At this time of the year, a debate arises over the permissibility of celebrating Valentine’s Day. Three reasons can be cited in support of forbidding the celebration of this day.

Firstly, it is an innovation and it has no basis in Islamic law. Secondly, it is a celebration of romantic love and passion which many at times comes with many immoralities. Thirdly, it occupies the heart with matters that contradict proper Islamic guidance.

The question many Muslims ask is, “Is it permissible to celebrate Valentine’s Day?”

When asked, many people will say Valentine’s Day is a day for two lovers to show and appreciate the relationship they have together and do that in the way they best know how to show love. However, what exactly transpires on this day is quite the contrary.

In recent decades, the day has become highly commercialized and with that, it has come to be celebrated by people of all different faiths around the world, including Muslims. It has become an annual date when people all around the world celebrate love. Even though it is predominantly associated with Christianity, the holiday actually originates from the Roman era and was revived by Christians in the 14th century.

Love in Islam

Islam is the religion of love, mercy, piety, and maintaining relations. It promotes all kinds of love. One of the most important obligations upon Muslims is to become the ambassadors of Islam, showing its beauty through their manners, words, and actions.

Marital love between a man and a woman is the first thing that comes to mind when we speak of love. Rather than prohibiting this kind of love, Islam encourages it within the sanctity of marriage. The foundation of marriage — love, compassion, respect, forgiveness, and understanding — is found in the Quran:

“And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and he placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who give thought” (Quran 30: 21).

Perhaps nowhere is this more epitomized than in the love between Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his first wife, Khadijah (RA). She loved him for his noble manners, perfect character, trustworthiness, loyalty, humility, and gracious behavior towards everyone. He loved her for her beauty of character, virtue, understanding, nobility, and support and belief in him. He loved her deeply despite the age difference. She loved him unconditionally despite his poverty. So great was their love that the Prophet (SA) continued to love Khadijah (RA) until the end of his life. It was reported that 'Aishah (RA) once asked him if Khadijah (RA) had been the only woman worthy of his love. He replied:

"She believed in me when none else did, she embraced Islam when people disbelieved me; and she helped and comforted me when there was none to lend me a helping hand.”

Islam also encourages us to extend affection and love for each other at all times. Anas Ibn Malik narrated that once when a man was with the Prophet and another man passed by them, the Prophet’s companion said, ‘You know, that one, I really love him.’ The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Tell him so.’ He caught up with the man and said, ‘I really love you for the sake of God.’ The man replied, ‘I, too, love you as much as you love me, for His sake.’”

Muslims are required to treat everyone with piety and kindness, including non-Muslims. God does not forbid us from maintaining good ties with non-Muslims, exchanging gifts with them, or treating them kindly. He says:

“God does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, God loves those who act justly” (Quran 60: 9).

At another place, God emphasized this point:

“And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]” (Quran 4: 87).

“And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say, ‘We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him’” (Quran 29: 5).

Permissibility of Celebrating Valentine’s Day

Can married Muslim couples not celebrate their love for each other on any other day? Does it have to be on this one in specific?

As a Muslim, I have so many issues with Valentine's Day, from it being too commercial to unacceptable within our culture, but the main reason behind my objection to it lies in the fact that celebrating it is contrary to the teachings of Islam, as it has no connection with Islam whatsoever.

This is not my point of view or perspective; this is simply what my religion states. Clear rules set in the Holy Quran prohibit followers of the religion from celebrating holidays that belong to other faiths. Since Valentine's Day is not an Islamic holiday or Eid, it cannot be celebrated by a Muslim, it's as simple as that.

In Islam, we only celebrate days that have a connection with our faith; anything else is just not ours to take part in. This holiday goes against our Islamic values and our traditions. Do we expect people of other religions to observe Ramadan? Do we expect them to celebrate Eid? Why then would we be expected to celebrate their holidays?

Celebrating Valentine's Day is considered unacceptable in Islam because it is a holiday that originates in another religion. Therefore, if a person gifts their husband/wife a gift on the day with the intent to celebrate Valentine's, this practice is not the best. However, Islam does encourage married couples to express love to each other; it just should not be as part of these celebrations.

Love for our spouses and humanity in general isn't something that needs a date to be set to it; it's an everyday thing, so this renders Valentine's Day a useless and baseless day worthy of celebration.

By: Abdul Awal Abdus Salam.