi Arabia) this Thursday, without knowing the significance of this annual event. The main purpose of this event, like five-times daily and weekly Friday prayers in a mosque (compulsary for the abled men – while women are excused) is to establish a bond of brotherhood (Ummah). The Muslim brotherhood (Ummah) is a FARD (compulsary act) declared by Holy Qur’an. In the past (prior to the colonization of Makkah and Medinah by the western colonial powers through the al-Saud dynasty), this event played the springboard for many Islamic resistance movements.

On August 5, 2005, Ramadhan Foundation, held the first International Muslim Unity Conference in Mancester (UK) which was attended by Muslim scholars, politicians and academics across the globe to show the world the desire of over 1.7 billion-strong Muslim community’s desire for unity and peace in the world.

Ramadhan Foundation has planned to hold the 2nd Internation Muslim Unity Convention in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), from December 15-16, 2009. The list of speakers include Dato Mohammed Najib, Dr. Mahathir, Dr. Mohammed Saeed Ramadan al-Bouti (Syria), Justice Muhammad Taqi Usmani (Pakistan), Shiekh Ahmad Nisar Baig (UK), Al-Habib Ali al-Jifri (UAE), Sheikh Salman al-Qudah (Saudi Arabia), Imam Sayed Hassan al-Qazwini (Iraq), Professor John L. Esposito (USA), and others.

Hajj provides an annual opportunity for Muslims with different backgrounds, from different places, speaking different languages and of different colors of their skins and living in different cultures and political domination.

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (Holy Qur’an), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah’s Favor on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that; by His Grace, you became brethren, and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His Ayat (Verses) clear to you, that you may be guided,” – Holy Qur’an 3:103.

http://rehmat1.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/highway-to-muslim-unity/

Rehmat >>>> Over two million Muslim men, women, and youngsters will be performing the annual Islamic ritual of Hajj in the city of Makkah (Saudi Arabia) this Thursday, without knowing the significance of this annual event.

Actually its closer to 3.5million people. Many Arabs from neighbouring states have unfetterd access to the Hajj.

>>> The main purpose of this event, like five-times daily and weekly Friday prayers in a mosque (compulsary for the abled men – while women are excused) is to establish a bond of brotherhood (Ummah).

The main purpose of the Hajj is to perform your duty towards Allah SWT. The positive outcomes are blessings from Allah SWT.

>>> politicians and academics across the globe to show the world the desire of over 1.7 billion-strong Muslim community’s desire for unity and peace in the world.

Loosely, in its own words, the convention doesn't seek to "show the world" the Muslim desire of peace and unity, but has specific objectives to walk on the road to global solidarity, (off ot its site):

~ Establishing a forum where Muslims from different backgrounds can come together under one umbrella and call for the unity and preservation of all Muslims
~ Creating a declaration of support from all major Muslim organisations.
~ Denouncing all forms of violence in the world
~ Creating a better representation of Islam and Muslims in the world media
~ Calling for better interfaith dialogue and tolerance with all major religions in the world
~ Preserving for the heritage of Islam and Muslims throughout the world

I might be mistaken Rehmat, but it could imply denouncing suicide bombings and the actions of the Taliban and Janjaweed, seeking interfaith dialogue with Jews ... and its open to "everybody from what ever background, creed, race or faith to come" (and presumably sex too). Not many Women or Black African speakers listed here but I'm sure they have and will be represented.

Then again, the problem of unity has always been a weakness for traditionalists, NOT everyone else. And the problem of concrete action has always been the weakness of conventions.

@Ghulam: >>always been a weakness for traditionalists

Interesting; how so?

OmarG >>> Interesting; how so?

The Sunni, Shia schism is just one. They abhor modern forms of research and science. They are opposed to integration and inter-faith dialogue. They do NOT allow women to participate in overt and positive ways. They deal in absolutes, so salafi atharis despise non-atharis, consider sufis as people of innovation. They are not inclined to work in the middle except to judge others.

It would be quite interesting to go back and take some time to see how many times The day of Arafat has fallen on 'Thanksgiving'. Does anyone know?

Muslims can also fast on the day of Eid al-Adha. They are suppose to break their fast AFTER the Eid al-Adha prayer.

I meant to say it would be interesting to go back and see how many times 'Thanksgiving' has FALLEN on the day of Arafat. :)

As far as I am aware, it is Haraam to fast on the day of Eid. How do you guys manage the sacrifice on that side? We go out to farms, or alterntively, if the yard is big enough and the bylaws allow we slaughter at home. Areas with large Muslim populations allow for this.