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For Lincoln, Also A Day Of Penitence
Source: On Faith (Newsweek/Washington Post)

In 1789, declaring the first national day of thanksgiving, George Washington mentioned, “…the many and signal favors of Almighty God.”

He recommended a day dedicated “to the service of that great and glorious being.” In 1863, when Abraham Lincoln declared what would become an annual Thanksgiving celebration, he saw it “as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

Their wording suggests that they envisioned a holiday of religious significance, although the day has gradually come to be better known for its cultural practices.

From an Islamic perspective, both believers and non-believers could celebrate a day of thanksgiving. Most scholars see thankfulness as both acknowledging a blessing from God and working to show appreciation for that blessing through one’s enhanced service to God and humanity. Others take a broader view and see thankfulness as any customary expression of appreciation for a boon received.

In this country, a full day of thanksgiving should involve expressing our collective appreciation for the many boons we have received, while acknowledging that to greater or lesser extents they have come at the price of deprivation and suffering for others. That acknowledgement should ideally translate into a renewed commitment on our part to work to improve the lives and alleviate the suffering of those others, wherever they may be.

For those who would view these latter thoughts as inconsistent with the spirit of Thanksgiving Day, we would remind them that Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation contained many sobering sentiments. For example, he felt the day should also be one of “humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience.” As we survey our sad lot, I do not think too many of us would feel we are above his advice.