MUSLIMS HAVE CLEARLY DEFINED FESTIVALS
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] –  the qiblah (direction faced in prayer), prayer and fasting.

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 non-Muslims.

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

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)

VALENTINE’S DAY
Celebrating Valentine’s Day means resembling or imitating the pagan Romans, then the Christian People of the Book in their imitation of the Romans in something that was not a part of their religion. If it is not allowed to imitate the Christians in things that really are part of their religion – but not part of our religion – then how about things which they have innovated in their religion in imitation of idol-worshipers.

Imitating the non-Muslims in general –whether they are idol-worshippers or People of the Book – is not permitted, whether that imitation is of their worship – which is the most serious form – or of their customs and behavior. This is indicated by the Qur’aan, Sunnah and ijmaa’ (scholarly consensus):

(i) From the Qur’aan: Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“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”[Aal ‘Imraan 3:105]

(ii) From the Sunnah: the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” (narrated by Ahmad, 2/50; Abu Dawood, 4021)

Prohibition of imitating the non-Muslims is one of the basic principles of sharee’ah. Allaah sent His Messenger with guidance and the true religion so that it might prevail over all other religions, and Allaah has perfected His religion for mankind:

“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion”[al-Maa’idah 5:3 – interpretation of the meaning].

ALL ENCOMPASSING 
Allaah has made Islam cover all (human) interests at all times and in all places and for all people. So there is no need to adopt the ways of non-Muslims or imitate them.

Imitation causes defects in the Muslim personality, such as feelings of inadequacy, inferiority, weakness and defeatism, then it leads to shunning and keeping away from the path and laws of Allaah. Experience has shown that admiration for the non-Muslims and imitation of them causes people to love them, have complete faith in them and take them as friends and helpers, and to reject Islam and its people, its heroes, its legacy and values, and become ignorant of all of that.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO EXPRESS LOVE
Some people may wonder, and say, you mean to deprive us of love, but in this day and age we express our feelings and emotions – what is so wrong with that?

We say:

Firstly:

It is a mistake to confuse what they call the day with what the real intentions are behind it. The love referred to on this day is romantic love, taking mistresses and lovers, boyfriends and girlfriends. It is known to be a day of promiscuity and sex for them, with no restraints or restrictions. They are not talking of pure love between a man and his wife or a woman and her husband, or at least they do not distinguish between the legitimate love in the relationship between husband and wife, and the forbidden love of mistresses and lovers. This festival for them is a means for everyone to express love.

Secondly:

Expression of feelings and emotions is not a justification for the Muslim to allocate a day for celebration based on his own thoughts and ideas, and to call it a festival, or make it like a festival or Eid. So how about when it is one of the festivals of the non-Muslims?

In Islam, a husband loves his wife throughout the year, and he expresses that love towards her with gifts, in verse and in prose, in letters and in other ways, throughout the years – not just on one day of the year.

Thirdly:

There is no religion which encourages its followers to love and care for one another more than Islam does. This applies at all times and in all circumstances, not just on one particular day. Indeed, Islam encourages us to express our emotions and love at all times, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If a man loves his brother, let him tell him that he loves him.” (narrated by Abu Dawood, 5124; al-Tirmidhi, 2329; it is saheeh).

And he said: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, you will not enter Paradise until you truly believe, and you will not truly believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you of something that, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread (the greeting of) salaam amongst yourselves.” (Narrated by Muslim, 54)

Fourthly:

Love in Islam is more general and more comprehensive; it is not restricted only to one kind of love, that between a man and a woman. There are many more kinds of love. There is the love of Allaah, love of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his companions (may Allaah be pleased with them), love for good and righteous people, love and support for the religion, love of martyrdom for the sake of Allaah. There are many kinds of love. It is a dangerous mistake to restrict this broad meaning to this one kind of love.

Each person should make his family members aware of this. Whoever has sisters in school or brothers should tell them and warn them about this matter, because many people are unaware of this holiday and what it means.

We ask Allaah to protect the Muslims from the harm of temptations and from the evil of their own selves and the plots of their enemies, for He is the All-hearing Who answers prayers. May Allaah send blessings upon His slave and Messenger Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions

 SOURCE:  http://www.facebook.com/islam633?sk=wall

Muslims already have clearly defined festivals and the emphasis is on expressing love all year round and to do special things on an ongoing basis

About the author

An I CAN READ English specialist with over 20 years teaching experience, I have worked in the British Council and Linguaphone, well-known language institutions. I am a London-trained lawyer and have been the public affairs officer at the British High Commission, Singapore, as well as an editor in an international book publishing house and a national magazine. In 2006, I was appointed as an Ambassador of Peace (Universal Peace Federation and Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace). I am also co-author of two law books: English Legal System and Company Law, published by Blackstone, Oxford University Press. For enquiries about I CAN READ classes, email susanmckenzie2003@yahoo.co.uk. FOR DAILY BLESSINGS: www.abetoday.comSusan McKenzie

3 Comments for this entry

  • I thought about the meaning of life and of Valentine’s Day on Valentine’s Day. I wonder if anyone can give me an answer to this question – were all Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)’s arranged marriages? Did he have any love marriages? I ask this question because if there are arranged marriages then you don’t need Valentine’s day but in the West we don’t have arranged marriages so the West needs Valentine’s Day. I think when you don’t observe Valentine’s Day you have to be specific as to why you are not observing. Whether you are a Westerner or an Easterner it is best to be clear on this subject and that is – I am not looking for marriage/love in this way. http://abetoday.com/2012/02/14/valentine%E2%80%99s-day-%E2%80%93-why-don%E2%80%99t-muslims-celebrate-this-festival/

  • Jehanzaib says:

    Good article, I personally think that people have molded the meaning of love. For Love we do not need to celebrate or to have a spacial day. I know the life has become more busy but Love is all about respect, care and loyalty. Sex is also the part of it because that is the need too. Does anyone can stay happy by making other people unhappy?

  • Thank you Jehanzaib. We think love is simple – but the actual reality of it is not always so. If we know anger which is not a loving state then we must know its opposite which is love. There are different types of love and then there are our needs. Why not deepen the love we already have, and for me every festival, every celebration is an opportunity to do that. When people talk of love and Valentine’s Day – I always think of Shakespeare and what he penned – there is nothing good or bad except thinking makes it so. To me in the right hands Valentine’s Day is a day to deepen love, in bad hands it is all the bad things they say about Valentine’s Day. If we really live life at its highest the breaking of every new day is a day to celebrate and to love – so yes Good Morning, Good Blessings and Good Love today. Thank you again Jehanzaib.

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