Guess you are wondering what this title is all about? Well, I've decided to draw our attention to the wrong act of involving in festivals other than the two Eids recommended in Islam and specifically Valentine's Day. I will insha Allah start by narrating a hadith concerning one of the signs of the last hour.
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported Allaah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) as saying: "You would tread the same path as was trodden by those before you inch by inch . and step by step so much so that if they had entered into the hole of the lizard, you would follow them in this also." We said: Allaah's Messenger, do you mean Jews and Christians (by your words)" those before you"? He said: "Who else (than those two religious groups)"? [Muslim]
The above hadith lays the foundation of this piece, Muslims today celebrate all kinds of festival, and even do more than those that originally celebrate it! . Do we find it strange to hear that Paul and Rebecca went to the Eid ground or fasted in Ramadan? Yes, we find it strange! But funny enough it has become normal to hear that FATIMA is ABDULLAH'S VAL, that LATEEF celebrated christmas!. You see, we follow inch by inch, step by step.....
I went through some rulings given by scholars regarding celebrating Valentine's Day from Islamqa.com and decided to relate two of them so as not to bore us with too much details, however we could read more by following this link http://islamqa.com/en/ref/73007/valentine.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked: In recent times the celebration of Valentine's Day has become widespread, especially among female students. It is a Christian festival where people dress completely in red, including clothes and shoes, and they exchange red flowers. We hope that you can explain the ruling on celebrating this festival, and what your advice is to Muslims with regard to such matters; may Allaah bless you and take care of you. He replied: Celebrating Valentine's Day is not permissible for a number of reasons.
1-It is an innovated festival for which there is no basis in Islam.
2-lt promotes love and infatuation.
3-lt calls for hearts to be preoccupied with foolish matters that are contrary to the way of the righteous salaf (may Allaah be pleased with them).
It is not permissible on this day to do any of the things that are characteristic of this festival, whether that has to do with food, drinks, Clothing, exchanging gifts or anything else.
The Muslim should be proud of his religion and should not be a weak character who follows every Tom, Dick and Harry. I ask Allaah to protect the Muslims from all temptations, visible and invisible, and to protect us and guide us. [Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (16/199)].
Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (may Allaah preserve him) was asked: Among our young men and women it has become common to celebrate Valentine's Day, which is named after a saint who is venerated by the Christians, who celebrate it every year on February 14, when they exchange gifts and red roses, and they wear red clothes. What is the ruling on celebrating this day and exchanging gifts?
He replied: Firstly: it is not permissible to celebrate these innovated festivals, because it is an innovation for which there is no basis in Islam. It comes under the heading of the hadeeth of 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected."
Secondly: it involves imitating the kuffaar and copying them by venerating that which they venerate and respecting their festivals and rituals, and imitating them in something that is part of their religion. In the hadeeth it says:
"Whoever imitates a people is one of them."
Thirdly: it results in evils and haraam things such as wasting time, singing, music, extravagance, unveiling, wanton display, men mixing with women, women appearing before men other than their mahrams, and other haraam things, or things that are a means that leads to immorality. That cannot be excused by the claim that this is a kind of entertainment and fun. The one who is sincere towards himself should keep away from sin and the means that lead to it.
And he said: Based on this, it is not permissible to sell these gifts and roses, if it is known that the purchaser celebrates these festivals or will give these things as gifts on those days, so that the seller will not be a partner of the one who does those innovations. And Allaah knows best.
I ask Allah to make us steadfast in His deen and make us see the truth as the truth and grant us means of following it, and make us see falsehood as falsehood and grant us means of staying away from it. And Allah knows best.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited