The Story Of The Festival Of Love Valentine’S Day

**Prof. Dr. Sinsi** · 10-11-2012

Firstly:

That its origins lie in the pagan beliefs of the Romans, where it was an expression of the spiritual love of the idols which they used to worship instead of Allaah

Whoever celebrates it is celebrating an occasion of shirk on which the idols are venerated

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode

And for the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are no helpers”[al-Maa’idah 5:72]

Secondly:

That the development of this festival among the Romans was connected to myths and legends which no sound mind can accept, let alone the mind of the Muslim who believes in Allaah and His Messengers (peace be upon them)

Can anyone of sound mind believe that a she-wolf suckled the founder of the city of Rome and gave him strength and wisdom

Moreover, these myths go against the belief (‘aqeedah) of the Muslim because the One Who bestows strength and wisdom is the Creator, may He be glorified and exalted, not the milk of a she-wolf! The same applies to the myth that their idols could protect them from evil or keep wolves away from their flocks

Thirdly: Among the ugly rituals of the Romans on this day was the sacrifice of a dog and a goat, the daubing of their blood onto two youths then washing the blood off with milk, etc… This is something that would cause revulsion in anyone of a sound nature, and it is unacceptable to the sound mind

Fourthly:

The connection between Saint Valentine and this festival has been questioned by many sources, and it considered to be far from definite

It would have been better for the Christians to reject this pagan festival in which they imitated the pagans

So how about us Muslims, who are commanded to be different from the Christians and the pagans before them?

Fifthly: This festival was denounced by the Christian clergy in Italy, the bastion of Catholicism, because it was spreading bad attitudes and having an adverse effect on the minds of young men and women

So it is better for the Muslims to reject it, warn others against it and to fulfil their duty towards it of enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil

Someone may ask: why do we Muslims not celebrate this festival?

This question may be answered in several ways:

1

In Islam, the festivals are clearly defined and well established, and no additions or subtractions may be accepted

They are an essential part of our worship and there is no room for ijtihaad or personal opinion

They have been prescribed for us by Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)

Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

“Festivals are part of the laws, clear way and religious ceremonies of which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

‘To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way

’[al-Maa’idah 5:48]

‘For every nation We have ordained religious ceremonies which they must follow

’[al-Hajj 22:67]

… like the qiblah (direction faced in prayer), prayer and fasting

So there is no difference between joining them in their festival and joining them in their other rituals

Agreeing with the whole festival is agreeing with kufr

Agreeing with some of their minor issues is the same as agreeing with them in some of the branches of kufr

Festivals are the most distinctive things by which religions are told apart, so whoever celebrates their festivals is agreeing with the most distinctive rituals of kufr

Undoubtedly going along with them in their festivals may in some cases lead to kufr

Dabbling in these things, at the very least, is a sin

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) referred to the fact that every nation has its own festivals when he said:

‘Every nation has its own Eid and this is our Eid

’ (al-Bukhaari , 952, Muslim, 1892)

” (al-Iqtidaa’, 1/471-472)

Because Valentine’s Day goes back to Roman times, not Islamic times, this means that it is something which belongs exclusively to the Christians, not to Islam, and the Muslims have no share and no part in it

If every nation has its own festivals, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said – “Every nation has its Eid,” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim) – then this means that every nation should be distinguished by its festivals

If the Christians have a festival and the Jews have a festival, which belongs exclusively to them, then no Muslim should join in with them, just as he does not share their religion or their direction of prayer

10-11-2012	#3
Prof. Dr. Sinsi	The Story Of The Festival Of Love Valentine’S Day Firstly: That its origins lie in the pagan beliefs of the Romans, where it was an expression of the spiritual love of the idols which they used to worship instead of Allaah Whoever celebrates it is celebrating an occasion of shirk on which the idols are venerated Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode And for the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are no helpers”[al-Maa’idah 5:72] Secondly: That the development of this festival among the Romans was connected to myths and legends which no sound mind can accept, let alone the mind of the Muslim who believes in Allaah and His Messengers (peace be upon them) Can anyone of sound mind believe that a she-wolf suckled the founder of the city of Rome and gave him strength and wisdom Moreover, these myths go against the belief (‘aqeedah) of the Muslim because the One Who bestows strength and wisdom is the Creator, may He be glorified and exalted, not the milk of a she-wolf! The same applies to the myth that their idols could protect them from evil or keep wolves away from their flocks Thirdly: Among the ugly rituals of the Romans on this day was the sacrifice of a dog and a goat, the daubing of their blood onto two youths then washing the blood off with milk, etc… This is something that would cause revulsion in anyone of a sound nature, and it is unacceptable to the sound mind Fourthly: The connection between Saint Valentine and this festival has been questioned by many sources, and it considered to be far from definite It would have been better for the Christians to reject this pagan festival in which they imitated the pagans So how about us Muslims, who are commanded to be different from the Christians and the pagans before them? Fifthly: This festival was denounced by the Christian clergy in Italy, the bastion of Catholicism, because it was spreading bad attitudes and having an adverse effect on the minds of young men and women So it is better for the Muslims to reject it, warn others against it and to fulfil their duty towards it of enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil Someone may ask: why do we Muslims not celebrate this festival? This question may be answered in several ways: 1 In Islam, the festivals are clearly defined and well established, and no additions or subtractions may be accepted They are an essential part of our worship and there is no room for ijtihaad or personal opinion They have been prescribed for us by Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Festivals are part of the laws, clear way and religious ceremonies of which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): ‘To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way’[al-Maa’idah 5:48] ‘For every nation We have ordained religious ceremonies which they must follow’[al-Hajj 22:67] … like the qiblah (direction faced in prayer), prayer and fasting So there is no difference between joining them in their festival and joining them in their other rituals Agreeing with the whole festival is agreeing with kufr Agreeing with some of their minor issues is the same as agreeing with them in some of the branches of kufr Festivals are the most distinctive things by which religions are told apart, so whoever celebrates their festivals is agreeing with the most distinctive rituals of kufr Undoubtedly going along with them in their festivals may in some cases lead to kufr Dabbling in these things, at the very least, is a sin The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) referred to the fact that every nation has its own festivals when he said: ‘Every nation has its own Eid and this is our Eid’ (al-Bukhaari , 952, Muslim, 1892)” (al-Iqtidaa’, 1/471-472) Because Valentine’s Day goes back to Roman times, not Islamic times, this means that it is something which belongs exclusively to the Christians, not to Islam, and the Muslims have no share and no part in it If every nation has its own festivals, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said – “Every nation has its Eid,” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim) – then this means that every nation should be distinguished by its festivals If the Christians have a festival and the Jews have a festival, which belongs exclusively to them, then no Muslim should join in with them, just as he does not share their religion or their direction of prayer