The story of love - II

12/02/2011| IslamWeb

True love

As we have mentioned, this festival was annulled by Christian clerics in Italy, the headquarters of Catholics, because it aided in the spread of bad morals and corrupting influences on the youth. Therefore, Muslims should dismiss it. We do not want to deprive people of experiencing real love or expressing affectionate feelings and emotions, as long as they are vented in the proper channels. We do realize the saying of the Messenger of Allah on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him: “By the One in Whose hand my soul is, you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you of that which will strengthen love between you? Spread the greeting of peace among yourselves.” [Muslim and Abu Daawood]

There are many other explicit texts explaining the meaning of true love in Islam. In fact, there is no religion that encourages its followers to be loving, genial and friendly like the religion of Islam. It is not permissible for Muslims to specify a certain day, in order to glorify it and call it a festival and celebrate it like the ‘Eed while in fact it belongs to the festivals of the disbelievers, to enable them to entertain some feelings and emotions and express them.

Such imitation of the disbelievers corrupts the character of Muslims in such a way that it makes them feel inferior, weak and defeatist. In addition, it takes them away from the methodology and Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) of Allah The Almighty. It is proven that admiring and imitating the disbelievers leads to loving them and giving them absolute allegiance and trust. Besides, such Muslims show ingratitude to Islam, its heritage and values, as well as the Muslim personalities and heroes. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred. Those - He has decreed within their hearts faith and supported them with spirit from Him. And We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him - those are the party of Allah. Unquestionably, the party of Allah - they are the successful.} [Quran 58:22]

No increase or decrease

If monotheistic Muslims come to know that this festival is intended to encourage the spread of illicit love among people -- believers and disbelievers alike -- what should their attitude be toward this festival?

Adhere to the Islamic Sharee‘ah and the right methodology. We must remember that the festivals in Islam are specified and established; they neither increase nor decrease in number. This pertains to the essence of worship that Allah The Almighty and His Messenger ordained.

Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allah is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.} [Quran 5:48]

In the light of such commingling among [the people from] all the nations, to the extent that the customs and traditions of disbelief are common among Muslims, we fear that we will be included in the category of Muslims who closely follow the enemies of Allah The Almighty in some of their rites and traditions. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Sa‘eed, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet said: “‘You will certainly follow the ways of those who came before you hand span by hand span, and cubit by cubit, to the extent that if they entered the hole of a lizard, you will enter it too.’ We said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, (do you mean) the Jews and the Christians?’ He said: ‘Who else?’” [Muslim]

It is not a good sign

Anyone who reflects on the events of recent years will discover something that does not augur well. Many Muslims -- males and females -- imitate the Christians to an unprecedented degree. Therefore, it is time to invite Muslim scholars and callers to explain the Sharee’ah of Allah The Almighty, out of Naseehah (sincerity) for the sake of Allah The Almighty, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and the ordinary Muslims, so that they will be aware of their religious obligations and will not commit actions that violate the sound creed and faith with which Allah The Almighty has blessed them.