A Prayer of Thanks to God
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[8] And He saw that we practiced Zakat charity the wrong way; not in accordance with His word, the Quran (6:141).
[9] God saw that every practice of worship that came to us through Abraham and Muhammad was severely corrupted.
[10] God saw that His final message to the world, the Quran, has been tampered with; two human-made sentences, in praise of the prophet Muhammad (9:128-129), were added to the last sura revealed in Medina.
[11] And God willed that we know that this world will end 2280 AD (1710 AH).
[12] And God decided that the human race is now ready to understand the purpose of our lives—why we are here (MP, Nov88).
[13] And God willed that we know how the Quran was sent down, and how it was recorded; that Muhammad received it in “Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa” located in the highest heaven, that it was released to him by Gabriel over a period of 23 years, and that it was written down by Muhammad’s own hand.
[14] And God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, wanted us to know that He has given us 40 long years (46:15) to look around us, reflect, study, investigate, then make a decision to re-join His Kingdom, or stay in Satan’s chaotic domain. Anyone who dies before the age of 40 goes to Heaven.
[15] And God willed that the time has come to reveal His great miracle in the Quran—a living, perpetual, ever-growing, ever present, tangible, physical, and utterly overwhelming miracle.
[16] And God knew that most of those who do believe in Him, do not know Him; they do not believe that He is doing everything; that He is Omnipotent.
[17] And God willed that we know the secret of perfect happiness (perfect health, wealth, joy, and
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peace of mind), now and forever.
[18] And to fulfill all these divine decrees, God sent His messenger to our generation (3:81).
[19] How fortunate we are to be born at this time and to be the recipients of these awesome blessings from God.
HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE! THANK YOU GOD.
Reprinted from Oct 1988 MP.
(Editor R. Khalifa, Ph.D. Note that MP stands for Muslim Perspective, later renamed to Submitters Perspective.)
The First Thanksgiving Proclamation
This historic proclamation was issued by George Washington during his first year as President. It sets aside Thursday, November 26 as “A Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer.”
Signed by Washington on October 3, 1789 and entitled “General Thanksgiving,” the decree appointed the day “to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God.”
While there were Thanksgiving observances in America both before and after Washington's proclamation, this represents the first to be so designated by the new national government.
THANKSGIVING DAY 1789
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - A PROCLAMATION
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor - and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the
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many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be – That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks – for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation – for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war –for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed – for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions – to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually – to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed – to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord – To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us – and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
(signed) G. Washington
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