Valentine's Day: A Bad Tradition of Indecency and Obscenity

Mufti Muhammad Sanaullah Qasmi
Since Western civilization and net culture have started affecting our youth, and nudity, obscenity, and mixed education have increased, the traditional Indian civilization of shame and modesty has started to disappear. The educated and uneducated are becoming equal, and incidents of unsuccessful love, murder in love, and attempted gang rape by a lover are becoming common. Such incidents were previously considered sensitive by society, but now they have become so common that society has started to consider them normal. In rural areas, such incidents are still disturbing for the people involved and affect their social honor, but in urban areas, such matters are not given much attention, and the police department also considers the case of a girl's abduction as a matter of love and discharges its responsibilities.

If we examine these matters closely, we will find that the entire story of love is driven by the fire of lust or the stubbornness of pride. If this fire is not extinguished, it leads to murder and violence, destroying families and taking away the dignity and honor of society. Those who support it argue that love is a part of human nature and has been expressed in different ways in various cultures. However, this argument has no basis when it comes to Valentine's Day, as it is not about expressing love for one's mother or sister, but for a lover or girlfriend.

The tradition of Valentine's Day has played a significant role in promoting obscenity and immorality. On February 14th, young people celebrate this day with great enthusiasm and go through all the stages of immorality, which is a matter of concern for those who claim to be the flag-bearers of Eastern civilization and the protectors of dignity and modesty. This day is a remnant of the pagan Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated in mid-February to mark the arrival of spring. According to legend, a she-wolf had nursed Romulus, and this day was celebrated as a festival. The people of Rome would sacrifice a goat and a dog, and a young man would be anointed with their blood, carrying two thongs with which he would strike every man and woman he met, believing that it would bring them strength, health, and fertility.

In the third century AD, when the Roman Empire was ruled by Claudius, he banned marriage for young men to encourage them to join the army. Valentine, a priest, defied this law and performed secret marriages, ultimately leading to his execution on February 14th. He was later remembered as a symbol of love. The tradition of Valentine's Day was continued by the Romans, and in the 14th century, it became a day for expressing love and romance in Europe. In the 18th century, the exchange of love letters and gifts became a common practice, and the day has since become a major commercial event, with the sale of flowers, chocolates, cards, and other gifts generating millions of dollars in revenue.

The globalization of this tradition has spread it to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, with social media playing a significant role in promoting it. Despite its origins in religious rituals and beliefs, Valentine's Day has become a symbol of immorality and obscenity in Western countries. Many Muslim youth have also started to participate in this tradition, despite Islamic teachings that emphasize the importance of modesty and dignity. The Quran states that those who do not like to see immorality spread among believers will be punished in this life and the hereafter. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "When modesty is gone, do as you wish."

Based on these principles, some Muslim countries have banned the celebration of Valentine's Day, considering it a Western cultural invasion on Eastern civilization. While others may have different opinions and justifications, Islam considers this tradition to be a vile and obscene practice that leads to immorality and the loss of dignity and modesty. In Islam, love has a significant place, but it must be expressed with purity, responsibility, and adherence to moral boundaries. Islam prohibits men and women from meeting in private, and relationships should be confined to lawful marriage.

Therefore, we should weigh this tradition on the scale of Islamic teachings and promote virtuous values in society, avoiding immorality and maintaining a pure environment. If we want to prevent such incidents from happening in the future, we must examine the causes and factors that lead to them and close all doors to immorality, obscenity, and lust. At the very least, our youth should be aware of the importance of modesty and dignity and understand that Islam does not permit any immoral acts, as modesty is a part of faith, and immorality destroys it.