Source: Beliefnet

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/136/story_13617_1.html

On November 28, 2003 Beliefnet published an editorial by Hesham Hassaballa on a this year's special "Muslim Thanksgiving." Hassaballa writes, "Another great feature of Ramadan this year is that the end of the month coincides with Thanksgiving, and few things can be more fitting. The festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, or 'Feast of the Breaking of the Fast,' is a time of happy celebration after completing a major pillar of Islamic ritual pratice. On that day, Muslims praise God for His guidance and thank Him for giving them the opportunity to witness another Ramadan during which they are showered with enormous reward and blessings... Now, there was a time in my life when I swayed by the views of some Muslims who believe we should not celebrate Thanksgiving because it is a holiday of "non-Muslims." As I have grown older, I have come to take strong issue with this. I see absolutely nothing wrong with Muslims celebrating Thanksgiving, turkey and all. Islam embraces the cultural traditions of any people as long as they do not conflict with Islamic principles."