Subject: [Masjid Tucson] Submission weekly reminder In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Peace be upon you, The Thanksgiving holiday in USA is in late November (though other countries may set aside a different day to give thanks to God). Whether it is a holiday or not, we each have so much to thank God for. Every day should be a day of thanks-giving to God, the One who created us and provides for us. Among the many blessings, is that God gave us this life as a precious opportunity to redeem our souls even after we rebelled against Him. Thank you God. [Quran 45:22] GOD created the heavens and the earth for a specific purpose, in order to pay each soul for whatever it earned, without the least injustice.* *45:22 God granted us this life as a precious chance to redeem ourselves, denounce our ancient alliance with Satan, and rejoin God's kingdom. See Introduction & Appendix 7. [Quran 76:2-3] We created the human from a liquid mixture, from two parents, in order to test him. Thus, we made him a hearer and a seer. We showed him the two paths, then, he is either appreciative, or unappreciative. [Quran 16:112] GOD cites the example of a community that used to be secure and prosperous, with provisions coming to it from everywhere. But then, it turned unappreciative of GOD's blessings. Consequently, GOD caused them to taste the hardships of starvation and insecurity. Such is the requital for what they did. Luqmãn's Wisdom [Quran 31:12-13] We have endowed Luqmãn with wisdom: "You shall be appreciative of GOD." Whoever is appreciative is appreciative for his own good. As for those who turn unappreciative, GOD is in no need, Praiseworthy. Recall that Luqmãn said to his son, as he enlightened him, "O my son, do not set up any idols beside GOD; idolatry is a gross injustice."* *31:13 How will you feel if you take care of a child, give him the best education, and prepare him for life, only to see him thank someone else? Thus is idolatry; injustice. Appreciative vs Unappreciative [Quran 14:7] Your Lord has decreed: "The more you thank Me, the more I give you." But if you turn unappreciative, then My retribution is severe. References Why Were We Created ? http://www.masjidtucson.org/quran/appendices/appendix7.html Thanksgiving, a great time for giving thanks to God, http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/sp/2014/nov/page4.html Thanksgiving proclamation of George Washington, http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/sp/1999/nov/page3.html Peace.