The official day of love Valentine’s Day is being celebrated on Sunday as lovers are busy trying to fix up last-minute surprises for their partners and those devoid of partners are hoping to find love. Valentine’s Day occurs every February 14. It’s the day when people show their affection for another person or people by sending flowers, chocolates, cards or special gifts with messages of love.
History of Valentine’s Day
Behind the commercialization of Valentine’s Day lies a fascinating history that can be traced back to ancient Rome. It was speculated that from 13 to 15 February, ancient Romans solemnized the feast of Lupercalia. Many believe that the beginnings of Valentine’s Day can be traced back to this antique fecundity festival.
To celebrate the day Roman men sacrificed goats before using their skins to whip women in the belief that this would make them fertile. Some historians have argued that at the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius (I) declared 14 February to be Valentine’s Day in a stab to recoup this festival from the Romans and Christianise it.
Several legends have been recorded about the latter St Valentine; however, these are most likely apocryphal. These include the story that Valentine himself fell in love with his jailor’s daughter while incarcerated for giving aid to prisoners. According to this tale, St Valentine wrote his inamorata a note signed “from your Valentine”: the first Valentine’s greeting. However, while this fanciful story is compelling, it is unlikely to be true.
The commercialization of Valentine’s Day
The Valentine’s card traveled across the Atlantic in the mid-19th century. Cards rapidly gained a reputation in America, where they were originally advertised as a British fashion. Hallmark Cards produced their first Valentine’s card, representing a key development in the commercialization of Valentine’s Day in 1913. Americans possibly began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s.
Howland, known as the “Mother of the Valentine,” made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as “scrap.” Today, according to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year.
Islam and Valentine’s Day
For a person to express his or her love for someone is not only permissible but encouraged in the Islamic practice, as long as this is done in a way that does not breach Islamic rules.
There are many narrations about the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) candid expression of love toward his wives, his children, and his followers and supporters.
These narrations tell us of his variety of romantic gestures toward his wives. For example, there are narrations about the Prophet (PBUH) playfully racing with his wife Aisha; saying Aisha when one of his followers asked who was most beloved to him laying down with his head in her lap and drinking from the same spot on a cup that her lips had touched.
Islam frowns upon romantic love outside the important context of marriage. Some Muslim scholars maintain that Valentine’s Day is not about “pure love,” but about the love without pledge found in alliances between girlfriend, boyfriend and mistresses.
Islam also maintains that Valentine’s Day dates back to the Romans and is not found in Islam at all – which makes it an expression of faith that is exclusive to Christians.
Muslim countries
In largely Muslim countries like Pakistan and Malaysia, it looks that a sizable minority of the people tend to have more open-minded regarding Quranic scripture and the celebration of Valentine’s Day.
The governments of these countries are, as one can imagine, taking action against it by releasing statements and fatwas decrying any impending celebrations, in an attempt to pre-empt festivities.
In Pakistan former Justice Shaukat Aziz in February 2017 banned the celebration of Valentine’s Day in public places and ordered an immediate halt to Valentine’s Day broadcasts and coverage. Later, on February 22, 2019, the Islamabad High Court invalidated the High Court’s decision for celebrating Valentine’s Day.
What’s wrong with celebrating Valentine’s Day?
Islam encourages strong bonds of love, among communities and families, and does not restrict the expression of this brotherly, sisterly, marital, or familial love to just one day a year.
Giving gifts has also been encouraged in Islam, and once again, not restricted to just one day. However, this day compounds a sense of deprivation, loneliness, and low self-worth among those people who are single.
Islam prohibits dating and sex outside marriage, both of which Valentine’s Days encourages. It is obvious, then, that a Muslim should not celebrate in such manners.
