Valentine`s Day

Happy 2BA Muslim

Islamophilic
Ruling on celebrating Valentine’s Day​

Question:
What is the ruling on Valentine’s Day?.

Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

Valentine’s Day is a jaahili Roman festival, which continued to be celebrated until after the Romans became Christian. This festival became connected with the saint known as Valentine who was sentenced to death on 14 February 270 CE. The kuffaar still celebrate this festival, during which immorality and evil are practised widely.

Secondly:

It is not permissible for a Muslim to celebrate any of the festivals of the kuffaar, because festivals come under the heading of shar’i issues which are to be based on the sound texts.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Festivals are part of sharee’ah, clear way and rituals of which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way”

[al-Maa’idah 5:48]

“For every nation We have ordained religious ceremonies which they must follow”

[al-Hajj 22:67]

-- such as the qiblah (direction faced in prayer), prayer and fasting. There is no difference between their participating in the festival and their participating in all other rituals. Joining in fully with the festival is joining in with kufr, and joining in with some of its minor issues is joining in with some of the branches of kufr. Indeed, festivals are one of the most unique features that distinguish various religions and among their most prominent symbols, so joining in with them is joining in with the most characteristic and prominent symbols of kufr. No doubt joining in with this may lead to complete kufr.

Partially joining in, at the very least, is disobedience and sin. This was indicated by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when he said: “Every people has its festival and this is our festival.” This is worse than joining them in wearing the zinaar (a garment that was worn only by ahl al-dhimmah) and other characteristics of theirs, for those characteristics are man-made and are not part of their religion, rather the purpose behind them is simply to distinguish between a Muslim and a kaafir. As for the festival and its rituals, this is part of the religion which is cursed along with its followers, so joining in with it is joining in with something that is a cause of incurring the wrath and punishment of Allaah. End quote from Iqtida’ al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem (1/207).

He also said (may Allaah have mercy on him): It is not permissible for the Muslims to imitate them in anything that is uniquely a part of their festivals, whether it be food, clothing, bathing, lighting fires, refraining from a regular habit, doing acts of worship or anything else. It is not permissible to give a feast or to give gifts, or to sell anything that will help them to do that for that purpose, or to allow children and others to play games that are part of the festivals, or to wear one’s adornments.

To conclude: the Mulsims should not do any of their rituals at the time of their festivals; rather the day of their festival should be like any other day for the Muslims. The Muslims should not do anything specific in imitation of them. End quote from Majmoo al-Fataawa (25/329).

Al-Haafiz al-Dhahabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: If the Christians have a festival, and the Jews have a festival, it is only for them, so no Muslim should join them in that, just as no Muslim should join them in their religion or their direction of prayer. End quote from Tashabbuh al-Khasees bi Ahl al-Khamees, published in Majallat al-Hikmah (4/193)

The hadeeth to which Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah referred was narrated by al-Bukhaari (952) and Muslim (892) from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) who said: Abu Bakr came in and there were two young girls of the Ansaar with me who were singing about what had happened to the Ansaar on the day of Bu’aath. She said: And they were not (professional) singing girls. Abu Bakr said: “Musical instruments of the shaytaan in the house of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)?!” and that was on the day of Eid. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “O Abu Bakr, every people has a festival and this is our festival.”

Abu Dawood (1134) narrated that Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah, they had two days when they would play. He said: “What are these two days?” They said: “We used to play on these days during the Jaahiliyyah.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah has given you instead of them two days that are better than them: the day of al-Adha and the day of al-Fitr.” This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

This indicates that festivals are among the characteristics by which nations are distinguished, and it is not permissible to celebrate the festivals of the ignorant and the mushrikeen (polytheists).

The scholars have issued fatwas stating that it is haraam to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

1 –Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:

In recent times the celebration of Valentine’s Day has become widespread, especially among female students. It is a Christian festival where people dress completely in red, including clothes and shoes, and they exchange red flowers. We hope that you can explain the ruling on celebrating this festival, and what your advice is to Muslims with regard to such matters; may Allaah bless you and take care of you.

He replied:

Celebrating Valentine’s Day is not permissible for a number of reasons.

1- It is an innovated festival for which there is no basis in Islam.

2- It promotes love and infatuation.

3- It calls for hearts to be preoccupied with foolish matters that are contrary to the way of the righteous salaf (may Allaah be pleased with them).

It is not permissible on this day to do any of the things that are characteristic of this festival, whether that has to do with food, drinks, clothing, exchanging gifts or anything else.

The Muslim should be proud of his religion and should not be a weak character who follows every Tom, Dick and Harry. I ask Allaah to protect the Muslims from all temptations, visible and invisible, and to protect us and guide us.

End quote from Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (16/199)

2 – The Standing Committee was asked: Some people celebrate Valentine’s Day on the fourteenth of February every year. They exchange gifts of red roses and wear red clothes and congratulate one another. Some bakeries make red coloured sweets and draw hearts on them, and some stores advertise products that are especially for this day. What is your opinion on the following:

1- Celebrating this day

2- Buying things from the stores on this day

3- Storekeepers who are not celebrating it selling things that may be given as gifts to people who are celebrating it?

They replied:

The clear evidence of the Qur’aan and Sunnah – and the consensus of the early generations of this ummah – indicates that there are only two festivals in Islam: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Any other festivals that have to do with a person, a group, an event or anything else are innovated festivals, which it is not permissible for Muslims to observe, approve of or express joy on those occasions, or to help others to celebrate them in any way, because that is transgressing the sacred limits of Allaah, and whoever transgresses the sacred limits of Allaah has wronged himself. If the fabricated festival is also a festival of the kuffaar, then the sin is even greater, because this is imitating them and it is a kind of taking them as close friends, and Allaah has forbidden the believers to imitate them and take them as close friends in His Holy Book. And it is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” Valentine’s Day comes under this heading because it is an idolatrous Christian festival, so it is not permissible for a Muslim who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to observe it or approve of it or congratulate people on it. Rather he has to ignore it and avoid it, in obedience to Allaah and His Messenger, and so as to keep away from the causes that incur the wrath and punishment of Allaah. It is also haraam for the Muslim to help people to celebrate this or any other haraam festival by supplying any kind of food or drink, or buying or selling or manufacturing or giving or advertising etc., because all of that is cooperating in sin and transgression and is disobedience towards Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment”

[al-Maa’idah 5:2]

The Muslim must adhere to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah in all his affairs, especially at times of fitnah when evil is widespread. He should be smart and avoid falling into the misguidance of those who have earned Allaah’s anger and who have gone astray, and the evildoers who have no fear of Allaah and who do not have any pride in being Muslims. The Muslim must turn to Allaah and seek His guidance and remain steadfast in following it, for there is no Guide except Allaah and no one can make a person steadfast but Him. And Allaah is the source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. End quote.

3 – Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (may Allaah preserve him) was asked:

Among our young men and women it has become common to celebrate Valentine’s Day, which is named after a saint who is venerated by the Christians, who celebrate it every year on February 14, when they exchange gifts and red roses, and they wear red clothes. What is the ruling on celebrating this day and exchanging gifts?

He replied:

Firstly: it is not permissible to celebrate these innovated festivals, because it is an innovation for which there is no basis in Islam. It comes under the heading of the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected.”

Secondly: it involves imitating the kuffaar and copying them by venerating that which they venerate and respecting their festivals and rituals, and imitating them in something that is part of their religion. In the hadeeth it says: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”

Thirdly: it results in evils and haraam things such as wasting time, singing, music, extravagance, unveiling, wanton display, men mixing with women, women appearing before men other than their mahrams, and other haraam things, or things that are a means that leads to immorality. That cannot be excused by the claim that this is a kind of entertainment and fun. The one who is sincere towards himself should keep away from sin and the means that lead to it.

And he said:

Based on this, it is not permissible to sell these gifts and roses, if it is known that the purchaser celebrates these festivals or will give these things as gifts on those days, so that the seller will not be a partner of the one who does those innovations. And Allaah knows best. End quote.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A
 

NewMuslim

Slave of Allah
As Salaamu Alaykum
JazakAllahu Khair.

This "holiday" (holiday means Holy Day) is pitiful. Girls and boys running around giving each other cards and candy and kisses. If this holiday was the ground, I'd spit on it. I have always felt this way.
 

maymun

Junior Member
asalaakum alikum

jezakalu khair aljezaa
subhanalaah all youth muslims must read this to stay away from imitating kufar and following their path
may guide us all and give us strong fiath
ameen ameen ameen
walasaamu alaikum
 

amyaishazouaoui

Junior Member
Asalamu alaikum

I think its quite sickreally. I always used to remember in school that everyone else used to get roses and chocolates, it used to rip my heart out. Its just another dy to make people who aint got anyone to feel even worse about themselves.
Alhamdulillah, we all have Allah.........and ive got my hubby!!!!
 

visionusman

being content
well even growing up , I didn't consider it an important day. I've always thought it was stupid. But that's the norm these days isn't it? People are becoming more stupid by the day; or is it just me who feels that way? Alhamdulillah, Islam teaches us to be more than this.
 

virtualeye

Tamed Brother
well even growing up , I didn't consider it an important day. I've always thought it was stupid. But that's the norm these days isn't it? People are becoming more stupid by the day; or is it just me who feels that way? Alhamdulillah, Islam teaches us to be more than this.

AssalaamuAlaikum,

Its not only you thinking that way. Need proof? Well, How many videos in the google top 100 videos are related to intellect and healthy positive thinking? And how many came right out of gutter? You will not even like to open the google video top 100 page, would you?

Most people just like to play around and do what their Nafs and Shaytaan says. And Shaytaan penetrates like the blood runs in the body.

wassalaam.
VE
 
"The history of Valentine's Day is obscure, and further clouded by various fanciful legends. The holiday's roots are in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, a fertility celebration commemorated annually on February 15. Pope Gelasius I recast this pagan festival as a Christian feast day circa 496, declaring February 14 to be St. Valentine's Day.
Valentines Galore

Which St. Valentine this early pope intended to honor remains a mystery: according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, there were at least three early Christian saints by that name. One was a priest in Rome, another a bishop in Terni, and of a third St. Valentine almost nothing is known except that he met his end in Africa. Rather astonishingly, all three Valentines were said to have been martyred on Feb. 14.

Most scholars believe that the St. Valentine of the holiday was a priest who attracted the disfavor of Roman emperor Claudius II around 270. At this stage, the factual ends and the mythic begins. According to one legend, Claudius II had prohibited marriage for young men, claiming that bachelors made better soldiers. Valentine continued to secretly perform marriage ceremonies but was eventually apprehended by the Romans and put to death. Another legend has it that Valentine, imprisoned by Claudius, fell in love with the daughter of his jailer. Before he was executed, he allegedly sent her a letter signed "from your Valentine." Probably the most plausible story surrounding St. Valentine is one not focused on Eros (passionate love) but on agape (Christian love): he was martyred for refusing to renounce his religion.

In 1969, the Catholic Church revised its liturgical calendar, removing the feast days of saints whose historical origins were questionable. St. Valentine was one of the casualties.
Chaucer's Love Birds

It was not until the 14th century that this Christian feast day became definitively associated with love. According to UCLA medieval scholar Henry Ansgar Kelly, author of Chaucer and the Cult of Saint Valentine, it was Chaucer who first linked St. Valentine's Day with romance.

In 1381, Chaucer composed a poem in honor of the engagement between England's Richard II and Anne of Bohemia. As was the poetic tradition, Chaucer associated the occasion with a feast day. In "The Parliament of Fowls," the royal engagement, the mating season of birds, and St. Valentine's Day are linked:

For this was on St. Valentine's Day,
When every fowl cometh there to choose his mate.

Tradition of Valentine's Cards
Flower

Over the centuries, the holiday evolved, and by the 18th century, gift-giving and exchanging hand-made cards on Valentine's Day had become common in England. Hand-made valentine cards made of lace, ribbons, and featuring cupids and hearts eventually spread to the American colonies. The tradition of Valentine's cards did not become widespread in the United States, however, until the 1850s, when Esther A. Howland, a Mount Holyoke graduate and native of Worcester, Mass., began mass-producing them. Today, of course, the holiday has become a booming commercial success. According to the Greeting Card Association, 25% of all cards sent each year are valentines"


In all, Valentines day is a trapping and is a distraction and act of committing sin. You have "secret" lovers and boy/girls kissing each other. This "secret" lover, makes you think you're the only one that knows. It is a distraction that makes Christians forget that God sees everything and knows everything. In essence, it almost promotes going out and having (umarried) sex (normal tradition) with your lover or getting intimate without being lawfully married. It brings out people's desires and lust. And all those flowers, cards, candy is used as a bait for you to get your lover to buy into it. It has no basis as a religious holiday, yet many Christians are unaware of this.
 

Sister S

Junior Member
:salam2:

For a married couple everyday should be valentines day,
not just one day every year.

same goes for mothers, fathers day. islam tells us to be
kind, respectful to our parents all the time not just one day every year.
 

Muslimah77

Slave of Allah (SWT)
:salam2:

You are so right Sister S, but it all comes down to how well these "muslims" know about their deen. Too much Hollywood and Bollywood influence on the kids these days. Shame. :(

May Allah (SWT) guide all Muslims to understand and properly adhere to the teachings by the Qur’an and Sunnah.

:wasalam:
 

umm hussain

Junior Member
Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa
(10/185):
“If a man is in love with a woman, even if she is permissible for him, his heart
remains enslaved to her, and she can control him as she wishes, even though
outwardly he appears to be her master, because he is her husband; but in fact he is her prisoner and slave, especially if she is aware of his need and love for her.In that case, she will control him like a harsh and oppressive master controls hisabject slave who cannot free himself from him. Rather he is worse off than that,
because enslavement of the heart is worse than enslavement of the body.”
Attachment to the opposite sex will not happen to a heart that is filled with love
of Allaah; it only affects a heart that is empty and weak, so it is able to gain
control of it, then when it becomes strong and powerful it is able to defeat the
love of Allaah and lead the person into shirk. Hence it is said: Love is the action
of an empty heart. If the heart is devoid of the love and remembrance of the Most Merciful, and is a stranger to speaking to Him, it will be filled with love of women, images and listening to music
 

umm hussain

Junior Member
origins of valentines

In truth, the history of Valentine's Day is equal parts blood, violence, persecution and paper hearts filled with romantic words.

Saint Valentine was a real person—though historians aren't exactly sure which real person the day refers to, as there are three saints with similar names from roughly the same time period. Historians theorise that the Saint Valentine of Valentine's Day fame was a third-century Christian priest serving in Rome.

Claudius II, the emperor at the time, made the strange decision that single men fought better than married ones. Since the Roman empire was at this point beset on all sides by unfriendlier, Claudius II banned marriage among young men.

Apparently Valentine — or Valens, or Valentius, or Valentinian, we're not sure of the name — continued performing secret marriages in defiance of the imperial edict. When Claudius found out (as emperors always do), Valentine got chucked into prison. While awaiting a doubtlessly painful execution, the legend goes, he fell in love with his jailer's daughter, and sent her secret love letters signed "From your Valentine." Valentine's execution was supposedly carried out on February 14, 270, and the rest is somewhat dubious history.

The randy Romans were the source of another potential origin of the day. Much earlier than the above story, pagan Romans celebrated the Feast of the Lupercalia, one of the many orgy-centric all-day bashes enjoyed by Romans. During festival time, women would write love letters and leave them in a large urn. Each Roman man would draw a note from the urn and pursue the woman who had written the message they chose.

Lupercalia was also held on February 14, and in addition to the secret messages, it involved the chopping up of goats, running through the streets naked while swinging goat pieces and similarly unappetizing traditions which thankfully did not make it into the festivities of the modern valentine's Day. As Christianity took over the empire, Lupercalia was banned, and Valentine's Day was offered as a substitute
 

Globalpeace

Banned
Love!

Unfortunately I was not always practising and I can categorically say that Love as known by the masses is for selling “Bumper Stickers” & “Romantic Cards”

A Muslim husband and wife are supposed to have a relationship to please Allah (SWT) to get through good times and bad with each others help and devotion towards Allah (SWT). You are supposed to LOVE for the sake of Allah (SWT) because if you love someone based on physical appearance and attraction then that person that you love may get older, and their physical appearance may worsen.

I think the West is infatuated with physical appearance of a person just look at modern arts and media, I don’t know many women that look like “Ally McBeal”!

I really feel sorry for people in the West who are out of shape, obese or not good looking because in the West unfortunately you are judged based on your appearances & can be disheartning for people.

Unfortunately some Muslims also judge people based on the color of the skin and physical appearences.
 

justoneofmillion

Junior Member
NO COMPROMISE NEVER NEVER NEVER

what do you mean by christians!THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE TEACHINGS OF PROPHET JESUS PEACE AND BLESSINGS BE UPON HIM?IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT NONE OF THEME IS CHRISTIAN AND THE MUSLIMS ARE THE ONLY ONE´S FOLOWING THE TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHETS THANKS TO ALLAH´S MERCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WASSALAM
 

Najmoen

Junior Member
Shirk

:salam2:

Each year on February 14th millions of people celebrate a day known as “St. Valentine’s Day.” Millions of heart-shaped cards and boxes of chocolates in red packaging are given as gifts, by people of all ages, even to strangers with the request, “Be My Valentine.” The sad fact is that most people have no idea about the origin and the customs that they become involve with. Most people just do what they see other do, but Muslims should be very careful, in fact they should avoid Valentines Day as if its a plague, because it is a practice of Shirk.

In the days of the Roman Empire, the month of February was the last and shortest month of the year. February originally had 30 days, but when Emperor Julius Caesar named the month of July after himself, he decided to make July longer by taken a day away from February, thereby shortening February to 29 days and consequently making July a month of 31 days. Later when Emperor Octavius Caesar, also known as Augustus, came into power, he named the month of August after himself, and not to be outdone by Julius Caesar, he also subtracted a day from February and gave the month of August 31 days. The calender to this very day it remains that way.

The ancient Romans believed that every month had a spirit that gained in strength and reached its peak or "apex of power" in the middle or as they called it, the ides (half) of the month. This was usually the 15th day, and it was a day when witches and augurs, or soothsayers worked their magic. Since February had been robbed by the two Caesars and only had 28 days, the ides of February became the 14th day of that month. Since the Ides of a month was celebrated on the preceding eve, the month of February was unique, because it was the 13th day that became the eve of the Ides that month, and it became a very important pagan holiday to the Empire of Rome. The "sacred day" of February 14th was called “Lupercalia” or “day of the wolf.” This was a day that was sacred to the sexual frenzy of the goddess Juno. This day also honored the Roman gods, Lupercus and Faunus, as well as the legendary twin brothers, Romulus and Remus who supposedly founded Rome. These two are said to have been suckled by wolves in a cave on Palatine Hill in Rome. The cave was called Lupercal and was the center of the celebrating on the eve of Lupercalia or February 14th.

To side track slightly...In Rome during the third century A.D. two young Christian men were beheaded on Lupercalia - February 14th. One was named Valentine, and the other Valentino, but because they were beheaded for their belief in Christianity, they were both given the tittle of saint (St) as was practiced by the Catholic Church at the time. However, the one named Valentine was a Priest and was imprisoned prior to the heheading because he married young couples in love against the orders of the Roman Emperor Claudius II who forbade young men to marry, claiming that bachelors made better soldiers.

So to return to our story....On this day 14th Day of February - Lupercalia, which was later named Valentine’s Day, by Pope Gelasius I, in veneration of the two Christian martyrs, the Luperci or priests of Lupercus dressed in goatskins for a bloody ceremony. The priests of Lupercus, would sacrifice goats and a dog and then smear themselves with blood in veneration of the wolf god. These priests, glowing red with sacrificial blood, would run around Palatine Hill in a wild frenzy while waving a goatskin thong called a “februa.” Women would sit all around the hill, as the bloody priests would strike them with the goatskin thongs to make them fertile. The young women would then gather in the city and their names were put in boxes. These “love notes” were called “billets.” The men of Rome would draw a billet, and the woman whose name was on it became his sexual lust partner with whom he would fornicate until the next Lupercalia or February 14th. Thus, February 14th became a day of unbridled sexual lust. The color “red” was sacred to that day because of the blood, and the “heart shape” that is popular to this day, was not a representation of the human heart, but represents the human female vagina or opening to the chamber of sacred copulation.

In A.D. 496 Saint Pope Gelasius I outlawed the pagan festival of Lupercalis and named February 14th St. Valentine's Day. Moreover, Cupid was the ancient Roman god of love and according to myth, was the son of Mercury, winged messenger of the gods, and Venus, goddess of love. This winged infant with a quiver of arrows and a bow is said to inspire love or passion in those who are struck by his arrows. Over time the Festival associated with the Roman god Lupercalis, the mythology associated with Cupid and the Folklore associated with St. Valentine have all combined with customs of gift-giving and the exchanging of cards to the modern day St. Valentine's Day! Eventhough the Pope has softed the blow of pagan worship, the celebration still continues as the Festival of the Roman god Lupercalis but under another name. In God Almighty's eyes, (if I can say that) Valentines Day is still “Lupercalia”, the “Day Of The Wolf.” when men become wolves, as they carry on the Satanic rituals of fornication, - sexual intercourse without marriage. In conclusion, we must ask ourselves, “Should any Muslim be associated in any way with this celebration with its evil roots and wicked practices? We as Muslims should not mimic what the heathen and kufaar have done for so many years and justify it as love?”

The shocking story can be easily verified at any public library as fact.
 

hamzarichard

New Member
another holiday promoted by hallmark and cthe chocolate industry.
now, is it Haram for me to stock up on chocolate today? all the unsold valentines day candy is on-sale.
 

Globalpeace

Banned
My Valentine!

Asslamo Allaikum,

I only got 1 message yesterday from a brother at the Mosque who I havn't seen since I have come back into the country.

I knew he was trying to get married & I knew that he hadn't succeeded because of his message.

So I will be making dua for him Insha'Allah so I won't get this message next year.
 

brother4ever

Junior Member
Saint Valentine's Day -- What is the meaning of it?

Every February 14th, husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, and school classmates exchange "valentines", heart-shaped boxes of candy, and flowers while celebrating this holiday. You have more than likely grown up observing this custom, but have you ever wondered where it came from and what it is REALLY about?

The story of the Festival of Love (Valentine’s Day)

Valentine's Day is NOT some attempt to share God's love. It began as a pagan courtship and s** holiday, although it has dropped some of its more direct pagan symbols.

The Festival of Love was one of the festivals of the pagan Romans, more than seventeen centuries ago. In the pagan Roman concept, it was an expression of “spiritual love”.
The Romans used to celebrate this event in mid-February each year with a big festival. One of the rituals of this festival was the sacrifice of a dog and a goat.

The connection between Saint Valentine and this festival-
Saint Valentine is a name which is given to two of the ancient “martyrs” of the Christian Church. It was said that there were two of them, or that there was only one, who died in Rome as the result of the persecution of the Gothic leader Claudius, c. 296 CE. In 350 CE, a church was built in Rome on the site of the place where he died, to perpetuate his memory.

When the Romans embraced Christianity, they continued to celebrate the Feast of Love mentioned above, but they changed it from the pagan concept of “spiritual love” to another concept known as the “martyrs of love”, represented by Saint Valentine who had advocated love and peace, for which cause he was martyred, according to their claims. It was also called the Feast of Lovers, and Saint Valentine was considered to be the patron saint of lovers.

It was also said concerning the origins of this holiday that after Christianity had become widespread, the Roman emperor Claudius II decreed that soldiers should not get married, because marriage would distract them from the wars they used to fight. This decree was opposed by Saint Valentine, who started to perform marriages for the soldiers in secret. When the emperor found out about that, he threw him in jail and sentenced him to execution. He was executed on 14 February 270 CE, on the eve of February 15, the festival of Lupercalis. So this day was named for this saint.

Today, Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on chocolate, flowers, dinners, hotel rooms and all sorts of other gifts to celebrate February 14th. There is a lot of money to be made from people’s desire to commemorate the date, and even more to be made in convincing people to employ any number of new means to celebrate.


Valentine Day is an innovated holiday that has no basis in religion. We do not need to honour or celebrate the death of a Christian "saint"

“They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides God (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by God)…” [The Quran: chapter 9:31]

The love referred to in this festival ever since the Christians revived it, is romantic love outside the not allowed of marriage.

Islam does not encourage flirting or suggestions of romantic relationships before marriage.

The result of that is the spread of fornication and adultery and immorality.

Love in Islam is more general and more comprehensive; it is not restricted only to one kind of love, that between a man and a woman. There are many more kinds of love. There is the love of God, love of His Messengers, love for good and righteous people, love and support for the religion. There are many kinds of love. It is a dangerous mistake to restrict this broad meaning to this one kind of love.

Now let us look at the state of affairs in western societies where Valentine’s Day is celebrated, and ask, what is the state of marriage relationships in those societies, and do these celebrations have any positive effect on interactions between husbands and wives?

Studies and statistics show the following:

A study carried out by the National American Office for Mental Health states the following:

- 17% of women who go to emergency rooms are victims of beatings by their husbands or boyfriends.

- In a report of the Central American Agency for Examination [FPT] it states that every 18 seconds there is a woman who is beaten by her husband somewhere in America .

- In Britain , in an opinion poll in which 7,000 women took part, 28% of them said that they had been subjected to attacks by their husbands and boyfriends.

So how can we believe that Valentine’s Day is of any benefit-

The truth is that it is a call for more permissiveness and immorality, and the forming of forbidden relationships.
The husband who sincerely loves his wife does not need this holiday to remind him of his love. He expresses his love for his wife at all times and on all occasions.

The love referred to on this day is romantic love, taking mistresses and lovers, boyfriends and girlfriends. It is known to be a day of promiscuity and s** for them, with no restraints or restrictions… They are not talking of pure love between a man and his wife or a woman and her husband, or at least they do not distinguish between the legitimate love in the relationship between husband and wife, and the forbidden love of mistresses and lovers. This festival for them is a means for everyone to express love.

In Islam, a husband loves his wife throughout the year, and he expresses that love towards her with gifts, in verse and in prose, in letters and in other ways, throughout the years – not just on one day of the year.

There is no religion which encourages its followers to love and care for one another more than Islam does. This applies at all times and in all circumstances, not just on one particular day. Indeed, Islam encourages us to express our emotions and love at all times.
 
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