VALENTINE’S DAY: Give Priority to What Concerns You -By Abdulateef Otuyiga

That atmosphere of love is what almost the whole world is enslaved with in every 14th of February, but to what type of love? This is the question, real Muslims should put into consideration, so that it won’t contradict Islamic teachings.

Valentine’s Day may be gone, but its practice has become a social occasion devoid of any religious attachment. Akin to this, is when you see Muslim couple showing real affection to each other while tagging it romantic day without minding its attachment to the ways of the Pagans or what have you. If you would ask them, can the quality of the love for a day ever quantifier the true love they’ve had together since marriage? Hmm! An ignorant act pictured from the acronym, though not political party you know, PDP–People Deceiving People.

The society is now in mess to the extent that the enjoyment of romantic love is no longer credited to the legal lovers of marriage. What do we see? Boy friend and girl friend having promiscuous relationship with each other, exchanging gifts, sending love messages, putting on wears in red; depicting the fake love, going out for candle light dinners and the worst having extramarital affairs till the lady is impregnated or neglected. What an abomination!

Have we forgotten that associating ourselves to this fake romantic day, is a form of promoting fornication and adultery without any bound of marriage. In fact, Allah commands us to refrain from such, and as well warn us to from getting near it, as He says:

“And come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is a great sin, and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him).” [Quran, 17: 32]

Let’s come to think of it, historically, Valentine’s Day was the practice of the Pagans, as it was in the tradition of the Ancient Rome that a feast of Lupercalia, a common ritual, was celebrated from 13 –15 February. A goat and a dog were sacrificed by men on these days and women were whipped with the hides of the sacrifice animals so that they can be fertile, owning to their beliefs. Was that not an act of the greatest Shirk? Absolutely ungodly.

Babarically during the festival, a match making lottery was carried out where men would draw names of women from a jar and couple up with that woman for duration of the festival, or even longer. What an act of dehumanising the dignity of the women!

In the territory of the pagans after some years when Valentine’s Day had got its name, Emperor Claudius ordered a Christian priest, Saint Valentine to be executed on the 14th February. Why? Because the emperor rejected the marriage of single men, as preached by the Christian priest though the priest had a lover whom he eventually left a card revealing his name.

From where do we lost it, as Muslims? Our in ability to seek adequate knowledge about Islam makes us wallow in abject ignorance. Little do we know that the power of the pagans is mighty to the extent that it influences christianity and even our religion somehow. Have you forgotten that it was the pagans that designed the gregorian calendar, specifically to mark their worship of their gods which both the two religions are accustomed to, to date? But Alhamdulilah, for the divine religion which is God send, as it has its own calendar, ‘Islamic calendar’, you say. Exactly.

The acceptance of Christianity made the Roman pagans transform the feast into what is celebrated to date. Also, as Christianity couldn’t influence their ways of life completely, the pagans, instead, stylishly practice their culture of religion to date.

Unequivocally, it is stated in the glorious Qur’an, Surah Kafirun where Allah says in the matters of religion: “To you your religion (kufur) and to me mine (Islam).” Quran 109 v 6.

Buttressing the above verse is the statement of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon), on imitating the Kufar. He said, “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”

Shouldn’t the above be fearful to the weak believers? They give in to their self interest over the statement of Allah and His prophet. May Allah guide them.

Islam is completed enough to make any addition from an ordinary man. It is inappropriate of man to innovate what is not designed by the Creator or taught by His messengers.

Yes, Islam is a religion of peace, love and care, as the prophet was an epitome of these to humanity.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Whenever you love somebody, tell them 💖 .” Meanwhile, this is misleading among the weak believers of Islam, as they failed to understand the context to use it. They, however, use it as a medium to express their love for their female counterpacts in an illicit relationship on Valentine’s Day.

Get this again, the kind of love that Islam preaches entails expression and showing of kindness, love, care, compassion and support to people around you. Meanwhile, Valentine’s Day only expresses a romantic love which is constituted with illicit behaviour. But when we talk of romantic love in Islam, it can only be expressed by people that are legally married. At the same time, the absence of this legal relationship is sinful in the presence of Allah.

So, what then concerns you as Muslims, you might ask?
Do you ever imagine or think about what are the things to do which will add value to your religion, welfare and ending? Does your participation in Valentine’s Day makes you closer to Allah or makes you farther from Him?

Remember, we are in the blessed month of Rajab where your fervent prayers, generosity to people around you, not that extravagant spending to your boo, will be answered. There is Ayyamu–beed 13,14,15 fasting which the Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged. Have you participated in all these, and if otherwise, then you need to seek forgiveness and do the needful to what concerns you.

Abdulateef Otuyiga is a 300 level student of English Language at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.