Celebrating Valentine's Day

Q: Some people celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14 by exchanging red roses, dressing in red, and congratulating one another on that day. Some cake shops make heart-shaped cakes in red and draw hearts on them and other shops advertise special items on sale for this day. What is your opinion on:First: Celebrating this day?Second: Buying from these stores on this day? (Part No. 2; Page No. 263) Third: Shop owners who do not celebrate this day but sell gifts to those who do celebrate it?May Allah reward you with the best.

A: The clear-cut evidence from the Qur'an and Sunnah, upon which the Salaf (righteous predecessors) of this Ummah (nation based on one creed) unanimously agree, confirms that there are only two `Eids (festivals) in Islam: `Eid-ul-Fitr (the Festival of Breaking the Fast) and `Eid-ul-Adha (the Festival of the Sacrifice). Any other festival, whether peculiar to a person, a group, an event or stands for any meaning whatever, is an invented festival that is not permissible for Muslims to celebrate, approve of, enjoy, or support in any way, because this is considered to be a transgression of the boundaries of Allah's Law. Anyone who transgresses the boundaries set by Allah has wronged themselves. If we add to this fabricated festival the fact that it is one of the festivals of the Kafirs (disbelievers), this heaps sin upon sin, because it entails imitating them and is a type of support of them. Allah (Glorified be He) forbids the Mu'mins (believers), in His Ever-Glorious Book, from imitating or supporting the Kafirs. It is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Anyone who imitates a people is one of them. Valentine's Day falls under this heading, as it is one of the idolatrous Christian festivals. It is not lawful for a Muslim who believes in Allah and the Last Day to celebrate, approve of, or congratulate people on it; it is forbidden to them. Rather, it is obligatory for them to ignore and avoid it, in obedience to Allah and His Messenger and to keep away from that which will arouse Allah's Anger and incur Punishment. (Part No. 2; Page No. 264) It is also Haram (prohibited) for Muslims to support this festival or any other forbidden festival by any means, whether by supplying food or drinks; selling, buying, manufacturing, gift-giving, corresponding, advertising and so on, because all this comes under cooperating in sin and transgression, and disobeying Allah and His Messenger. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment. It is obligatory for Muslims to adhere to the Qur'an and Sunnah in all matters, especially in times of Fitnah (trial) when corruption is widespread. They must be sagacious enough and on their guard to avoid falling into the misguidance of those who have earned Allah's Anger, those who went astray, or the Fasiqs (those flagrantly violating Islamic law) who have no fear of Allah nor have pride in being Muslims. Muslims should resort to Allah, asking for guidance and steadfastness in Islam, as it is Allah Alone Who guides and keeps us steadfast.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and his family and Companions.