I looking at the perfumes at the Avon booth this afternoon. My Hindu friend had just remembered that tomorrow is Valentine Day.
“Aiyoh, I haven’t bought anything for my husband,” she said.
‘Well, Aliya…what did you get for your own husband?”
I laughed. “Nothing, we don’t observe Valentine’s Day.”
“Oh…” she looked surprised.
I chose not to tell her that Husband and I have agreed not to celebrate anything which is connected to other faiths and beliefs, such as Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Day. She might think that we have become Islamic fanatics, hehehe.
Anyway, she bought some Valentine's day gifts at the counter and we left for lunch.
Later I bumped into another Hindu friend who seemed to face the same problem.
“Too busy laa, no time to go shopping. I’d have to stop by at the gift shop and get my husband something," she told me.
I quietly observed as I entered the gift shop with her. It was full of young people selecting presents for their special somebody on February 14. Everyone there seems to be engrossed in finding something suitable to be presented to their loved ones tomorrow as a sign of their love.
Hmmm… there seems that almost everyone is getting somebody something on February 14, Valentine’s Day. Lover’s Day or as Malays call it, Hari Kekasih.
Funny, why do people observe this day of all days to show love to their loved ones?
And who the heck is Valentine anyway? He was a Christian priest. I thought Christian priests are supposed to be chaste; yet this one fell in love with a woman and wrote her a love letter before his death, signed ‘from your Valentine.’ Well, I suppose the world is really hungry for love stories such as these that the Christian community in the West chose to celebrate this day. And as somebody who had died hundreds of years ago, Mr.Valentine sure has lots of devotees. They are people of all sizes, all ages and interestingly, almost all religions’ believers.
I was a skeptic even before I became a Muslim. Oh sure, I loved the gifts and attention but I didn’t like the feeling of being forced to give somebody something just because it happens to be worldwide ‘Lovers’ Day’. And in this modern age of equality, the ladies are also supposed to have something in return for the roses, chocolates and a special table for two at the posh restaurant to prevent the gentlemen from sulking and complaining of being fleeced. It’s troublesome to have to go through all the troubles to prove one’s love. I quit celebrating V.Day since my first marriage broke down years ago. Now I can save money by choosing not to spend it on a commercialised gift that costs 5-times more tomorrow. Besides V.Day contradicts with Islamic teachings.
Oh, online friends such as Abu Usamah Mohd Masri have prepared pamplets about the ‘haram’ of celebrating V.Day. Why do they have to do that? Sadly, some Malay Muslims in their attempt to modernise themselves and their lifestyle have chosen to celebrate V.Day. They have forgotten to notice that the cards they buy for their loved ones contain illustrations of a boy with a bow and arrows, who is actually the heathen Greek god Cupid. They have forgotten that V.Day is a Christian celebration in honour of a Christian priest. In their ignorance, they have forgotten Allah’s warnings about celebrating festivals of other religions. And to worsen the already bad practice, some even choose to do ‘bad things’ with their darlings as a form of celebration. All in the name of love? Sounds more like all that done under the shade of ignorance and refusal to abide to the rules of Islam.
Funny, Christian clergy had at one time, opposed this festival yet today, it is so grandly celebrated by people all over the world. There is no reason why Muslims should follow suit in joining this celebration because it was not done during Rasulullah’s and sahabah’s days. Koran and Hadith already give warnings about celebrating the ‘kafir’s’ festivals yet many are giving excuses:
“Takkan sambut Hari Kekasih pun tak boleh? Kolot la” (Don’t be too old fashioned and conservative)
“Sekadar menunjukkan kasih sayang kita kepada orang tersayang.” (just to show our love)
“Bertukar-tukar hadiah saja.” ( Just to exchange presents)
“ Nama saja Hari Valentine. Bukan dipaksa masuk gereja pun.” ( just the name. We’re not going to church anyway)
Right. Excuses and reasons. We have 364 days to show our love other than February 14 but why specifically choose Valentine’s Day? Why should we as Muslims follow the crowd of Valentine celebrators honour the death of a Christian priest? Dare we give the above excuses for this celebration before our Maker later for disobeying His commandments?
Me? I don’t dare to.
“Aiyoh, I haven’t bought anything for my husband,” she said.
‘Well, Aliya…what did you get for your own husband?”
I laughed. “Nothing, we don’t observe Valentine’s Day.”
“Oh…” she looked surprised.
I chose not to tell her that Husband and I have agreed not to celebrate anything which is connected to other faiths and beliefs, such as Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Day. She might think that we have become Islamic fanatics, hehehe.
Anyway, she bought some Valentine's day gifts at the counter and we left for lunch.
Later I bumped into another Hindu friend who seemed to face the same problem.
“Too busy laa, no time to go shopping. I’d have to stop by at the gift shop and get my husband something," she told me.
I quietly observed as I entered the gift shop with her. It was full of young people selecting presents for their special somebody on February 14. Everyone there seems to be engrossed in finding something suitable to be presented to their loved ones tomorrow as a sign of their love.
Hmmm… there seems that almost everyone is getting somebody something on February 14, Valentine’s Day. Lover’s Day or as Malays call it, Hari Kekasih.
Funny, why do people observe this day of all days to show love to their loved ones?
And who the heck is Valentine anyway? He was a Christian priest. I thought Christian priests are supposed to be chaste; yet this one fell in love with a woman and wrote her a love letter before his death, signed ‘from your Valentine.’ Well, I suppose the world is really hungry for love stories such as these that the Christian community in the West chose to celebrate this day. And as somebody who had died hundreds of years ago, Mr.Valentine sure has lots of devotees. They are people of all sizes, all ages and interestingly, almost all religions’ believers.
I was a skeptic even before I became a Muslim. Oh sure, I loved the gifts and attention but I didn’t like the feeling of being forced to give somebody something just because it happens to be worldwide ‘Lovers’ Day’. And in this modern age of equality, the ladies are also supposed to have something in return for the roses, chocolates and a special table for two at the posh restaurant to prevent the gentlemen from sulking and complaining of being fleeced. It’s troublesome to have to go through all the troubles to prove one’s love. I quit celebrating V.Day since my first marriage broke down years ago. Now I can save money by choosing not to spend it on a commercialised gift that costs 5-times more tomorrow. Besides V.Day contradicts with Islamic teachings.
Oh, online friends such as Abu Usamah Mohd Masri have prepared pamplets about the ‘haram’ of celebrating V.Day. Why do they have to do that? Sadly, some Malay Muslims in their attempt to modernise themselves and their lifestyle have chosen to celebrate V.Day. They have forgotten to notice that the cards they buy for their loved ones contain illustrations of a boy with a bow and arrows, who is actually the heathen Greek god Cupid. They have forgotten that V.Day is a Christian celebration in honour of a Christian priest. In their ignorance, they have forgotten Allah’s warnings about celebrating festivals of other religions. And to worsen the already bad practice, some even choose to do ‘bad things’ with their darlings as a form of celebration. All in the name of love? Sounds more like all that done under the shade of ignorance and refusal to abide to the rules of Islam.
Funny, Christian clergy had at one time, opposed this festival yet today, it is so grandly celebrated by people all over the world. There is no reason why Muslims should follow suit in joining this celebration because it was not done during Rasulullah’s and sahabah’s days. Koran and Hadith already give warnings about celebrating the ‘kafir’s’ festivals yet many are giving excuses:
“Takkan sambut Hari Kekasih pun tak boleh? Kolot la” (Don’t be too old fashioned and conservative)
“Sekadar menunjukkan kasih sayang kita kepada orang tersayang.” (just to show our love)
“Bertukar-tukar hadiah saja.” ( Just to exchange presents)
“ Nama saja Hari Valentine. Bukan dipaksa masuk gereja pun.” ( just the name. We’re not going to church anyway)
Right. Excuses and reasons. We have 364 days to show our love other than February 14 but why specifically choose Valentine’s Day? Why should we as Muslims follow the crowd of Valentine celebrators honour the death of a Christian priest? Dare we give the above excuses for this celebration before our Maker later for disobeying His commandments?
Me? I don’t dare to.
Did I specifically mention that I don't celebrate Valentine's Day because it's a western culture? Read again; I was giving my own views about Muslims who celebrate it, and why this celebration contradicts with Islamic teachings as stated clearly in the Holy Koran. I have many friends who celebrate it and that's within their rights to do so. However, if Muslims follow suit, it is also within my rights to advice and show them where they have diverted from Islamic teachings.
ReplyDeleteYour comments are so typical of a one-sided perspective of a non-Muslim living in Malaysia. Do you actually think Muslims are against the west? Muslims exists all over the world, irrespective of color,and race and we congragate as one during hajj in Mecca. Today the fastest growing religion is Europe and America (which to you is the west, right?) is Islam. What have to sy about that?
Islam was being branded as renegade not because of its religion, but by its own people-MUSLIMS themselves who shunned other faiths out and has no respects for other cultures on grounds that they are all evil.
ReplyDeleteIn case most muslims didn't know, they have committed a sin-Arrogance by bragging about Islam so much.
By saying that celebrating Valentine is haram on grounds that it's of other beliefs and faiths, it clearly shows that how narrow-minded you're by constantly involving religion with things like cultures that did neither harms nor disrespects to humanity. So muslims cannot celebrate Valentine just because it's a christian thing? When has acts of showering love and celebrating relationships on a special occasion are sinful to God?
Whatever you've said, you are always going back to the same old point that islam is great and others are evil. What difference does that tell you from a fanatic?
"O you who reject Faith! I worship not that which you worship, nor will you worship that which I worship. And I will not worship that which you have been wont to worship, nor will you worship which I worship. To you be your way, and to me mine." (109:1-6)
ReplyDeleteMuslims do not accuse people of other faiths as fanatics, narrow-minded people or terrorists. We have righst to advise fellow Muslims from practising something of other religions as that will be deemed 'syirik' in Islam. We have not stopped others from practising their own faith. Instead, it is the non-Muslims who point fingers at Muslims for standing up in what they believe in, by openly practising what is taught in Islam while they themselves do not follow what their own religions preach. Tell me, do you practise everything taught in your own religious Holy Book? If Muslims and Islam are so bad, can you explain why there is a great surge of reverts including educated professionals, priests and lawyers into Islam in the west and in Malaysia now? (I assume you are a Malaysian from your writing syle).
Out of topic : Just linked your blog into mine.. Hope you are ok with that.. Permisi.. Hehe..
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness, Anonymous you are so losing the plot. Aliya has definitely did not quote western in her post and she didn't write that Islam shunned other religion. It is just common sense, the origin of Valentine's day is from Christianity. Muslims do not teached other religions what they should or shouldn't do. All other religions have their own right. Muslims do not expect other devouts to celebrate the New Year in accordance to Islam's Calendar? It is not in our teaching to celebrate Valentine's Day. Just as it is not in Christian teaching to have rudoplh or santa claus for Christmas. Aliya is certainly not self righteous. You have to get your facts right and widened your knowledge before speaking. Whatever our beliefs are, not one religion teaches self righteousness or arrogance. Culture and religion are not the issue in the above post.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said:
ReplyDeleteIslam was being branded as renegade not because of its religion, but by its own people-MUSLIMS themselves who shunned other faiths out and has no respects for other cultures on grounds that they are all evil.
I say:
What u mentioned on top is partly true. There are some muslims like that. Not only muslims but also some christians. Not only some christians but also some buddhist. Not only some buddhist but also some hindus..... I can go on but this will never end. The one thing that I learned is not to judge a religion but it followers, you judge it by its scriptures. If you really can want to, I can start listing a long list of hate to from all religions. Just for you to know we follow the Quran 100%. Did you ever read your religions scripture? If you are a christian start reading the bible. I read it more than 30 times and there is noo such thing as valentine's day.
Anonymous said:
In case most muslims didn't know, they have committed a sin-Arrogance by bragging about Islam so much.
By saying that celebrating Valentine is haram on grounds that it's of other beliefs and faiths, it clearly shows that how narrow-minded you're by constantly involving religion with things like cultures that did neither harms nor disrespects to humanity.
I say:
Do you know the direct meaning of 'haram'? Just to make things clear halal or haram is only for the muslims. There is no obligation for the non-muslims to follow this. V.day is not rejected because it is celebrated by other faith. It is rejected because Islam rejects such as the 'close proximity', the relationship of man and woman that can lead to sinful events. As long as any events that does not go against the law of Islam, we can celebrate.
Anonymous said:
So muslims cannot celebrate Valentine just because it's a christian thing? When has acts of showering love and celebrating relationships on a special occasion are sinful to God?
I say:
It is not even a christian thing. Try ask the coptic christians. They will say its is not simply because its not even in the bible or any. V.day is not an act of showering love and celebrating relationship. Its a day where you can see sin everywhere you go. Go do some research and see the statistics. Most women who lost their virginity before marriage lost it during V.day. If making out between two non married human beings is not a sin then you need a religion. Imagine your young sister if you have make sex with a stranger. As for celebrating relationship, you only celebrate once a year? If so it is a very sad statement from you.
Anonymous said:
Whatever you've said, you are always going back to the same old point that islam is great and others are evil. What difference does that tell you from a fanatic?
I say:
Sister Aliya never made that statement, you did. Others are evil? Who are others? Please give some proof. I personally read the Quran the same way I read about Buddhism and Christianity. We are not fanatics.(looks up the dictionary to know the meaning please) We have strong faith in Islam because we are find truth unlike people who only follow what other tells you.
Want to know more about Islam?
Aliya,
ReplyDeleteI have just come this far. On 15/2 I posted 'Of Love' in my blog. Have a look at it and see where we differ in opinion if any.
Pakcik Almanar