Senior Youssef Osman, along with other students and guests, addressed an Inter-faith Thanksgiving prayer service on Tuesday, November 22, in the Walsh Jesuit chapel. When The Pioneer requested permission to publish Youssef’s reflection, he promptly responded, “I would be honored… I just think that it is so essential for people to understand the beauty in diversity, and I think Walsh does an excellent job at doing so.”

The full text of Youssef’s thoughtful and moving reflection appears below.

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WJ senior Youssef Osman speaks about Islam, explores common ground

In the Merriam-Osman Dictionary, 2016 Edition, the word thankfulness is not considered merely a noun. Rather, it is under a unique section that I like to call “ a word for a better way of life.” Call me crazy; my dictionary is only for personal use, not for sale (although offers can still be made).  Consider it #JustYosmanThings, but I use thankfulness to understand the meaning of life.

For those of you who know me well enough, you’re already aware that I stay up until 2 am daily, wrestling with questions like “What is the purpose of humanity?” or “Why is there good and evil in the world?” or “Why do some people live better lives than others?”

By constantly trying to figure out my own personal role in the universe, I have understood that, sometimes, not everything is about me. What I can do, however, is accept what God has blessed me with and show thankfulness to Him by living out the best possible version of myself — Every. Single. Day. Without exceptions.

Think about it. There once was a time when none of us in this room existed. There were no teachers, classmates, coaches, or mentors. Our very conception, in reality, was a mere afterthought of our parents. Today, however, we are gathered to celebrate a common belief in the power of gratitude. Too often we find ourselves obsessed with what the world has to offer, so much so that we forget what the Kingdom of God has in store for us. My message for you today is about the power of thankfulness and why the Lord of all faith traditions calls us to constantly remember the blessings around us.

Standing before my beloved communities here, I am proud of what I see around the room. There is peace and harmony with everyone present. I can make out the faces of my wonderful classmates as well as the leaders of my mosque, individuals who practice their faith at ease just down the street. More than anything, I am thankful for the opportunity to believe in my Islamic tradition freely, fully, and proudly, at an accepting and open-minded institution such as Walsh Jesuit.

The reality is our school truly exists within a bubble. We are all thankful and proud to be Warriors, representing the Maroon and Gold in our sports events and musical performances. Yet, even though there is serenity within the halls of this building, do we ever reflect on the larger things in life? What about the rest of the world? What injustices do we see today, and how can we have an impact on our surroundings?

We find ourselves in a heated room, even though there is a family in Syria fearing there will be no blanket donations as they anticipate a cold and brutal winter. We sit as loving brothers and sisters inside the classroom, even though a young woman in Pakistan is still fighting for the chance of a higher education. We complain about our iPads being outdated, yet there is a Palestinian refugee in a tent, trying to teach himself English by reading Winnie-the-Pooh books as a sixteen-year-old. I share these stories because these are the stories of my people, stories that I somehow have been blessed not to live because my parents decided to immigrate to America instead of staying in the Middle East.

As people of religion, we are called to have a sense of love and compassion for one another. That includes all creations of God, not just those similar to us. Are we showing our Lord thankfulness by being the best stewards of creation, or are we forgetting about the people of Aleppo who had 900 airstrikes attacking their innocent selves in one day? We are not living like them. Also, there are currently no health care facilities operating in that city, with the last children’s hospital recently being destroyed there.

We tell God that we are thankful not to be living in those dire situations, but are we expressing thanks by creating awareness to help others? How often are we actually reaching out to struggling communities or thinking about careers and vocations that will help us serve one another, instead of basing our future plans on what will give us the highest salaries?

As a Muslim in America, I have feared at times to publicize my Islamic faith. I still remember 9/11 when my dad came into the kitchen yelling that Americans would kill all Muslims, one by one, similar to what happened to the Native Americans. As a three-year-old, I was stunned, and that event still replays in my mind daily. So how do I react and show resilience through tough times? By simply being thankful.

Here is a lesson for all people who seek happiness: live with gratitude. Oftentimes, I am stopped throughout the day by puzzled looks from my peers and the question “Why are you so happy all the time?” My simple answer: “Why wouldn’t I be?” I am loved at this school, appreciated for who I am, and I am free to go on the morning announcements to say, “It’s me, Youssef Osman!” whenever I desire.

In the Islamic faith, a verse from the Holy Quran states, “…And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor].’” As a Muslim, my faith teaches me that every single person is given the same amount of blessings, just in different ways. The Prophet Muhammad told us this, and the book revealed to him by God challenges us,

وَإِن تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

“For should you try to count God’s blessings, you could never comprehend them.” More than anything, we should be thankful to the Almighty for choosing us to be born into faith. Jesus was mocked by his people for spreading Christianity. Similarly, Muhammed had rocks hurled at him by children because he shared his revelation of belief in one God. We, however, are not persecuted for our beliefs; instead, we are able to create interfaith events like these.

Prior to arriving to school every morning, I, as well as all other Muslims around the world, begin my day with prayer, saying, “…….alhamdulillah allathee ahyana bada ma amatana… thank you God for…” I am required to participate in five daily prayers, each of which I also begin by saying “….alhamdulilah hi rabal alamin, arrahman ar raheem” — “…blessed is the lord of all worlds, the most merciful and most kind for his blessings.” In fact, Muslims believe that “whoever does not thank others, then they do not thank God,” which is a direct quote from the Prophet Muhammed. Gratitude can be exemplified in even the smallest of utterances to others.

My beloved brothers and sisters, I ask all of you to be more thankful and to count your blessings. Look at the glass half full, not half empty. Sadness and despair in the face of calamity does not solve anything, so why be ungrateful for all the other blessings that you have? Love one another. See the beauty in diversity and do not judge people of other faiths without knowing them. Become more aware of others in the world; their ultimate dream is to be in our shoes. Just as my parents had a dream, so did your families, as well.

We have all been given the chance to pursue our aspirations in America, to practice our beliefs in peace, and to strive for better lives in this world and the Hereafter.

So, the next time when you want to ask me why I am always smiling, understand why. I am Muslim, and my faith calls me to do so.