It’s that time of the year again where an annual ritual takes the world by frenzy, and sweeps along the Muslims with it. Now it’s the turn of Valentine’s Day.

It shouldn’t take too much to work out that Valentine’s Day has nothing to do with Islam, thereby it should also have nothing to do with Muslims. However, many a Muslim will be taking part in this festivity, which is steeped in illicit relationships, promotes such things and devalues the honour of men, women and families. You may think, that’s a very strong thing to say about something as harmless as remembering to be loving to your wife and making the day special for her. But if Muslims engage in festivities that are not Islamic in nature or origin, then this is a grave thing, as revealed in the Qur’an:

“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers” [Surah Aal ‘Imraan, 3:85]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned us of our following the ways of the Jews and Christians and those
who came before us:

Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him), narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “You will certainly follow the ways of those who came before you, span by span, cubit by cubit, until even if they were to enter a lizard’s hole, you would follow them.” We said, “O Messenger of Allaah, (do you mean) the Jews and Christians?” He said, “Who else?!” [Sahih Bukhari]