Mahasin D. Shamsid-Deen

Christmastime can be a time of stress for American Muslims because it is a month-long celebration of television shows, movies, songs, posters, commercials and activities that are unavoidable due to the level of proliferation.  

Fairness is a basic concept, yet it seems to be difficult to achieve. In order for equitableness to be the norm in society, the community and culture have to appreciate and advocate its existence. This is not always the case.

As we deal with yet another mutation of the Covid-19 virus, and the vaccine hesitancy or defiance from fellow citizens to help curb the spread, we realize that we may have yet another winter of limited contact with human beings. Isolation has a negative connotation, but it does not have to.

Thanksgiving is presented as a holiday for families to gather and be thankful. Its history and relevance to Indigenous people is one of colonization and genocide.

Thanksgiving has been a national holiday in the U.S. since President Abraham Lincoln declared it as such in 1863. Although President Lincoln holds a respected place for Americans of African descent, he is considerably less revered by Indigenous populations.  

In Islam the concept of being thankful or grateful is deeply rooted in the Holy Quran and the life example and traditions of Muhammad, the Prophet(pbuh).

The Coronavirus continues to ravage the world.