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.
My reply: Please mention a single immoral or evil act that takes place on this day and where…? In the world we live today, Valentine’s Day is a commercial festival (North America) where there is a media frenzy and flowers go out of stock, that’s about it.
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.
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]
He also said:
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.
My reply: Yeah I get it, but I think I just mentioned above that this is not celebrated as religious festival. It is more commercial than religious.
To conclude:
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.
My reply: What are the rituals? Buying a “I love You” card is a ritual? Giving someone flowers is a ritiual? Going for a movie or proposing that day is a ritual?
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)
My Reply: For the last time, this is not jewish or christian, it is a commercial festival….
Not satisfied? Lets discuss… reply below….
Everyone has let the question of why and why not escape them …
What is being skimmed over/ignored is that any concept of “dating/love” outside of marriage itself is a non-entity in fundamentalist Islamic societies – countries. The same can be said for “Hinduism”.
With the advent of Global Americani(z)ation – we have seen all these commercial holidays invade every known culture and tradition of the world – just as “Christianity” did through it’s agenda of proselytising and conquering the world of “heathens”.
Basically – dating and secret admiration, suitors, et al are foreign – unacceptable practices – not to be encouraged by the religious leaders of the more fundamentalist groups.
In more progressive societies – there has been a considerable amount of relaxation – openness.
Similarly, within Sufi’ism – there has been a very different – almost spiritual/mystical approach to the unyielding (often Draconian) ways of the Ullima.
True, Valentine’s Day has become another of those over-commercialised holidays – thus losing the original ideal of this day – whether from a religious base or the Rudolph Valentino origin.
There is a lot more mullahs can do besides declaring everything west to be haraam.
Couldn’t agree with you more sharif, thanks for the input