In recent time, the celebration of Valentine has become very widespread among Muslim. It is festival where people especially woman dress in red and exchange roses, flowers and gifts. What is the ruling concerning this celebration from Islamic view? what is the historical background of valentine's day? Does Islam deprive us from love?
Origin of Celebration
The Romans had a festival named Lupercalia and they used to celebrate it on the 15th February every year. On that day they offered sacrifices to their supposed god named "Lurks" in order to protect their cattle and the like from being killed by wolves. They celebrated this festival during the spring holidays according to their calculations.
During the thirteenth century the day of this festival was changed to February 14th. There was an incident that led to this change. In the thirteenth century a Roman Emperor Claudius II, forbade his soldiers to marry because marriage would involve them in family life and cause them to lose interest in fighting.
A catholic priest named Valentine revolted against this emperor's order and performed weddings for the soldiers secretly. After a while his disobedience was discovered and he was imprisoned. While in prison he fell in love with the jailer's daughter. On February 14th he was executed. After his death people believed that he had sacrificed himself for the sake of Christianity and to save lovers. Subsequently the church elevated him to Sainthood and February 14th came to be observed as Saint Valentine's Day.
Celebrating days and festival is part of religion. Allah Almighty says: "For every religion We have appointed rites which they perform" (Al-Maida:48).
Imitating non-believers in their celebration is prohibited as the prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever imitates a people is one of them." [Abu Dawood]
Love in Islam
Islam is religion of love, mercy and piety. Islam encourages us to express our love and emotion at all time and not only on one occasion. The prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
"If a man loves his brother, let him tell him that he loves him." [Abu Dawood]
and He (Pbuh) said:
By the One in Whose hand is my soul, you will not enter Paradise until you truly believe, and you will not truly believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you of something that, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salaam (Islamic greeting) amongst yourselves." [Muslim]
the Prophet (Peace be upon him) recommended us to exchange gift because it generate and increase love. It is reported that He (Pbuh) said:
"Give each other gifts and you will love each other."
[Al-Bukhari]
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen, on his fatwa regarding celebrating the Valentine's day, said:
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)
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