It is not permissible for a Muslim to celebrate any of the festivals of the kuffaar. Valentines Day is an innovated festival for which there is no basis in Islam. The clear evidence of the Qur’aan and Sunnah – and the consensus of the early generations of this ummah – indicates that there are only two festivals in Islam: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Any other festivals that have to do with a person, a group, an event or anything else are innovated festivals, which it is not permissible for Muslims to observe, approve of or express joy on those occasions, or to help others to celebrate them in any way, because that is transgressing the sacred limits of Allaah, and whoever transgresses the sacred limits of Allaah has wronged himself. Many Muslims these days indulge in this filthy festival. However, they would do well to remember the famous saying of the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم): “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” (narrated by Ahmad, 2/50; Abu Dawood, 4021)
11
Feb
2011
Islamic View Of Valentines Day
11th February 2011
posted by Seifeddine-M on 11th February 2011 - 1 comment
1 Comments
Naseer wrote on
7 Feb 2013
Assalamualaikum.
Jazakkallah for the Article.
is there are more indepth material available on this subject please ?
when we read the Hadith : "صلي الله عليه وسلم): �Whoever imitates a people is one of them.� (narrated by Ahmad, 2/50; Abu Dawood, 4021)", to the person who celebrates this festivals, they say that why are you eating because Kuffar also eats, are not you imitating him or other questions like this, so what should we answer them in such situations
please send me the reply to my email if possible'
Jazakallah in advance
Naseer
Jazakkallah for the Article.
is there are more indepth material available on this subject please ?
when we read the Hadith : "صلي الله عليه وسلم): �Whoever imitates a people is one of them.� (narrated by Ahmad, 2/50; Abu Dawood, 4021)", to the person who celebrates this festivals, they say that why are you eating because Kuffar also eats, are not you imitating him or other questions like this, so what should we answer them in such situations
please send me the reply to my email if possible'
Jazakallah in advance
Naseer
Blogger's Reply:
wa 'alaykum salaam wa rahmatullah,
Imitating the kuffaar falls into two categories:
Imitation that is haraam and imitation that is permitted:
The first type is imitation that is haraam: this means knowingly doing things that are unique characteristics of the religion of the kuffaar and that have not been referred to in our religion. This is haraam and it may be a major sin; in some cases a person may even become a kaafir by doing that, according to the evidence, whether a person does that because he agrees with the kuffaar, or because of his whims and desires, or because of some specious arguments which make him feel that doing it will being him benefit in this world and the next. If it is asked, is the one who does that out of ignorance a sinner, such as one who celebrates Christmas? The answer is that the one who is ignorant is not a sinner because he was unaware, but he has to be told, and if he persists he becomes a sinner.
The second type is imitation that is permissible. This means doing something which is not originally taken from the kuffaar, but the kuffaar do it too. This does not involve a prohibition on resembling them, but one may miss out on the benefits of differing from them.
Imitating or resembling the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) and others with regard to worldly matters is permissible only when the following conditions are met:
1 � That should not be any of their traditions or rituals by which they are distinguished.
2 � That should not be part of their religion. A matter can be proven to be part of their religion though a trustworthy source, such as an aayah of the Qur�aan or a hadeeth of His Messenger, or via well-established reports, such as the prostration of greeting which was permitted to the previous nations.
3 � That should not be anything in Islam which refers specifically to that matter. If there is a specific reference in Islam, either approving or disapproving of it, then we must follow what our religion says about it.
4 � This resemblance should not lead to going against any of the commands of sharee�ah.
5 � That should not involve celebrating any of their festivals.
6 � The resemblance should be only according to what is needed, and no more.
[See al-Sunan wa�l-Athaar fi�l-Nahy �an al-Tashabbuh bi�l-Kuffaar by Suhayl Hasan, p. 58-59]
islamqa.info/en/ref/21694
Imitating the kuffaar falls into two categories:
Imitation that is haraam and imitation that is permitted:
The first type is imitation that is haraam: this means knowingly doing things that are unique characteristics of the religion of the kuffaar and that have not been referred to in our religion. This is haraam and it may be a major sin; in some cases a person may even become a kaafir by doing that, according to the evidence, whether a person does that because he agrees with the kuffaar, or because of his whims and desires, or because of some specious arguments which make him feel that doing it will being him benefit in this world and the next. If it is asked, is the one who does that out of ignorance a sinner, such as one who celebrates Christmas? The answer is that the one who is ignorant is not a sinner because he was unaware, but he has to be told, and if he persists he becomes a sinner.
The second type is imitation that is permissible. This means doing something which is not originally taken from the kuffaar, but the kuffaar do it too. This does not involve a prohibition on resembling them, but one may miss out on the benefits of differing from them.
Imitating or resembling the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) and others with regard to worldly matters is permissible only when the following conditions are met:
1 � That should not be any of their traditions or rituals by which they are distinguished.
2 � That should not be part of their religion. A matter can be proven to be part of their religion though a trustworthy source, such as an aayah of the Qur�aan or a hadeeth of His Messenger, or via well-established reports, such as the prostration of greeting which was permitted to the previous nations.
3 � That should not be anything in Islam which refers specifically to that matter. If there is a specific reference in Islam, either approving or disapproving of it, then we must follow what our religion says about it.
4 � This resemblance should not lead to going against any of the commands of sharee�ah.
5 � That should not involve celebrating any of their festivals.
6 � The resemblance should be only according to what is needed, and no more.
[See al-Sunan wa�l-Athaar fi�l-Nahy �an al-Tashabbuh bi�l-Kuffaar by Suhayl Hasan, p. 58-59]
islamqa.info/en/ref/21694
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