Is Valentine’s Day Haram?

Celebrating Valentine’s Day is considered haram (prohibited) in Islam because it is a holiday that originated in another religion and is associated with immorality and evil.

Valentine’s Day has become an annual occasion for people all over the world to celebrate love. Valentine’s Day is said to be named after a legend about a martyred priest named Valentine who sent a letter signed in his name to his jailer’s daughter before being executed.

Muslims should be aware of Valentine’s Day and its Islamic implications.

Is Valentine’s day Haram In Islam?

Celebrating Valentine’s day is haram for every Muslim as it’s a festival of non-Muslims and has Christian origins.

Islam clearly tells Muslims that every religion has its own festivals and not to indulge in any of the celebrations which aren’t part of Islam.

Islamic believers must ensure that their outward actions do not contradict their innate beliefs and faith.

Therefore, Muslims follow the messenger of Allah regardless of whether they are alone or in public.

Participating in the festival is participating in kufr, and participating in some of its minor issues is participating in some of the kufr’s branches. 

Matter of fact, festivals are one of the most distinctive features of various faiths and among their most prominent symbols, so participating in them is participating in one of the most characteristic and prominent symbols of kufr.

“It is not permissible for the Muslims to imitate them in anything that is uniquely a part of their festivals, whether it be food, clothing, bathing, lighting fires, refraining from a regular habit, doing acts of worship or anything else. It is not permissible to give a feast or to give gifts, or to sell anything that will help them to do that for that purpose, or to allow children and others to play games that are part of the festivals, or to wear one’s adornments.”

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One hadith supports that Muslims shouldn’t take part in any of the festivities of non-Muslims.

Ibn ’Umar (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“He who imitates any people (in their actions) is considered to be one of them.” Related by Abu Dawud and Ibn Hibban graded it as Sahih.

[Book 16, Hadith 35]

According to the Quran and Sunnah, there are only two festivals in Islam: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

All other festivities will be considered haram in Islam as it will be considered imitating the non-Muslims.

Narrated Anas ibn Malik:

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to Medina, the people had two days on which they engaged in games. He asked: What are these two days (what is the significance)? They said: We used to engage ourselves on them in the pre-Islamic period. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Allah has substituted for them something better than them, the day of sacrifice and the day of the breaking of the fast.

[Sunan Abi Dawud 1134]

Prophet (peace be upon himself) declared all the festivities haram and only advised Muslims to take part in these two Eids.

It is also haram for Muslims to assist people in celebrating Valentine’s day or any other haram festival by providing food or drink or advertising it.

In all his affairs, the Muslim must follow Allah’s Book and the Sunnah, especially during modern times, when evil is widespread. He should be wise and avoid being misled by those who have earned Allah’s anger and have gone astray.

Valentine’s Day also involves dancing, music, and mingling of non-Mahrams, which are all haram. Valentine’s Day can be celebrated by married couples alone, of course, but again it’s not a Muslim festival mentioned in the Hadith.

Even if one Muslim follows all the halal acts in celebrating Valentine’s day the festival itself is haram which will make everything related to it haram as well.

“And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.”

[Quran 30:21]

We are told in the Quran that the bond of marriage is really strong and that husbands and wives love each other deeply. The best way for them to express themselves is on Valentine’s Day. According to Islam, couples should celebrate and express their love every day, not just on Valentine’s Day.

One more thing we should know is that usually Valentine’s day is celebrated by unmarried couples. Islam declares all unmarried relationships haram and so any festival or time spent together for unmarried couples is a major sin in Islam.

In Islam, we only celebrate two major holidays; anything else is strictly forbidden. This holiday contradicts both our Islamic values and our traditions. Do we anticipate that people of other faiths will observe Ramadan? Do we anticipate them celebrating Eid? Why should we be expected to participate in their celebrations?

I respect all religions and their celebrations, but that doesn’t mean it’s appropriate to partake in them.

One more hadith helps us determine why Valentine’s day is considered haram.

Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “You will follow the ways of those nations who were before you, span by span and cubit by cubit (i.e., inch by inch) so much so that even if they entered a hole of a mastigure, you would follow them.” We said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! (Do you mean) the Jews and the Christians?” He said, “Whom else?”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 7320]

Those who copy Jews or Christians are criticized by a hadeeth, as it is haram to copy them. Muslims are classified as Muslims if they imitate non-Muslims.

When it comes to celebrations of any kind, a Muslim does not follow the crowd.

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What Religion Is Against Valentine’s Day?

All religions are okay except Islam which prohibits Muslims to celebrate it as it’s a festival of the Christians. Following the footsteps of the people of other religions is not acceptable in Islam.

If one Muslim follows non-Muslims he or she will be considered one of them which is a major sin. Islam has given two festivals to Muslims the two Eids and those are enough.

Is It A Sin To Celebrate Valentine’s Day?

It is a sin in Islam to celebrate Valentine’s Day or any other non-Muslim festival. The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed all Muslims to observe only two Muslim festivals: Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha. Celebrating Valentine’s day is considered haram hence a major sin.

READ NEXT: Is Celebrating Birthdays Haram?

Why Are Muslims Against Valentine’s Day?

Because it is a holiday from another religion, celebrating Valentine’s Day is considered haram (unacceptable) in Islam. As a result, even giving a gift to one’s spouse on Valentine’s day with the intent of celebrating is considered haram.

Muslims are only allowed to celebrate the two Eids and no other annual festivities are allowed especially if they are from the non-Muslims.

What Culture Does Not Celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Generally, Valentine’s day is not celebrated in Islamic cultures as it’s haram. Islamic culture is found in Turkey, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Most Muslims in non-Muslim countries might indulge in Valentine’s day festivities but it’s haram and prohibited.

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Final Thoughts

Since Valentine’s Day is a Christian festival, Muslims are advised by the Prophet (peace be upon him) not to celebrate it.

Most of the major Muslim scholars agree that it is totally haram and a major sin in Islam to celebrate Valentine’s day as it involves other haram activities too like dancing, music, and mingling of the non-Mahrams.

The best suggestion is to avoid all non-Muslim festivals and follow the Quran and Sunnah.

And Allah Knows Best.