Akhi:

Asalamu alaykum and thanks for your comments,

Perhaps some light can be shined on this topic by asking a few questions?

1. Is Islam concerned about what something was, or what something is?

2. If something was initially forbidden, that was not a Nas or Yujm’a alahi, is it possible for it to become permissible?

Scholars of Usol dealt with this and noted a few important axioms:

The first is what they called tunusi, implying that the origin of an action was forgotten, or the rhetoric implied by that action had changed. Based on that, a number of scholars, one of my teachers even, considers most holidays that are not explicitly religious as permissible since, according to them, the explicit rhetoric has changed.

The second is al-Ahkam tajri m’a asbabiha. Meaning, the rulings exist with their causes. Thus, if the cause of a ruling is gone, the actually ruling goes as well, or could change and adopt to another ruling. An example is the person who slept and misses the prayer, while asleep the ruling for prayers is lifted from him until he awakens, upon which it becomes an obligation to pray.

The same applies to a corrupted marriage contract; that it is valid and the rights of both spouses are observed until proven otherwise. One of my teachers mentioned this in correlation with human activities such as celebrations and the like, noting that if the cause for the holiday has changed, then its ruling does as well.

Some argue that in many cases, the original intent of such holidays has changed, unlike the time of scholars such as Ibn Taymiyyah when holidays were still part of one’s religious identity and done in the reflux of the Crusades, and this demands that the ruling change as well. So, in such cases, the ruling is permissibility.

These two axioms allow Muslims to function under most societies and distinguish between what is strictly a religious articulation, and something related to the permissible acts of simple cultural expression. Sadly, many are not able to make this distinction.

Perhaps that will add some stimulating thoughts to this important discussion and allow us to move beyond certain points into a more analytical conversation?

Allah knows best,
Suhaib

If you look up pagan you will find this definition:

Main Entry: pa·gan
Pronunciation: ˈpā-gən
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin paganus, from Latin, civilian, country dweller, from pagus country district; akin to Latin pangere to fix — more at pact
Date: 14th century
1 : heathen 1; especially : a follower of a polytheistic religion (as in ancient Rome)
2 : one who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods : an irreligious or hedonistic person
3 : neo-pagan

And as a Muslim, I believe that Christianity falls into that category since they associate other deities and intermediaries with Allah تعالى .

Furthermore, if you look up “Saint Valentine” on Wikipedia, you’ll find that “Historian Jack Oruch has made the case that the traditions associated with “Valentine’s Day”, documented in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Parliament of Foules and set in the fictional context of an old tradition, had no such tradition before Chaucer.”

So either you believe that this celebration has its origin in Christianity or in the fictional context of Geoffrey Chaucer, Saint Valentine still falls in the category of pagan holidays.

I would like to suggest the addition of an RSS button for the comment section of your blog. It would come handy in following up any conversation one might deem interesting.

Respectfully.

My nurse said “waste of time..don’t believe in it–what’s the point when you argue half the time …LOL”

The others said that they gave up sending cards years ago..something you do in youth really

Then we all had a laugh at how yesterday a big group of men rushed to buy flowers from the local supermarket as soon as the shop doors opened…

If you really love somebody then everyday should be valentine’s day right????What better display of your love than to buy your other half flowers when they least expect it rather than because society expects it.

But I totally agree with the above article..make Allah the centre of your devotion then everything insha’Allah will slot into place

As imam suhaib said once “if you want that which is certain then rely on that which is certain”

With all due respect and consideration of your annonimity: what is important is not what you or I think of that pagan holiday, but more what scholars and learned people say about it. Let’s not have the arrogance to think that are own opinion, albeit potentially interesting and worth hearing, is the criterion to any decision in matter of faith and legal ruling.

Respectfully,

i dont think there is nothing wrong w valentines day . yes its a pagan holiday but today there is no religious connotation and everyone is happy and giving and loving

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1209357709208&pagename=Zone-English-Living_Shariah%2FLSELayout

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1265890347242&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout

It might be a little far fetched and only learned scholars could answer this question, but: isn’t this post partaking in some way, albeit indirectly, in that whole St. Valentine celebration intended to anyone but Muslims? Couldn’t those reflections be posted any other time but on the day the non-Muslims celebrate their “love”?

Everything right and True is from Allah. Any mistake is from myself. May He forgive me for my deviances, and may He manifest the Truth on your tongue, so that I may accept it.

والسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاتة

May we learn to learn how to love! And take it! And Love Allah the most. Ameen to that!

http://www.zaufishan.co.uk