In a series of ferocious attacks launched by non-Muslims against the Islamic Ummah (nation) attempting to wipe out its attributes and eradicate its values, the Western media, along with its allies, propagates an evil festival under a noble name. It is “the festival of love” or “St. Valentine's Day”. Deceiving and confusing Muslims, they aim at spreading vice disguised as virtues.
What do you know about February 14?
In answering this question, some could say, "We do not know anything about it." Others might say, "It is a day like other days." Many, however, will say, "It is the day of red roses, hearts and gifts. It is Valentine's Day."
Nevertheless, not many know the story of this day as well as the reasons behind it. They may not know that they are commemorating Christian saints.
What is the story of this day and what is its origin?
According to what is mentioned about this day in encyclopedias, the Romans used to celebrate a festival named Lupercalia on February 15 every year. This festival included idolatrous customs and rituals. They used to offer sacrifices to their false gods to protect their flocks from wolves. That day coincided with the spring break according to the calendar adopted by them, that differs from the one currently in use. Later on, this day was changed to February 14 in Rome in the third century CE.
At that time the religion of Christianity was at its inception. The ruler of the Roman Empire that time was the Emperor Claudius II who outlawed marriage for young soldiers so that they would remain strong. St. Valentine objected to this decree and started secretly concluding marital contracts. However, this was soon revealed and he was sentenced to death. In prison, he fell in love with the jailer's daughter. This was a secret affair because saints and monks are prohibited to marry or establish romantic relations under Christian law.
Nevertheless, he is still revered by the Christians because of his steadfastness in adhering to Christianity. The Emperor of Rome offered to pardon him if he forsook Christianity and took to worshipping the Roman gods; and promised to make him one of his closest confidants and his son-in-law. However, Valentine refused this offer and preferred Christianity, so he was executed on February 14, 270 CE, on the eve of February 15, the festival of Lupercalia. Thus, this day was named after this saint.
Years later, when Christianity spread in Europe and gained authority, the spring break changed to a festival on February 14 called "St. Valentine's Day”. They commemorate this occasion because Valentine ransomed Christianity with his soul for the sake of those who love each other. Exchanging red roses and cards with pictures of Cupid (a child holding a bow and arrow), are among the customs of this day. Cupid is the Roman god of love who was worshiped by them.
There are various other narrations related to Valentine and Valentine's Day, but most of them are similar to each other.
This is the day that many young Muslim men and women celebrate and venerate while perhaps they know nothing about these facts.
Why are we talking about this?
Someone may say, "You are promoting and propagating this day, which is probably unknown to many people, by what you are saying."
However, we say to such people that reflecting on the conditions of many young people today as well as the frenzied commercial activity and mutual congratulations that are exchanged on this day, one realizes that this ignorant custom and dispraised innovation has acquired the proportion of an epidemic and has spread widely and quickly in Muslim countries. This call implicitly aims at achieving the objectives of those who follow their desires to spread immorality and lewdness among Muslims in the name of "love".
Someone might object, "In this way, you are prohibiting love, for on this day we express our feelings and emotions. What is wrong with that?"
The answer:
First: It is a mistake to confuse the apparent meaning of the name of the day with the real intentions behind it. The love referred to on this day is romantic love, that involves taking mistresses and lovers, boyfriends and girlfriends. It is known to be a day of promiscuity and illicit sex for them, with no restraints or restrictions. They do not mean the pure love between a man and his wife, and a woman and her husband.
Second: To express one's feelings and emotions is not a justification for the Muslim to allocate a day, venerate it, call it a festival or make it like a festival. Then, what will be the case when such a day is actually one of the non-Muslims' festivals?
There are many texts from the Quran and Sunnah (tradition) as well as the scholars' statements that strictly warn against this.
Here are some texts which warn against participating in the festivals of non-Muslims:
• Mentioning the characteristics of the slaves of Allah The Almighty, He Says (what means): {And [they are] those who do not testify to falsehood} [Quran 25: 72]
Commenting on the verse, Ibn Seereen said, "It refers to Palm Sunday (a Christian festival)." Mujaahid said, "It is the polytheists' festival." A similar interpretation was reported on the authority of Adh-Dhahhaak .
• Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {For every religion We have appointed rites which they perform.} [Quran 22: 67]
• Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {To each of you We prescribed a law and a method.} [Quran 5: 48]
Ibn Taymiyyah said,
"Festivals are part of the laws, methods and rituals. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
• {To each of you We prescribed a law and a method.} [Quran 5: 48]
• {For every religion We Have Appointed rites which they perform.} [Quran 22: 67]
There is no difference between merely participating in their festivals or in their complete methodology because approving of their festivals means approving of their disbelief, and approving of some rites of these festivals means approving some of the branches of disbelief, since festivals are the most special symbols of religions.
Consequently, whoever celebrates their festivals is agreeing with the most distinctive rituals of disbelief. Undoubtedly going along with them in their festivals may, in some cases, lead to disbelief. Dabbling in these things, at the very least, is a sin. The Prophet referred to this when he said: "Every people have their (own) feast and this is our feast." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] [Al-Iqtidhaa’ by Ibn Taymiyyah]
Festivals are characteristics of religions:
In a Hadeeth (narration) on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, the Prophet said: "O Abu Bakr, every people have their (own) feast and this is our feast." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
In a Marfoo‘ Hadeeth on the authority of ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet said: "The Day of ‘Arafah, the Day of Nahr and the days of Mina are our feasts (we the Muslims). They are days for eating and drinking." [Abu Daawood] [Saheeh]
Ibn Taymiyyah said,
"This Hadeeth and others indicate that there were festivals for people in the pre-Islamic era during which they used to gather. It is known that when the Messenger of Allah was sent, he abrogated all these rituals. Had not the Prophet forbidden them, people would not have abandoned these festivals. This makes it known with full certainty that the leader of the pious, the Prophet used to strongly prevent his followers from participating in the festivals of non-Muslims and resorted to all means to uproot and eradicate them." [Al-Iqtidhaa’ by Ibn Taymiyyah]
There are many other texts including the order of contradicting non-Muslims and avoiding their religious as well as worldly deeds.
In some Hadeeths, the Prophet said:
• "The Jews and Christians do not dye (white hair of the head and the beard), so contradict them." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
• "Contradict the polytheists, trim the mustache and let the beards grow." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
• "Fast the day of ‘Aashooraa’ (the 10th day of Muharram) and contradict the Jews by fasting a day before or after it." [Ahmad] [Ahmad Shaakir: Hasan chain of narrators]
Reason behind the prohibition of imitating disbelievers
One of the great rationales for which Allah The Almighty has forbidden imitating the disbelievers is that doing so would lead Muslims to love them and ally with them and this contradicts faith.
Ibn Taymiyyah said, "If two men meet when traveling or in a foreign country and they are similar in their turbans, clothes, hair, means of transportation, and so on, there would be familiarity between them more than others. Likewise, you find a feeling of familiarity among those who are practitioners of a certain craft. They feel familiar to each other more than others."
When this is the case with imitating people in worldly matters, then what about imitating them in religious matters? There is no doubt that this leads to a greater and stronger love and allegiance.
Dear Muslim brothers and sisters, is the Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) of the Lord of the Worlds and the Sunnah (tradition) of the leader of all the messengers not enough for us?
The Prophet forbade the Ansaar (Helpers) from celebrating a festival that they used to celebrate in the pre-Islamic era saying: "Allah has given you something better: the Day of Adh-ha (sacrifice) and the Day of Fitr (breaking fast)." [Abu Daawood, An-Nasaa’i and Ahmad] [Saheeh]