Short answer
Scholars differ. Many Hanafi muftis advise against celebrating Thanksgiving as a holiday, since Islam has its own two Eids and the day has religious roots. Many North American scholars see it as a national, secular holiday and allow a family meal on the day off, without treating it as an Eid. The food must be halal either way.
The mainstream Hanafi fatwa is to avoid treating Thanksgiving as a festival. Eating with family on a public holiday, without celebrating the occasion itself, is not sinful, and gratitude to Allah is due every day.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Thanksgiving began as a harvest meal of English settlers in the 1600s, who gave thanks to God in their own religious way. It later became a national holiday in the United States and Canada. For most families today it is a long weekend and a big dinner.
The two views:
- The cautious view, held by many Hanafi muftis: Muslims have two Eids only, the day has religious origins, and making it an annual celebration copies the customs of others.
- The lenient view, held by a number of North American scholars: it is now a civic holiday like Labour Day, with no religious rite at its centre, so a family meal on that day is permitted as long as it is not treated as an Eid.
Points both views share:
- The turkey and other food must be halal. A non-zabiha turkey is not permitted (see Is it halal?).
- Do not join prayers of another faith before the meal. Say Bismillah and make your own dua.
- Converts can visit their families on the day, eat halal food with them and keep the ties of kinship, which is an obligation.
Gratitude is not seasonal in Islam. Allah promises to increase those who are grateful, and the five prayers, the dua after eating and the duas of thanks make every day a day of thanks.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Ibrahim 14:7
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌۭ ﴿٧﴾
And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' "
Gratitude is a constant duty, not tied to one day.
Sunan Abi Dawud 1134
Graded sahih... إن الله قد أبدلكم بهما خيرا منهما يوم الأضحى ويوم الفطر ...
"Allah has given you in place of them something better: the day of al-Adha and the day of al-Fitr."
Muslims have two set festivals, which is the basis of the cautious view.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4031
Graded hasan sahih... من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم ...
"Whoever imitates a people is one of them."
The cautious view avoids taking up others' celebrations.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Iqtida al-Sirat al-Mustaqim (Ibn Taymiyya), Discussion of festivals. Muslims do not add festivals beyond the two Eids.
- Fatawa Mahmudiyya, Chapter on customs and innovations. Celebrating occasions taken from other communities is to be avoided.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.