Why should Muslims not celebrate Valentine’s Day in light of the Quran
As Valentine’s Day is nearing, the discussion of its celebration in Islam is a hot topic. So, here is our point of view based on Islam and the teachings of the Quran. Some Ulamahs determine that it is not permissible to celebrate Valentine’s Day; they also give reasons to prove their claim.
The very first reason they provide to prove to there is that there is no basis of this day according to Islamic Law. Usually, people celebrate it as a day of passion, romance, and love with their romantic partners, no matter if they are married or not. Here, the concept of Mehram and NaMehram comes to light because it is strictly not permissible to even let a na-mehram hear your voice.
Islam is a religion of love, peace, and compassion, and the first idea about love is between a woman and a man that comes to our mind. Islam doesn’t prohibit attachment, but it prohibits Haram relationships that may lead to Zina, which is Gunah e Kabira. Islam encourages marriages by performing simple nikkah.
Historical Background
Muslims are asked to marry their lovers, but in Christianity and other faiths, Valentine’s Day is celebrated on 14 of February each year. It is said to have started with a pagan celebration. The story is based on the martyrdom of Roman Priest, Valentine, during the rule of Emperor Claudius II. It is heard that the marriages were banned at that time by the emperor, and Valentine rebelled against this law and married secretly. As a result, he was detained and put to death on this date, and before dying, he sends a love note to his love, who was the jailer’s daughter, signed from your Valentine.
From then onwards, the ritual of exchanging gifts, love messages, and poems has been initiated to celebrate your love in remembrance to Valentine. We should strictly stop celebrating it because it makes us one of them.
Whoever imitates a people is one of them ...Tirmizi
And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awful torment ...Qur’an | 3:105
However, in Islam, people have different views. We say that every day is a day of love because Allah has made Love as a base for our marriages. One should learn Quran to seek knowledge about this discussion. As Allah has told us in Surah Isra:
Do not come near to adultery. It is a great sin and an evil way ...Qur’an | Surah Isra, Verse 32
Islam has limited intimacy, compassion, love, and care to marriage; therefore, it is not permissible to have an affair with a friend or a companion and celebrate this day by sending him/her love messages and poems and gifts to express your love. It is an evil way and also invites people to perform other sins such as adultery.
Hence, we can conclude that there are no particular days in Islam to express your love, but you can do it 24/7 with your halal mates. There’s no social, cultural, religious, or economic benefit of this festival to Muslims, and neither has it been approved by Allah. We should celebrate only those events that Allah has asked us to, such as Eid. It would help if you learned Islam in a much better way to know about things that should be condemned or commended. Islam doesn’t restrict us to stop loving others, but it limits us to perform wrong deeds. It is proved in the Hadith below:
If a man loves his brother, let him tell him that he loves him ...Abu Dawood