True love - III

04/02/2010| IslamWeb

 Types of impermissible love:

For example, the so-called Valentine’s Day that people promote nowadays is a pagan and Christian holiday that fosters illicit passion and immorality. In fact, their perspective of love is deficient, for it nurtures sentiments of love that are based in pure lust and sexual desires.

 

Furthermore, Islam considers religious festivals to be great rituals and acts of worship through which Muslims can draw closer to their Lord. Indeed, such deeds are determined by [divine] revelation, with no room for human reasoning. In other words, it is forbidden for one to allocate a specific day for celebration and render it a holiday, unless there is textual evidence in the Noble Quran and Sunnah that supports it.

 

In addition, celebrating Valentine’s Day implies emulating the pagan Romans and the Christians who copied this tradition off them. The Prophet, , warned us against acting like the disbelievers when he said: “Whoever imitates a people becomes one of them.” [Abu Daawood]

 

Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah elaborated on this issue, saying, “This narration prohibits imitating the disbelievers and also proves the disbelief of those who do so, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them.} [Quran 5:51]”

 

Moreover, Allah The Almighty has warned us against following in the footsteps of the People of the Book, i.e., the Jews and the Christians, who distorted their religion, altered their Scripture and introduced religious traditions not ordained for them by Allah The Almighty, as well as abandoned what He did command them to do. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And do not be like the ones who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. And those will have a great punishment.} [Quran 3:105]

 

Indeed, Muslims should not celebrate such holidays, participate in those celebrations in any shape or form, attend the festivities or co-operate with others in commemorating this occasion by offering gifts and printing banners for it or lending them to others. This is because it is a religious ritual of the disbelievers and helping them to practice it implies fostering their disbelief. It also promotes it and indicates approval of their false dogma.

 

Furthermore, Muslims should admonish, in an acceptable manner, fellow members of their faith who celebrate this day, since such an act is considered to be a wrongdoing that definitely requires admonition. On top of that, Muslims should not exchange gifts and greetings on that day and must clarify to their families, children and other Muslims, the reality and peril of commemorating this occasion.

 

The Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Fatwa (legal ruling) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued this verdict, numbered 21203, on 23/11/1420 A.H.:

 

“The clear and authentic texts of evidence in the Quran and Sunnah, as well as the consensus of our righteous predecessors, prove that the only holidays in Islam are ‘Eed Al-Fitr (1^st of Shawwaal, after Ramadan) and ‘Eed Al-Adh-ha (10^th of Thul-Hijjah, during Hajj (major pilgrimage)); and that any other festival or celebration that is associated with a person, group, event or a concept, is considered a religious innovation. Therefore, it is impermissible for Muslims to celebrate such innovated feasts, approve of them, show joy and happiness in them, or help others in celebrating them. This is because doing so would be regarded as a bold transgression and violation of the Orders of Allah The Almighty and whoever infringes His limits certainly wrongs himself.”

 

Additionally, the fact that Valentine’s Day is an innovated feast and a holiday of the disbelievers, makes celebrating it an even graver sin, since it implies imitating the disbelievers and is considered an act of alliance with them. Indeed, Allah The Almighty forbids the believers from copying them or taking them as cohorts, as mentioned in the Noble Quran. The Prophet, , said: “Whoever imitates a people, becomes one of them.” [Abu Daawood]

 

The same applies to the Valentine’s Day holiday, as previously mentioned, for it is a pagan and Christian occasion; it is prohibited for the Muslim who believes in Allah The Almighty and the Day of Judgment, to commemorate or approve of such a festival or congratulate those who partake in it. To the contrary, one has to eschew such festivities, so as to obey the orders of Allah The Almighty and His Prophet, , and to avoid incurring Divine Wrath and Punishment.

 

Furthermore, it is prohibited for Muslims to assist others in marking this day, in terms of feasting, drinking, selling, buying, manufacturing, offering gifts, exchanging emails and letters, advertising and promoting [anything related to] it. This is because doing so is regarded as cooperating with others to commit sins, aggression and disobedience of Allah The Almighty and His Prophet, , when He Says (what means): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Severe in penalty.} [Quran 5:2]

 

Moreover, Muslims should duly adhere, and hold on, to the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah, in all their actions and situations, especially in times of temptation and widespread corruption. Furthermore, they should be wise and careful, so as not to follow the aberrations of those who have incurred Divine Anger, i.e., the Jews, or those who are astray, meaning, the Christians, or the defiantly disobedient people who do not attribute to Allah The Almighty His due Grandeur and who are not proud of being Muslims. Additionally, Muslims should resort to Allah The Almighty, seeking His direction and steadfastness [on His religion], for there is no one who can lead to true guidance or grant us that but Him; and indeed, Allah is The One Who grants success.

 

Lastly, I supplicate to Allah The Almighty to confer His peace and blessings upon the Prophet, , his family and Companions, until the Day of Judgment.

True love – I

True love – II