Is celebrating Valentine’s day against Islam?
Every year, the topic of “Can Muslims celebrate Valentine’s Day?” is brought up and discussed. Because of the day’s origins and history, some Muslims think it is OK to celebrate a holiday honoring your spouse, while others think it is forbidden.
We would like to use this occasion to simply give both arguments. To provide a fair analysis of both sides of the debate, we will delve into the history of Valentine’s Day and consider its contemporary interpretation.
Is celebrating Valentine’s day against Islam?
The history of Valentine’s day
There isn’t a unanimously agreed origins story for Valentine’s Day except for the name of the person the day is dedicated to – St Valentine.
St Valentine Died For Love
Some assert he was a Catholic priest who went against the then Emperor Claudius II after the latter outlawed marriage for young men. Claudius felt married men were too attached to their wives, which prevented them from joining the army for war, whereas single men were more than happy to oblige. As a result, he banned marriage. Despite the ban, St Valentine continued to secretly marry people until he was caught and executed.
Another opinion says Valentine was a Bishop and prisoner who fell in love with a prison guard’s daughter. Before execution, he sent her a letter signed “From your Valentine” which is considered the first-ever Valentines Day card and is the reason people call their partner their ‘Valentine’ on Valentine’s Day.
Which story is true – we don’t know. But we can say it has Christian origins with love and romance being central to it – a theme that has continued to this very day.
There is a third opinion. Holders of this opinion say Valentine’s Day has nothing to do with Christianity and is in fact a pagan holiday given the shroud of Christianhood.
Valentine’s Day and its Pagan Origin
The paganized version of Valentine‘s Day has got nothing to do with St Valentine. People of this opinion say the holiday is used as a guide to celebrating ‘Luparcalia’ – a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.
The day would be commemorated by sacrificing a goat for fertility and a dog for purification. The goat would be cut into strips, dipped in blood, and smeared across young women to improve their fertility. Later, the names of each young woman would be placed in a big pot with single men picking out a women’s name to pair up with for that year.
Greek Origins of Valentine’s Day
Aside from the heavy Roman-Christian influence on Valentine’s Day, the holiday also has a Greek element. You’ve all seen an image of Cupid, right? He’s supposed to represent the Greek god of love, Eros. This is why ‘cupid’s arrow’ if struck on someone, makes them fall in love.
So is Valentine’s day haram?
If we assess and evaluate Valentine’s Day from the lens of its supposed pagan origins, it’s impossible to argue against the impermissibility of celebrating the holiday. The Holy Qur’an makes it abundantly clear that our Lord is One and none is to be worshipped except Him. In Surah Kafiroon, we are advised to address the people of other religions with the following:
I do not worship that which you worship.”
(109:2)
Polytheism and idol worship is the worst sin in the eyes of Allah (SWT):
God does not forgive the worship of others besides Him.”
(4:116)
Unless they repent and become Muslims before dying.
If these stories are to be believed Valentine’s Day at best is a Christian holiday. ‘What is a Muslim doing celebrating a Christian/pagan holiday?’ is the natural question some Muslims will raise.
Modern interpretation
Although Valentines Day is rooted in Christian or pagan origins, nobody in today’s age celebrates it for those reasons or because of the ancient stories.
In the 20th and 21st Centuries, Valentine’s Day has become yet another holiday and a reason to take your spouse out for dinner and buy them a nice gift. The phrase ‘Valentines Day’ means nothing else. No Muslim is marking Valentine’s Day because of a Christian priest or bishop, or because of some mythological demi-gods of love and fertility.
By the grace of Allah (SWT), Islam has spread far and wide. Naturally, Muslims have been exposed to and embraced different cultures. Not all cultures are unIslamic either.
A Nigerian Muslim will dress differently from an Iranian Muslim. An Eastern European Muslim eats something entirely different from an Asian Muslim. These differences are rooted in different cultures and regions.
So, what about Valentine’s Day? Can it also be labeled as something harmlessly cultural and therefore acceptable? Many Muslims think so.
They assert there isn’t anything unIslamic in using Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to express love for one’s spouse and use the day as an excuse to go on a romantic date. What can possibly be haram about expressing love to one’s lawful wedded partner?
Today, Valentine’s Day is ultimately about love. Love is one of the main foundations of our faith. Therefore, Valentine’s Day is deemed as not being in conflict with Islam whatsoever.
Both the opposing sides have valid points. But is there a right and wrong in this debate?
The scholar ibn Qayim said: “It’s difficult to judge one’s own intentions, let alone the intention of others.”
In the modern age, Valentine’s Day will be down to a Muslim’s intention and interpretation. Some Muslims will avoid it because of the history associated with the day while others are fine with making romantic plans with their spouse because a modernized Valentine’s Day doesn’t really have any link to its origins.
Muslim version
Dr Bilal Hassam, creative director at British Muslim TV has some ideas on what a Muslim-inspired Valentines Day could look like:
“Perhaps a powerful poem praising your partner or maybe the introduction of a small gesture into your relationship, like eating from the same plate, just as the Prophet did, with the hope of rekindling sparks of love and affection.
What about bringing a sense of charity to the celebration, perhaps spending Valentine’s Day in acts of service for those who have lost their loved ones? Or even just helping your single friends who are still on the search.
Love is the balm that will bind us all together, roses and chocolates might help a little, but perhaps this Valentine’s Day we can delve deep into the wisdom of our faith and enhance what this season of love could be for all.”
