City of New York, October 3, 1789
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge
the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for
His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor, and
Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee
requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of
public thanks-giving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with
grateful hearts the many single favors of Almighty God, especially by
affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of
government for their safety and happiness."
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the
26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States
to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent
Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may
then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks,
for His kind care and protection of the People of this country
previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold
mercies, and the favorable interpositions of His Providence, which we
experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the
great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since
enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been
enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and
happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted,
for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the
means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge and in
general for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased
to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly
offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of
Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other
transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private
stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and
punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the
People, by constantly being a government of wise, just and
constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to
protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have
shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace,
and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion
and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us, and
generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal
prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
* * * * *
God tells us in the Quran that He blesses the people
and communities who are appreciative of His provisions and blessings.
Only the disbelievers are unappreciative of their Creator and they
will eventually suffer the consequences of their disbelief and
arrogance. Here are some verses on appreciation and thanksgiving:
Your Lord has decreed: "The more
you thank Me, the more I give you." But if you turn unappreciative,
then My retribution is severe. [14:7]
You shall remember Me, that I
may remember you, and be thankful to Me; do not be unappreciative.
[2:152]
What will GOD gain from
punishing you, if you became appreciative and believed? GOD is
Appreciative, Omniscient. [4:147]
And He gives you all kinds of
things that you implore Him for. If you count GOD’s blessings, you can
never encompass them. Indeed, the human being is transgressing,
unappreciative. [14:34]
We have endowed Luqmaan with
wisdom: "You shall be appreciative of GOD." Whoever is appreciative is
appreciative for his own good. As for those who turn unappreciative,
GOD is in no need, Praiseworthy. [31:12]
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