Celebrating Valentine's Day
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Fatwa No. ( 21203 )
Q: Some people celebrate Valentine's Day on the fourteenth of February of every Gregorian year (14/2). They exchange red roses, wear the color red, congratulate one another, and some confectionery shops make sweets in red with hearts drawn on them. Some shops also run advertisements for their goods related to this day. What is your opinion: First: celebrating this day? Second: buying from shops on this day?
Third: the sale by shop owners (who do not celebrate) to those who celebrate of some of what is gifted on this day? May Allah reward you with good.
A: The clear evidence from the Book and the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Salaf of the Ummah, indicates that there are only two festivals in Islam: 'Id al-Fitr and 'Id al-Adha. Any other festivals, whether related to a person, a group, an event, or any other meaning, are religious innovations (bid'ah) that are not permissible for the people of Islam to perform, approve, express joy for, or assist in in any way. This is because it is transgressing the limits of Allah, and whoever transgresses the limits of Allah has wronged himself. If the invented festival is also one of the festivals of the disbelievers, then it is a sin upon a sin, because it involves imitating them and a type of loyalty to them. Allah the Exalted has forbidden the believers in His Noble Book from imitating them and being loyal to them. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sunan Abi Dawud 4031Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani). Valentine's Day is of the same category as what has been mentioned, because it is a Christian pagan festival. Therefore, it is not permissible for a Muslim who believes in Allah and the Last Day to perform it, approve it, or congratulate others on it. Rather, it is obligatory to leave it and avoid it in response to Allah and His Messenger, and to distance oneself from the causes of Allah's anger and punishment. It is also forbidden for a Muslim to assist in this festival or any other forbidden festival
in any way, whether by eating, drinking, selling, buying, manufacturing, giving gifts, correspondence, advertising, or otherwise. This is because all of this is cooperation in sin and transgression, and disobedience to Allah and His Messenger. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:[Al-Ma'idah 5:2]. It is obligatory for the Muslim to hold fast to the Book and the Sunnah in all his circumstances, especially in times of fitnah and widespread corruption. He must be alert and cautious of falling into the misguidance of those against whom anger has been invoked, the astray, and the open sinners who do not expect any awe from Allah and do not raise their heads with Islam. The Muslim must turn to Allah the Exalted, seeking His guidance and steadfastness upon it, for there is no guide but Allah and no one who grants steadfastness but He (Glorified and Exalted is He). And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
Q: Some people celebrate Valentine's Day on the fourteenth of February of every Gregorian year (14/2). They exchange red roses, wear the color red, congratulate one another, and some confectionery shops make sweets in red with hearts drawn on them. Some shops also run advertisements for their goods related to this day. What is your opinion: First: celebrating this day? Second: buying from shops on this day?
Third: the sale by shop owners (who do not celebrate) to those who celebrate of some of what is gifted on this day? May Allah reward you with good.
A: The clear evidence from the Book and the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Salaf of the Ummah, indicates that there are only two festivals in Islam: 'Id al-Fitr and 'Id al-Adha. Any other festivals, whether related to a person, a group, an event, or any other meaning, are religious innovations (bid'ah) that are not permissible for the people of Islam to perform, approve, express joy for, or assist in in any way. This is because it is transgressing the limits of Allah, and whoever transgresses the limits of Allah has wronged himself. If the invented festival is also one of the festivals of the disbelievers, then it is a sin upon a sin, because it involves imitating them and a type of loyalty to them. Allah the Exalted has forbidden the believers in His Noble Book from imitating them and being loyal to them. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
He who copies any people is one of them.
من تشبه بقوم فهو منهمin any way, whether by eating, drinking, selling, buying, manufacturing, giving gifts, correspondence, advertising, or otherwise. This is because all of this is cooperation in sin and transgression, and disobedience to Allah and His Messenger. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:
And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلاَ تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.