The evil effect of valentine celebration in our society

All Praise to Almighty Allaah

Yearly, it has become commonplace for lovers both young and old, married and unmarried couples to commemorate Saint Valentine's Day on February 14.

On this very day, couples and partners express love and affection for one another by sharing gift items such as jewelry, chains, photo frames, underwear, household products, makeup sets.

Some affluent among them offer their lovers and concubine junkets on exotic vacations, recreation centres, shopping malls, tourist attractions, booking luxury apartments to have carnal knowledge of one another.

Pope Gelasius I, found the Feast of Saint Valentine in AD 496. The festival was to be commemorated on February 14 in honour of Saint Valentine of Rome, who died on that date in AD 269. The day became associated with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries when notions of courtly love flourished, apparently by association with the "lovebirds" of early spring.

In 18th-century England, it grew into an occasion on which couples expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines". The symbols of Saint Valentine's day that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid.

Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards. In Italy, Saint Valentine's Keys are given to lovers "as a romantic symbol and an invitation to unlock the giver's heart", and to children to ward off epilepsy (called Saint Valentine's Malady).

In any country of the world, Saint Valentine's Day is not considered a public holiday, although it is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran Church. Many parts of the Eastern Orthodox Church also celebrate Saint Valentine's Day on the 6th of July in honour of Roman Presbyter Saint Valentine, and on July 30 in honour of Hieromartyr Valentine, the Bishop of Interamna (modern Terni).

Despite its wide acceptance throughout the world, Saint Valentine's Day shouldn't be given credence because of the evils it harbours.

The evil effect of this heinous festival are numerous but here the few I could mention;

Firstly, during the festival of Saint Valentine, the spate of Immorality (fornication and adultery) is usually on the rise, married men and their concubines, side chicks, girlfriends meet to have sexual intercourse with themselves. These despicable acts often engenders unwanted pregnancies, abortion, heartbreaks, baby-mamarism/fatherism and other atrocities.

Secondly, immorality often results in divorce which renders a once happy family remorseful, creating enmity between husbands and wives, kids and their parents. It also leads to paternity battle provided a child was born because of Immorality.

It further dents the Image(s) of the conspirators of immorality in a scenario where the victims are important personalities.

Thirdly, Sexually transmitted infections such as Hiv/aids, Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, HPV, syphilis to mention but a few are always on the rise because of unprotected sex that occurs during the Saint valentine's day. Innocent people, most especially relatives or partners of the carriers of STDs usually get infected with Sexually transmitted diseases by their promiscuous partners.

Fourthly, it would be wrong not to state the fact that dreams and hopes get shattered because of immorality and trivialities which Saint Valentine facilitates. Students, most especially School leavers and undergraduates usually get their dreams and that of their parents' traumatized because of pregnancies, STD, abortion, suicide, depression caused by unprotected sex during the lamentable festival called "Saint Valentine's day".

Lastly, stealing, robbery, fake promises, begging, rise meteorically because couples most especially the male sex try to celebrate their better-half, concubines, girlfriends, side chicks remarkably. Some often go to the extent of neglecting their duties as parents to satisfy unscrupulous elements on "Saint Valentine's Day."

Filthy, ladies usually leverage on the festival to beg for freebies, junkets, adornments and other material items from males who might not be their relatives

In Islam, it is not permissible to celebrate Saint Valentine's Day,

Abu Dawood (1134) narrated that Anas said: When the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) came to Madeenah, they had two days when they would play. He said: "What are these two days?" They said: "We used to play on these days during the Jaahiliyyah." The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Allaah has given you instead of the two days that are better than them: the day of Al-Adha and the day of Al-Fitr." This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
This shows that festivals are among the characteristics by which nations are distinguished, and it is not permissible to celebrate the festivals of the ignorant and the mushrikeen (polytheists).

Finally, Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said: Celebrating Valentine's Day is not permissible for several reasons.

It is an innovated festival for which there is no basis in Islam.

It promotes love and infatuation.

It calls for hearts to be preoccupied with foolish matters that are contrary to the way of the righteous salaf.

It is not permissible on this day to do any of the things that are characteristic of this festival, whether that has to do with food, drinks, clothing, exchanging gifts or anything else.

(Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (16/199)

I implore everyone, either Muslim or the Non-Muslims to Shun the festivals of Saint Valentine because of the evils it harbours.

May Allaah guide us all.

Bakre Hassan Temitope_dn-team