Valentine's Day: Vice Disguised as Virtue-II

14/02/2016| IslamWeb

Where is the love which they talk about and allocate a festival for, while their reality is completely different?
Western studies and statistics reveal the following:
• An American study conducted in 1407 A.H./1987 CE, states that 79 percent of men physically abuse their womenfolk, especially if they are married. (Al-Qabas Newspaper, 15/2/1988.)
• A study carried out by the National American Office for Mental Health states the following:
- 17 percent of women who go to emergency rooms are victims of physical abuse at the hands of their husbands or boyfriends.
- 83 percent of women who have been admitted to hospital at least once for treatment of injuries, were admitted as a result of beating.
The study added that a large number of abused women do not go to the hospital for treatment, but deal with their injuries at home.
• In a report of the Central American Agency for Examination (FPT) it states that every 18 seconds there is a woman who is beaten by her husband somewhere in America.
• The American magazine Time stated that around 4,000 wives out of approximately 6 million who are beaten die as a result of that beating.
• A German study states that no less than 100,000 women annually are subjected to acts of physical or psychological abuse on the part of their husbands or the men they live with. The real figure may exceed one million.
• In France, approximately 2 million women face physical abuse.
• In Britain, in an opinion poll in which 7,000 women took part, 28 percent of them said that they had been subjected to physical attacks by their husbands and boyfriends.
What is the Muslim's obligation towards these deviations?
First: Asserting the principle of Walaa’ and Baraa’ (allegiance to Muslims and disassociation from disbelievers), adhering to its requirements and warning against imitating the People of the Book in their appearance, festivals and commemorations.
Second: Warning against rallying behind attractive slogans, false claims and deceptive appearances, which in fact aim at luring Muslims to indulge in widespread corruption.
Third: We appeal to those who are responsible for the press and media, audio and visual, to stop presenting movies and television series that make love between boys and girls appear attractive, and depict love as something necessary for a successful marriage. Such things firmly establish illusions and fantasies in the minds of young girls that make them prone to error and easy prey for foolish and lost youth.
Besides, such things destroy the community by arousing temptation and desires among its members and raising divorce rates. For instance, a girl may think after marriage that her marriage has failed because she stops experiencing "intense" feelings of love, when the reality of marriage appears and the marital responsibilities increase.
Likewise, a youth who finds his wife busy with her home and children may think that she no longer shows the old emotions and feelings of love that she showed in the early days of their alliance, and may feel that his marriage has failed. Thereafter, disputes arise for trivial reasons, differences worsen and discord rages to end with divorce.
Fourth: We appeal to shop owners and Muslim traders not to be driven by their eagerness to gain a perishable quick earning by sharing the activities of non-Muslims and helping them by selling the things they require for such occasions. Shaykh-ul-Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah said, "When a Muslim sells food, drink or clothes to the non-Muslims during their festivals, this is prohibited because this is a form of help that could lead to making a display of their false religion and gathering people for their festivals. This is greater than helping a specific person." [Adapted from Al-Iqtidhaa']
It is prohibited for the Muslim to even sell these things to the People of the Book, so that they use them to display the rituals of their religion. Then, what will be the ruling when such things are sold to a Muslim who is originally commanded not to imitate them?
Fatwa of Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ibn Jibreen, , regarding the ruling of celebrating this day
He was asked,
The celebration of the so-called "love festival" or Valentine’s Day has become widespread among our boys and girls. Valentine is the name of a saint who is venerated by the Christians, and this day is celebrated every year on February 14. They exchange gifts and red roses, and they wear red clothes. What is the ruling on celebrating this day or exchanging gifts on this day? May Allah reward you.
He answered,
First: It is not permissible to celebrate such innovated festivals, because this is a newly-invented matter in religion which has no basis in Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation). So, it is included in the Hadeeth (narration) of ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said that the Prophet said: "Whoever introduces something new in this matter of ours (i.e. religion) that does not originally belong to it, will have it rejected." It means that it will be thrown back upon the one who innovated it.
Second: This involves imitating and resembling the non-Muslims in venerating that which they venerate and respecting their festivals and holidays, and imitating them in some of their religious practices. The Hadeeth states: "Whoever imitates a people becomes one of them."
Third: The things that result from this, such as partying, idle play, singing, music, insolence, impertinence, unveiling, neglecting the Hijab (Islamic covering), intermixing between the two sexes, and the appearance of women before non-Mahram (marriageable) men, and so on, are all prohibited, or are means which lead to immorality. So, it should not be justified as an excuse for relaxation and entertainment, or be claimed that they will not overstep the mark, because that is not right. The one who cares about himself should keep away from sin and all that leads to it. On this basis, it is not permissible to sell these gifts and roses if one knows that the purchaser will celebrate these holidays, give them as gifts or otherwise use them to honor these days, so that the vendor will not be sharing in the guilt of the one who does this innovated action. And Allah knows best.
Dear Muslims, are ‘Eed Al-Adh’ha and ‘Eed Al-Fitr not enough for you? Is not your religion the religion of happiness and guidance? Beware of these festivals which are based on innovation in religion and disbelief. Beware and warn others. Be proud of your religion. Be distinguished from the deviant people. Avoid following their traces or being influenced by their ideas. You are nobler in the sight of Allah The Almighty than this.