Question:

In recent days, many Muslims celebrate the Valentine’s day especially the girls. What is the rule of Shariah about this practice?

Fatwa:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

To love is a natural instinct and Islam is the religion of love and brotherhood. It always insists on good relations among the members of society. Allah will provide shelter for those who love one another in His Shade when there would be no shade other than His. Allah's Apostle said: "Verily Allah would say on the Day of Resurrection: 'Where are those who have mutual love for My sake only? Today I shall shelter them in My Shade when there is no other shade but Mine.'" [Muslim]

Moreover, the true love of the believers is a reason to enter Paradise as the Prophet said: "You shall not enter Paradise so long as you do not affirm belief (in all those things which are the articles of faith), and you will not believe as long as you do not love one another. Should I not direct you to a thing which, if you do, will foster love amongst you: (i.e.) give currency to (the practice of paying salutation to one another by saying) As-Salaamu Alaykum."

The Muslims who celebrate Valentine’s Day are not aware of their religion and follow the footsteps of non Muslims. We would like to bring to the attention of all Muslims the origin of this celebration so everyone can easily see the ruling of Shariah concerning the celebration of Valentine’s Day.

The Romans had a festival named Lupercalia and they used to celebrate it on the 15th February every year. On that day they offered sacrifices to their supposed god named "Lurks" to protect their cattle and the like from being killed by wolves. They celebrated this festival during the spring holidays according to their calculations.

During the thirteenth century the day of this festival was changed to February 14th. There was an incident that led to this change in the day for this celebration. In the thirteenth century the Roman Emperor Claudius II, forbade his soldiers to marry because marriage would involve them in family life and cause them to lose interest in fighting.

A catholic priest named Valentine revolted against this emperor's order and performed weddings for the soldiers secretly. After a while his disobedience was discovered and he was imprisoned. While in prison he fell in love with the jailer's daughter. On February 14th he was executed. After his death people believed that he had sacrificed himself for the sake of Christianity and to save lovers. Subsequently the church elevated him to Sainthood and February 14th came to be observed as Saint Valentine's Day.

In this day young girls and boys send love letters, love cards, gifts, etc. to each other. They are celebrating this day by engaging in such practices. Based on the above details we conclude that celebrating this day and any other holiday of non Muslims is forbidden in Islam. 'Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported: "Abu Bakr came to my house while two small Ansaari girls were singing beside me the stories of the Ansaar concerning the Day of Bu'aath and they were not singers. Abu Bakr said protestingly: "Musical instruments of Satan in the house of Allah's Apostle!" It happened on the Eed day and Allah's Apostle said: "O Abu Bakr! There is an Eed for every nation and this is our Eed." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

In fact, celebrating some days and festivals is part of the religion. Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah said: 'Feasts are a part of Islam and of the rituals of Islam. Allah says (what means): {For every nation We have ordained religious ceremonies which they must follow.} [Quran 22: 67] The feasts are Islamic rituals just like facing the Qiblah and fasting. There is no difference in participating in their feasts or in their whole religion because approving their feasts means approving their disbelief since the feasts are the special symbols of religions.' The Prophet did not approve the feast of Jaahiliyyah (pre-Islamic period). Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet came to Madeenah with two days they played in. The Prophet asked: 'What are these two days?' They said: 'These are two days we used to play in in our Jaahiliyyah'. The Prophet said: 'Allah has replaced them with two better days: Eed Al-Adh-Haa and Eed Al-Fitr'"

One of the most distinguished qualities of true Muslims is that they do not attend false practices. Allah says (what means): {And those who do not witness falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity.} [Quran 25: 72]

We ask Allah to lead the Muslims to the right path and cause them to follow the Truth.

Allah Knows best.

Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb