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.
A couple of Ramadans ago I wanted to try something different with my kids. Their ages ranged from 2 to 13 years at the time, but I hoped to figure out an activity we could all benefit from. I decided to make a gratitude board using the following verse from the Quran as a theme:
“Be grateful for your life, every detail of it, and your face will come to shine like a sun, and everyone who sees it will be made glad and peaceful.” (Rumi)
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).
Is your teen’s idea of a good time binge-watching Netflix all day? Why not turn that habit into a teachable moment? I recommend grabbing warm blankets and popcorn and cozying up to your skittish teenager to watch AlRawabi School for Girls.
Atheism, marijuana, alcohol abuse, dating, depression, suicide, and rebellion – these are just some of the controversial topics discussed in the El Ansary Podcast.