Muslims should not celebrate Thanksgiving
“From the moment we wake up till the moment we go to sleep, we're in constant show of gratitude to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.”
Muslims should preserve a distinct Islamic identity and express gratitude through continual worship rather than imitating non-Muslim holidays such as Thanksgiving.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Islam is a divinely given way of life that distinguishes Muslims in worship, conduct, and celebrations.
- Daily prayer and prophetic warnings show the danger of imitating other religious communities.
- Muslims living in non-Muslim countries should preserve their identity and follow the Qur'an and Sunnah.
- Gratitude is a continual part of Muslim life, expressed through worship and daily supplications.
- Thanksgiving participation is criticized as imitation of a non-Muslim annual celebration rather than genuine Islamic gratitude.
- Listeners are urged to avoid Thanksgiving-related gatherings and gifts and meet on other days instead.
In the khateeb's words
“But if you truly love Allah, if you truly love the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, if you love the companions, then you would follow their way, their sunnah, go down their path.”
“We living in this non-Muslim country, we have to preserve our identity and our religion as Muslims.”
“From the moment we wake up till the moment we go to sleep, we're in constant show of gratitude to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.”
For the dinner table
The khateeb reminded us that Islam shapes our worship, behavior, and celebrations, and he urged us to value our Muslim identity. He explained that love for the Prophet should show in following his example. Gratitude to Allah belongs throughout our day, from thanking Him when we wake up to remembering His blessings through prayer and other worship. He spoke against celebrating Thanksgiving and encouraged families to gather on other days, pointing to Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as the celebrations Allah has given Muslims. He also reminded parents that the respect they show for their faith helps teach the next generation to value it.
- What is one everyday blessing you noticed today that you usually forget to thank Allah for?
- How could remembering Allah’s gifts help you bring more gratitude to your next prayer?
- What could our family do to make Eid joyful and full of gratitude?
More on the Islamic calendar
7:52Dar Alnoor · Manassas, VA · Jul 11, 2026Use summer to grow closer to Allah“This opportunity can make me a great Muslim, a great human being, or it can make me a very bad person, depending on how we use the summer.”
Never miss a salah during this free time.16:04Muslim Neighbour Nexus · Mississauga, ON · Jul 25, 2026Use summer time for what matters
EPIC · Plano, TX · Jul 3, 2026Honor Muharram through fasting and justice“We cannot even enter into Jannah if I have violated someone else's rights.”