Say NO to Valentine's Day

During my adolescences years, I would be one of those anticipated to commemorate Valentine’s Day with either friends or my boyfriend. This trail of thoughts stayed with me until I met Uncle Din who explained to me that Muslims are forbid to celebrate Valentine’s Day. To be frank with you I was very unpleased with the news; not knowing the truth behind such ruling from JAKIM. Nevertheless, as a faithful Muslim, we must always have an initiative to seek the truth and explanation behind any decree to avoid blind obedience.

There are two sides of a coin; in this regard it is wise to read and understand the meaning and purpose of this Valentine’s Day.. Here’s what I’ve found from History.

The Legend of St. Valentine

                  February 14 is celebrated in memory of St. Valentine for his fight defending love and marriage

                  St. Valentine lived in during the 3^rd century of Rome where the emperor outlawed marriage for young men as he believed single men made better soldiers than those with wives & families

                  Notwithstanding with this decree, St. Valentine continued performing marriages for young lovers.

                  Upon the acknowledgement of the Emperor, St. Valentine was put to death.

Origins of Valentine's Day: A Pagan Festival in February

                  Christian Church has a fertility festival namely as Lupercalia dedicated to Roman’s god & founders. The festival was named as Pagan Festival.

                  An order of priest would gather at a sacred cave and sacrifice a goat (fertility) & a dog (purification). The goat is strip into strips and dip into sacrificial blood.

                  Afterwards, these priests would take the blooded goat’s strips to the streets and gently slapping both women and crop fields.

                  They believed such ritual will make women more fertile while the crop fields would flourish with more goods.

The beginning of Valentine's Day

                  Even though Christians have ended the Pagan Festival, but St. Valentine’s siege mentality for love and marriage continued to spread throughout the globe.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day is HARAM for Muslims

                  The teaching of Islam emphasizes love w/o specifying any day / date

                  The practice of celebrating Valentine’s is against Islam as it contains Christians essence

                  Muslims are forbid to practice rituals resembling to other religions & faith

Adjacent to these clarifications, as an obedient Muslim, please don’t bother to celebrate Valentine’s Day......