Fatwa

  1. Fatwa
  2. Islamic Creed
  3. Polytheism
  4. Imitating non-Muslims and partaking in their celebrations

Celebrating Valentine's Day
Fatwa No: 131719

Question

Celebrating Valentine's Days has become widespread amongst young ladies lately. This is a Christian festival, during which red clothes shoes are wore and red roses are exchanged. Kindly clarify the ruling on celebrating such festivals.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

Celebrating Valentine's Days is prohibited for the following reasons:

It is an innovated festival that has no grounds in Islam, which makes it go under the ruling of the following Hadeeth. `Aa'ishah reported that the Prophet said: "He who imitates a group of people will be with them (in the Hereafter)" . [Ahmad and others].
It invites to lust and encourages immorality, listening to music and intermixing between men and women, all of which is prohibited.
It includes imitating non Muslims, and the  Prophet said: "Whoever introduces into our matter (Islam) that which is not part of it, it will be rejected". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
It reflects glorification and acceptance of their religion, which contradicts the command of Allaah not to accept other than Islam as a religion. It busies the heart with what is useless and attaches it to harmful matters, all of which opposes the practice of our Salaf (righteous predecessors) .

Therefore, it is not permissible to practice anything on this festival day that reflects imitating those who practice it, whether it is regarding to one's food, drinks, clothes, gift exchange or anything else.

Finally, a Muslim must be proud of his religion and should not be naïve and follow everything he sees around him.

Allaah Knows best.

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