Exploring God's desire for thankfulness in Monotheistic faiths
A few days after celebrating Thanksgiving Day, while giving thanks was still on my mind, I was sitting in my home office in front of my desktop computer, and I was musing about writing this article.
Woodland's Ecumenical and Multi-faith Ministries council annually organizes a prayer and gratitude service on this special day, bringing communities together beyond just families.
This year, Dr. John Bringhurst, President of the Woodland California Stake in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, chaired the hosting committee. Notably, he proposed to me incorporating the Islamic Tradition's perspective on giving thanks into my Thanksgiving program speech.
As I let my thoughts dance through the canvas of imagination, a vivid palette of ideas emerged. Out of all of the ideas, instead of an answer, a profound focal point question came to my mind. I shall share that question a little later, but the question got me rethinking again.
In the enormous space of the universe, where galaxies twirl like graceful dancers and stars shine like precious gems, there's something truly incredible — the human body— crafted by an unseen artist, it'ss a masterpiece, showcasing the amazing skill of a supreme creator.
Imagine the intricate design of the human body, a beautiful arrangement of cells, tissues, and organs working together like a perfectly orchestrated symphony. From the very beginning, a quiet melody starts a composition that unfolds in the womb, bringing life into existence in a divine dance.
At the heart of this celestial performance is our heart, a pulsing marvel that acts as the rhythmic conductor of life. Each beat propels life-giving streams through our veins, creating a tireless maestro orchestrating the music of vitality. The heart is more than a muscle; it's a vessel of emotion, pumping not only blood but also the intangible essence of human experience.
And what about the brain, our celestial command center? Inside its intricate folds, there's a universe of complexity, a maze of neurons firing in perfect harmony. This is where thoughts take flight, dreams are born, and the symphony of consciousness resonates. The brain maps the terrain of our human experience, guiding us through the realms of movement, emotion, and intellect.
Think about the marvelous dance of our senses — our eyes, like windows to the soul, capturing the world in a spectrum of colors. Ears, tuned to the melodic whispers of nature, decode the symphony of sounds around us. Our skin, a tactile canvas, feels the gentle touch of a breeze or the warmth of a loved one's hand. These exquisite instruments help us navigate the world, each note and nuance playing a vital role in the grand composition of life.
Yet, despite all its complexity, the human body is not just a work of art for show; it is a vessel of remarkable functionality. It effortlessly performs various tasks, from rhythmic breathing to the intricate ballet of digestion.
Limbs move with ease, carrying the weight of dreams, and our body, a resilient temple, heals itself in a miraculous display of divine artistry.
In every heartbeat, in every firing synapse, we witness the work of a divine craftsman, an extraordinary inventor.
Within the delicate balance of complexity and simplicity, in the dance of the microscopic and the cosmic, lies the undeniable truth — that the human body is proof of the limitless creativity and wisdom of a supreme creator.
Allah tells us in the Quran that we shall be rewarded for showing gratitude: 3:145.
In Christianity, the Bible (1 Thessalonians 5:18) encourages gratitude, reminding us to “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Monotheist Sikhism's Holy Scripture has this prayer, “Dear God, please enlighten me to sing your praise throughout the morning, noon and night. O greatest giver of all, we are very grateful to enjoy the food you provide.”
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, all major monotheistic religions, believe that Allah is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. In scriptures God mentions His blessings for humanity and asks us to be thankful to God for those blessings. I was thinking about God's awesome creations, the cosmos, the universes, the earth, wind, fire, gravity, and all other creations everywhere, including the creation of humans.
The question came to mind was that why does powerful God insist for us humans to be grateful and thankful to God? Could it be that God wants us to know the importance of being thankful in life?
The essence of gratitude is deeply embedded in Islam. Maybe that's why Prophet Muhammad advised us, “He who does not thank the people is not thankful to Allah.”