Valentine’s Day – the day that individuals
are meant to express their love and affection for those they secretly admire.
But
how did this day come about and what is Islam’s view of it?
HISTORY
Valentine’s Day is said to originate from
Roman history and is connected to a ‘saint’ named ‘Valentine’ who was sentenced
to death on February 14th 270 CE. This pagan ritual has various different interpretations of how it came about. Some say St.Valentine secretly married single soldiers against the edict of Emperor Claudius II. Others link this holiday to the feast of Lupercalia - where men drew the names of women from a jar, like a matchmaking lottery. Meaning, Valentine’s Day
at its roots, promotes adultery and promiscuous relationships which jeopardize the
sanctity of a stable marriage.
Today, Valentine’s Day is meant to be the
day on which you express your romantic secrets through anonymous cards, flowers, and chocolates. In elementary schools, children send love notes to all their classmates
with candies attached. There seems to be an excitement in regards to ‘secret admirers’ and guessing who sent you the cards or flowers you find on your desk. Taking part in such festivities has now become an
expectation, where you are required to give something special on
Valentine’s Day.
VALENTINE’S DAY TODAY
We must remember that today, this is
nothing more than a marketing gig - a way for companies to make additional
revenue between Christmas and Easter when sales might otherwise be low. Businesses
capitalize on this day to earn as much revenue as possible by offering
customized products and services.
WHY NOT?
But what exactly are the downsides of this
holiday? Why are Muslims told to avoid taking part in such a celebration?
- Muslims should not take part in any Pagan practices – including Valentine’s Day and Halloween
- We should not fall for this materialistic trap which forces us to buy roses and chocolates under pressure
- Muslims should not have romantic relations with individuals of the opposite gender prior to marriage – contrary to the message that Valentine’s Day sends
This is not to
say that Muslims should not express their love. In fact, Islam encourages
strong bonds of love, brotherhood and sisterhood. We should direct loving words
and actions; give small tokens of our appreciation to loved ones to uplift
their hearts; and be loving and accepting of everyone. But, Valentine’s Day is
the incorrect approach to take when expressing this love. As Muslims, we should have the utmost love for
Allah, our Creator. Then comes our family, followed by friends and people we know.
Instead of
Valentine’s Day, you should:
- Express your love for Allah through regular prayer and good deeds
- Express your love and gratitude to family and friends often
- Pray for others
ISLAM’S VIEW
Islam teaches us that our love for our
spouse should not be limited to merely a day. Instead, each and every day,
you should express your love and gratitude for eachother. Do not allow
yourself to be fooled by the promotion and materialistic emphasis on such
holidays! You are more than just a wife or husband, entitled to receiving
roses, chocolate and pearls on February the 14th of every year. You
are to be respected, loved, and cherished each and every day – because that is
what Islam teaches!
3 comments
I thought st valentine would secretly conduct marriages between roman soldiers and the woman they loved. As the soldiers would have to often travel etc thats why they weren't allowed to marry ..
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely various interpretations of the way this holiday came about! Please see the link attached to the term 'Lupercalia'.
DeleteAs muslims, can we use it to promote our business? Like specials for valentines? Same to be applied for xmas and any other non muslim celebrations?
ReplyDelete