Read the following Du’a (supplication) before you study a religious book or an Islamic lesson, you will remember whatever you study,
Translation
Translation O Allah! Open the doors of knowledge and wisdom for us, and have mercy on us! O the One Who is the most Honourable and Glorious! (Al-Mustatraf, vol. 1, pp. 40)Note: Recite Salat-‘Alan-Nabi once before and after the Du’a.
VALENTINE’S DAY
(In the light of Quran and Ahadees) What do the blessed scholars of Deen and the respected Muftis of Shari’ah say about the following issue: How is it for Muslims to celebrate Valentine’s day which is becoming common now a days? On this day, non-Mahram1 boys and girls (who are strangers to each other) exchange presents of love (red flowers, Valentine’s cards, etc.) with each other. They announce their love, promise and swear oaths to keep their relationship. Is it appropriate for a Muslim to celebrate such festivals? Does Islam permit us to celebrate such festivals? If not, then how shall the Muslims react towards these festivals which are common in the society?Non-Mahram is one with whom Nikah (marriage) is valid or may become valid.
Because a human is hasty and innovative by nature, if he doesn’t lead his life within the parameters of Shari’ah after comprehending the rulings of Shari’ah through his intellect, then both these traits (hastiness and being innovative) keep indulging him in evils at every step. Moreover, he doesn’t even realise what he has done. He remains trapped in the pits of evils to such an extent that it becomes extremely difficult for him to come out of it. Then another natural habit of living with someone also exists in a human. That’s why, it is necessary for him to live with others too. Moreover, because NonMuslims also live in this world in addition to Muslims, that too in a large number; and even among Muslims, we find both types, those who are pious and those who are disobedient; that’s why more means of evilness exist in the society than the means of reformation. Furthermore, in the current era of globalisation where among the aims of corporate media companies are to spread evilness, immoralities and characterlessness; and among their targets are to destroy the peace of people and create restlessness among them by showing and arousing their carnal desires and emotions; so all these evils are being propagated and publicised very fast in an extremely organised manner. Due to these means, the practices of non-Muslims and new types of transgressions spread all over the world within few minutes, rather few seconds. That’s why we see more destructive consequences in the society. Moreover, these facts are not hidden from anyone. Furthermore, those who indulge in immoralities and social evils are mostly two types of people: 1. Those who are financially well-off, love living a luxurious life, like to live with pride and pomp, and reveal their dignity and grandeur upon others.
2. Those who are found to have weak intellect and lack of intelligence. Those who have lack of intelligence get more trapped by moral evils because they are not properly aware of what is good or bad for them. That’s why they get impressed with those intellectuals who convey their message with a great emphasis to them based on intellect. Because those who spread evil exist more in number, that’s why evil spreads in the society on a larger scale very quickly. Whereas those who protect from evils are although extremely wise and religious, but because they are less in number, that’s why those who get protected from evils are less in number. Khalifah (Successor) of A’la Hadrat, Hadrat Allamah Sayyid Sulayman Ashraf ! " # writes at one place in his book ‘AnNoor’: ‘This is a fact and reality that common public neither holds an opinion, nor does it have a voice. When the educated and intellectual people want to propagate an ideology, they imbed their ideology in the minds of the common public through their speeches and writings. Those intellectuals do so with such effective and persuasive manner that the mind-set of common public reflects their ideology, and voice of the common public speaks their words.’ (An- Noor, pp. 146) As far as those who love living a luxurious life and like to live with pride and pomp are concerned, whether they are rulers or not, major reason for them indulging in evils and immoralities is the desire to acquire the wealth of this world and having excess of carnal and lustful desires, which distances them far away from the right path.
Allah states in the Holy Quran:
And We never punish until We have sent a Noble Messenger. And when We will to destroy a township We send the commands to its prosperous people, thereupon they do not obey them, and so the Word is proved upon it - We therefore destroy and ruin it. [Translation of Quran (Kanz-ul-Iman)](Parah 15, Surah Bani-Israel, Ayah 15 -16)
From this Ayah, we come to know that one of the reasons for indulging in mischiefs, turmoil and transgressions is also abundance of affluence, and rule with dignity and grandeur. Such people are more likely to be indulged in transgressions, and common observation also proves this fact. Now on one hand, these are the habits of common people, but on the other hand, a Muslim is blessed with the treasure of Iman (faith) by the blessings of Allah because he is not an ordinary human being, instead he has the title of ‘true humanity’ as compared to disbelievers. Moreover, due to being a Muslim, his faith and religion encourages him to remain conservative within the specified boundaries along with being innovative, observe patience despite having the naturally imbedded habit of hastiness, be an individual who uses his intellect to lead his life within the boundaries of Shari’ah and not to feel disgusted in living with people as well as staying away from evils and not to be impressed by them either. Being conservative within specified boundaries means that our beliefs in relation to Allah are that He is ‘قدیم] ‘i.e. always existed]. Meaning that He is from ever and will stay forever. Moreover, it has been more than fourteen centuries since our Beloved Rasool ( has also physically departed from this world. The Divine book of Allah was also revealed in that beloved era. Moreover, he ( explained and clarified it in the form of Ahadees to his Ummah in his blessed apparent life. So when all this is also old, then based on this, it becomes necessary upon a Muslim to remain conservative. Otherwise, how will he remain a Muslim? Moreover, being conservative within specified boundaries refers to remaining steadfast upon the clear Nasoos [i.e. definitive text] of Holy Quran and Ahadees, and the important rulings proven from the consensus of Aimma-e-Mujtahideen without any dispute and argument. Similarly, for one to be a true Muslim, it is essential for him to act upon the saying of his Imam that he follows among Aimma-e-Arba’ah while accepting the saying of his Imam to be absolutely true. These principles are not of today, but have been proven and laid down centuries ago. The matter of being heedless in acting upon any of these rulings or denying them can lead one from the extent of transgression to disbelief and misguidance. That’s why a Muslim living even in an advanced world is conservative in relation to his Iman (faith) and the important rulings of Islam. Moreover, this is how it (the conservativeness) should be as this holds the importance of being the soul for his religious life.In short, because the ways and boundaries of living a cautious religious life have been mentioned in the blessed Sayings of Allah and His Rasool ( , whose Kalimah we read, we have not been set free like a wild beast to do whatever pleases us. Therefore, this is the fundamental difference between a Muslim and a non-Muslim, that a Muslim possesses Iman (faith) and is obliged to follow the rulings of Shari’ah, whereas a disbeliever remains deprived of both these aspects and lives a free life. However, it is very sad to see that numerous Kalimah-reciter Muslims, despite accepting the fact of living within the boundaries of Islam, become victim of practically leaving acting upon Shari’ah by being impressed with the turmoil that exists in the society and the freedom of disbelievers. Moreover, Muslims commit mistake by crossing the boundaries of Shari’ah and committing sins in relation to festivals, celebrations and the ways of celebrating them. Main reason for this is, not understanding the natural weaknesses from an Islamic perspective and keeping oneself distanced from Islamic etiquettes, manners, beliefs and actions in relation to safeguarding oneself against these weaknesses. Hence, they do not remain safe from the effects of innovativeness, hastiness, naivety, unnecessary socialisation, and bad company. Or they like staying happy like this and do not want to be saved. In short, whatever comes from the non-Muslims, they become so enticed towards them by looking at their worldly materialistic progression that they start liking everything of theirs. They buy products by looking at the label of non-Muslim countries. They like dining in the hotels that follow their trends, as well as going in the functions that represent their culture. They keep trying to prove Valentine’s Day 7 themselves to be among the very same culture through their house and all the households, dressing, character and the way of conversation. They become over the moon if they succeed in it to some extent. It is for this reason that whenever something new comes from there, no matter how impure and impermissible it may be, it becomes very difficult for them to abandon it due to it becoming a part of the culture. Moreover, even if they do think about staying away from it, then straight away they are struck with the thought that ‘what will the people of our status say to us? Don’t you get to know about the new festivals of the fashions of the culture? Keep up with the pace of the society. Otherwise, you won’t fit in us. You will stay behind.’ Upon listening to such comments, their naïve heart becomes more stubborn and drags them away from the path of Islam to the path of disobedience. Due to this, enemies of Islam and nations drowned in disbelief and polytheism keep experimenting time to time after judging the temperament and nature of majority of the Muslims so they remain aware of the fact that what percentage remains steadfast on Islam and like staying steadfast on Islam, and what is the percentage of those who have killed their conscience and are restless to accept everything that they say and introduce. They are mentally completely enslaved by them. When they see the number of Muslims admiring them increasing, then to serve their purpose of enmity for Islam, they choose people like Meer Ja’far and Meer Sadiq among Muslims and assign them the task of creating division, conflicts, doubts and uncertainties among Muslims and give them the target to deny the clear commandments of Shari’ah through improper justifications and reasoning. So, these were the facts based on the actual situation that exists in reality. This has not just started in the recent past. Instead, Muslims as a nation have been facing such conspiracies and plots since the downfall of the Islamic kingdom in fact even before that. While highlighting the same deteriorated state of Muslims, Sadr-usShari’ah Mufti Amjad Ali Azami mentions at one place in his esteemed book, ‘Bahar-e-Shari’at’: How much can we wail over the poor state of Muslims? We would not have faced these miserable times if their state had not worsened to this extent. Moreover, when their state of being impressed by others has grown so strong and the power of impressing others has abolished, then how can we still hope for these Muslims to climb the ladder of success when they are living as slaves and until they keep living like this. ع َ ِ ت ِا( ب ُ َاذ ِعي ۡ َال و ٰ 9ا) Bahar-e-Shari’at, Part 9, vol. 2, pp. 451) The purpose of mentioning few important facts as an introduction is that Valentine’s day, a day that is full of immodesty and sins, which is being celebrated openly with freedom and is becoming highly acclaimed among young boys and girls; similar kind of reasons are found behind it which have been mentioned above. Such as natural weaknesses, innovativeness, hastiness, excess of carnal and satanic desires, distance from Islam, neither staying steadfast ourselves and nor upbringing our offspring to make them steadfast with the Islamic character and etiquette, and Muslim leaders not taking firm actions against the anti-Islamic traditions and festivals Valentine’s Day 9 within the society on a national level; are all the reasons because of which this immodest day has started to be celebrated among the Muslims. Instead, the rulers are found to be provoking these ideologies against Islam and open transgressions, rather than stopping them. Moreover, the rulers provide all protections and opportunities to spread the evil openly to those who spread these kinds of evils. Every mentioned reason is playing its vital role in embedding these evils in the hearts of Muslims. Background of Valentine’s day and way of celebrating it Coming to the point now, as the question is asked about Valentine’s day, that’s why first of all, especially the historic background and evils performed on this day will be mentioned. So, the reality of this day that is full of evils, can be revealed upon Muslims. Therefore, it is said that there was a priest named Valentine who used to live under the rule of the Roman emperor, Claudius the second, in the third century A.D. Due to some disobedience, the emperor imprisoned him. The priest and the daughter of jailer both fell in love with each other. To the extent that the daughter of jailer even left her religion and accepted the religion of the priest. Now she would come every day to meet the priest with a red rose. When the emperor came to know about this, he ordered the priest to be hanged. When the priest found out that the emperor has sentenced him to be hanged, he intended to spend his last moments with the one he had fallen in love with. For this, he sent a card to his beloved, on which was inscribed ‘from your sincere Valentine.’ Ultimately, that priest was hanged on 14th February. Since then, every 14th February is celebrated as a symbol of love on the name of that priest as the Valentine’s day. Valentine’s Day 10 Whereas, the way this festival is celebrated that young boys and girls meet each other without any veil and modesty, exchange presents and display shameless scenes of obscenity and immodesty openly or secretly; as they are able to do. It is commonly seen and observed. According to a report, medicines relating to family planning are sold a lot more during Valentine’s day as compared to other days in Pakistan, and the majority of the buyers are young boys and girls. Number of customers increases on the gift and flower shops and customers buying these products are also young boys and girls. Because these things are not openly allowed in the countries holding eastern values, that’s why young couples search for a safe place. For the fulfilment of this purpose, hotels are booked a lot more in those days as compared to normal days. Moreover, those who make these bookings and enjoy obscenely are young boys and girls. On this day, alcohol trade is at its peak. A huge shameless display of immodesty and unveiling is observed by the sea shore on this day. Western countries, where non-Muslims live in complete freedom and can legally practice obscenity and shameless activities openly, even they at times get stressed due to the hype and bustling of this day. Moreover, they also at times raise voice to protest against it. For example, a protest took place in a country where Valentine’s day is openly celebrated to oppose it. Main reason for this protest was that due to this day, 39 girls of one primary school in that country of the age of 10 became pregnant. Just ponder that this news is about the state of 10 years’ old girls of a primary school, Valentine’s Day 11 how abundantly would have the number of unlawful relationships of young boys and girls increased, and one can imagine how many pregnancies and abortions would have taken place as a result of this day? How unfortunate and sad it is that numerous Muslims celebrate this day immodestly like non-believers while ignoring the purest of the rulings given to us by Allah and His Beloved Rasool & ( . Moreover, while committing sins openly, not only do they blacken out their Book of deeds further, but also harm the chastity of the Muslim society through the filth and impurities of their indecent and vulgar practices. Unlawful gazing, unveiling, obscenity and shamelessness, stranger (non-Mahram) boys and girls meeting each other, joking around, exchange of presents to strengthen this unlawful relationship, fornication and all the means that lead up to fornication; are all those acts that are practiced heavily on this day that is full of sins. These are the facts that no Muslim can even have a slightest bit of doubt regarding them being impermissible and haram (forbidden). forbiddance and condemnation of these practices is proven from the clear Ayahs of Holy Quran and blessed sayings of the Holy Rasool ( . But because the purpose of this type of question is to advise Muslims from a religious point of view, and along with the illpractices of that day, they shall be made aware of the evils and wickedness of celebrating that day while igniting the fear of Allah and love of Holy Rasool ( in their hearts so they Valentine’s Day 12 can repent from their impure transgressions and engage in reforming their mind-set and characters and succeed on the Day of Judgement; therefore, I mention few facts below for persuasion to my Islamic brothers who love Islam. As well as reading it yourself, spread this important fatwa [verdict] everywhere which is in a shape of an article so ordinary Muslims can benefit in this world and the Hereafter. Now see the rulings of our blessed Shari’ah that how has unlawful gazing, unveiling, immodesty and every type of obscenity and shamelessness been condemned in the Ayahs of Holy Quran and the blessed sayings of the Beloved Rasool . Because reading, listening and comprehending attentively benefits Muslims; hence try to make the efforts of letting the Ayahs and Ahadees enter your heart. If Allah wills, as well as getting the ability to repent, you will also attain the treasure of piety and ability to follow the Sunnahs. Teachings of modesty and condemnation of immodesty from the blessed Ayahs of the Holy Quran 1. Allah states:
Command the Muslim men to keep their gaze low and to protect their private organs; that is much purer for them; indeed Allah is Aware of their deeds. And command the Muslim women to keep their gaze low and to protect their chastity. [Translation of Quran (Kanz-ul-Iman)](Parah 18, Surah Noor, Ayah 30 - 31) In the same 31st Ayah of Surah Noor, it has also been stated that:
And not to stamp their feet on the ground in order that their hidden adornment be known
[Translation of Quran (Kanz-ul-Iman)](Parah 18, Surah Noor, Ayah 31)
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