BASIC FACTS ABOUT ISLAM

As February 14th approaches many are getting ready to send heart shaped/decorated  cards, candies, red flowers and numerous other items to their “loved ones”.   Yet have we ever stopped to really consider the history of this holiday and its significance?  I hope that after reading this article you will have more information to understand why many scholars encourage us to stick with celebrating our two Eids as was the habit of the Prophet Mohammed pbuh and his companions.  One question to ask ourselves, why is it that we have the need to follow others and imitate them in their actions?  Do you find them celebrating Eid al Adha? Most likely not!  What may seem as such a simple minor act to enjoy a day soon becomes a tradition or habit which actually has no part in Islamic teachings.   Finally, it is vital to remember that the behavior and example of the Prophet, pbuh, shows us that actually every day should be a celebration of respect, love and honor for those we care about and love.

Sakina and Sara


Valentines:  Its Reality and Ruling

The religion of Islam is complete, so there is absolutely no need for invented opinions, innovated desires or man-made legislation. The blessings and favours that have been given to us by Islam are all-inclusive and so we do not have any need for seasons and occasions to be invented so that we may celebrate them.

Allaah Says (what means): “This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as a religion.” [Quran 5: 3]

Our religion is supreme, it is the most perfect one. It combines the good of this life and the Hereafter; it addressed the soul and was not heedless of the body; it gave preference to the Hereafter but did not neglect our needs in this life. Allaah Says (what means): “But seek, through that which Allaah has given you, the home of the Hereafter.”

[Quran 28: 77]

Our religion is a moderate religion that is neither negligent of any matter, nor does it exaggerate any issue beyond its rightful status. There is no monasticism in Islam, nor blind-materialism,  Allaah Says (what means): “Thus We have made you a median (i.e. just) community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you.” [Quran 2: 143]

How is it that the believers can squander this position, which Allaah granted them and become humiliated while they still have the Quran and the Sunnah to refer to? Why would we be pleased with becoming mere followers after enjoying the position of leadership ? How can we go astray and become blind-imitators after being guides ? What possesses a person to become a slave who carries out orders, after being a master?

The answer to these questions lies in the saying of the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam as narrated by Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri : “You will follow in the footsteps of those who came before you hand-span by hand-span and (the length of an) arm by arm, such that even if they enter into the dwelling place of a lizard you would still follow them.” The Companions  asked: “O Messenger of Allaah, do you mean (by ‘those who came before you’) the Jews and the Christians?” He sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam replied: “Who else ?” [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]

So, once again, we have the army of disbelief attacking us, propagating the celebration of a holiday – and what a deceitful and treacherous holiday it is! A holiday which they have given a name other than its actual one in order to mislead people, they gave it a noble name to deceive the pure and the chaste. They called it the day of love, while it is actually the day of immorality, prostitution and drinking. They spread immorality dressed in the garment of virtue and this is the age-old method that Satan uses.

Allaah exposed this tactic in His Book when He says regarding the deception of Satan of our father Aadam and our mother Hawwaa’ (what means): “And he swore (by Allaah) to them both: ‘Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors’”[Quran 7: 21]

Beware of the deceiver who approaches you with an advising tongue, for he knows that if he were to openly state his intention, he would never attain his objectives. Allaah Says (what means): “But they plan, and Allaah plans. And Allaah is the best of planners.” [Quran 8: 30]

The History of how Valentine Started ?

It is claimed that pagan Greece used to celebrate on the fifteenth day of February every year which coincided with aspring holiday. At that time Christianity was new to the area. The emperor Claudius II forbade marriage for his soldiers. Valentine, a Christian priest challenged this command and used to conduct secret marriage sermons. He was soon discovered and was sentenced to death. While in prison he fell in love with the daughter of a prison guard, but this was a secret since Christianity forbade priests to marry or have romantic relations with women, but since he remained steadfast on Christianity, the people overlooked his crime of falling in love. The emperor offered to forgive him and make him one of his close companions and marry one of his daughters to him, on the condition that he gave up Christianity, but Valentine favoured Christianity and was executed on the fourteenth of February, 270 CE – the night before the celebration of the Greek spring holiday of the fifteenth of February. Ever since then, it was called Priest Valentine’s holiday. After the spread of Christianitythroughout Europe, February the fourteenth was re-named ‘Valentine’s Day’ in his memory because (they claim) he sacrificed himself for Christianity and fostered those in love.

That was the story behind this holiday. Unfortunately many young men and women were deceived by this, due to the weakness of their faith, ignorance of Islam, heedlessness and the lack of guidance by the Muslim scholars and leaders. The ignorant youth were hoodwinked into celebrating this holiday.

Among the manifestations of this holiday are the giving of red roses, the wearing of red dresses, and exchanging special greetings, cards and gifts. This is a day where one is ‘supposed’ to remember their wives or lovers. This holiday is so ingrained in western culture that remembering this day and celebrating it has become a sign of ‘true and sincere love’ and it is not uncommon for one who forgets  about this day to be thought of as ‘insincere’ and ‘untrue’ in his or her love!

Every Muslim must know that this holiday was invented by the disbelievers and it is therefore unlawful to celebrate it according to the religion of Islam. There is no difference of opinion among the Muslim scholars regarding this.

In fact, even if this holiday was invented by the Muslims it would still be unlawful to celebrate it.

Aaishah  narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said: “He who innovates something in our matter (i.e. the religion of Islam), will have it rejected.” [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]

Anas Ibn Maalik  narrated that when the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam came to Madeenah, he sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam found people celebrating a two-day memorial which dated back to the time of Jaahiliyyah (the pre-Islamic era). He sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said: “Allaah Has replaced these for you with two better days; the day of Eedul-Adh-haa (sacrifice) and the day of Eedul-Fitr (following Ramadhaan).” [Ahmad, An-Nasaai & Abu Daawood)]

Shaykh Abu Hafs An-Nisfi went as far as to say: ‘He who offers an egg as a gift to a disbeliever in glorification of their day of celebration becomes a disbeliever’”.

Allaah warned us from following the disbelievers or supporting them and commanded us to differ from them. He Almighty Says (what means): “O you who have believed! Take not those who have taken your religion in ridicule and amusement among the ones who were given the Scripture before you nor the disbelievers as allies. And fear Allaah if you should (truly) be believers.” [Quran: 5: 57]

The Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said: “He who resembles a group of people will be with them (in the Hereafter).” [Ahmad and others]

How can it be that a Muslim accepts for himself and his family the celebration of an immoral holiday innovated by disbelievers; Valentines Day, the claimed celebration of love? How can he allow his family to celebrate the holiday of a Christian priest, Valentine, who was cursing Allaah day and night by saying: “He is one of three, He had a wife, He had begotten a son etc.” ?

Allaah is exalted far above what they attribute to Him.

Allaah Says (what means): “And they say: ‘The Most Merciful (Allaah) has taken (for Himself) a son. You have done an atrocious thing. The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation. That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son. And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son. There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant. He has enumerated them and counted them a (full) counting. And all of them are coming to Him on the Day of resurrection alone.”[Quran 19: 88-95]

Allaah Says (what means): “Be not deceived by the (uninhibited) movement of the disbelievers throughout the land, (It is but) a small enjoyment; then their (final) refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place!” [Quran 3: 196-197]

Do not be deceived by them and what they doing because this life is a temporary one and it is vanishing fast. Allaah Says (what means): “But the Hereafter is better and more lasting”(Al-A’laa: 17)

and also: “It will be, on the Day they see it, as though they had not remained (in the world) except for an afternoon or a morning thereof.” [Quran 79: 46]

Beware of these holidays which have been invented by the disbelievers and warn people against them; be proud of your religion; be distinct from the misguided; do not follow in their footsteps or be affected by their ideas; ask Allaah to guide you and keep you steadfast.

Do not allow the uncertain to fool you; dont allow the disbelievers to misguide you; be proud of your religion and your celebrations; preserve your identity; and do not resemble or imitate the disbelievers because it leads to destruction and Hell.

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