Valentine’s Day musings

Last Sunday, Christendom celebrated a cherished tradition — the feast day of St. Valentines of Rome. Reports say this practice was started by Roman Catholicism, a branch of Christianity. Saint Valentine was allegedly martyred on 14 February CE 269. It is set as a day of love, romance and devotion observed by most of the world, except for some sects, like Islam.

The usual rituals like exchanging greeting cards, gifts, dating and wearing red-colored dress or shirts — red is the color of passion and sexuality — that come with it, however, were scaled down because of the pandemic. Unfortunately, its message of love and caring was sidetracked by the commercialization of the event that polluted the marketing world. Malls and stores displayed heart-shaped rose-colored objects and other enticements to lure patrons. Establishments like hotels and motels promoting staycations and restaurants offering discounts for lovers who want to celebrate their intimate moments away from others’ preying eyes competed against each other.

This is a tradition deeply rooted in paganism. There is nothing religious about it then.

However, western

Christians later adopted the practice which metamorphosed into a tradition among its adherents.

These thoughts come to mind because the vulnerable Muslim Generation Z and millennials are precariously being lured into adopting the tradition. Their social media posts betray the influence, like exchanging Valentine’s greetings. Some affluent families even have dinners in classy restaurants to celebrate it. And this alarms dogmatic Islamists.

Is it bad for

Muslims to set one day in the year for the heart when one indulges in acts and the spirit of loving another?

One might say, nothing wrong with it as long as religion is kept away from the mind of celebrators.

The taboo for Muslims to celebrate Valentine’s Day is deeply grounded on verses of the Holy Koran and the Hadith al Sharief, or tradition of Prophet Muhammad, PBUH. It is a mortal sin, not venial, if

one violates it. The extremist ultra-conservative Muslim clerics condemned the act as haram or prohibited, and joining the practice makes one a kafir or apostate.

But is it a sin per se for Muslims to observe some of Valentine’s Day practices? While the absolutist adherents of extremist Islam are adamant against it, however, this tweaked the naughty minds of lawyers. Lawyers with fertile minds subject any given proposition to the Socratic process of questioning to arrive at a position

Is it a mortal sin or a mere peccadillo? Again, much depends upon one’s intention, or what we call among Maranaos “ni-at,” or in Arabic “ni-a.” In criminal science, we call it mens rea, or intention to commit it. Philippine law and jurisprudence, except in crimes mala prohibita, generally rule that if there is no intention to commit it, then it is not criminal. The same argument comes in handy when participating in Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, a bane for moderate Muslims. There is a strong fatwa or religious edict against them. But progressive, tolerant and forward-looking Muslims tend to qualify it, invoking lack of intention to commit it. But who determines the intention of a person? Nobody but the practitioner himself and his Creator and there goes the conundrum.

Allow me dear readers to digress to indulge on something personal and emotional. I remember Valentine’s Day for entirely different reasons. What always comes to mind is the warmth of respect and love of a departed loved one. During the lifetime of my son-in-law, Regional Prosecutor Jaime Umpa, I don’t remember a time he missed to host us a Valentine’s dinner whenever we were in Marawi or Cagayan de Oro, complete with a bouquet of red roses for the missus and a cake. For the past several years since succumbing to the Big C, Valentine’s Day always evoked nostalgia of him and his kindness. Allah, SWT forgive us, but we thought there is nothing prohibitive nor sinful about it given that religion was farthest from our mind while dining.

In sum, I will reiterate my admonition to my family not to observe these pagan rituals during Valentine’s Day.

“The

taboo for Muslims to celebrate Valentine’s Day is deeply grounded on verses of the Holy Koran and the Hadith al Sharief, or tradition of Prophet Muhammad, PBUH.

“Vulnerable Muslim Generation Z and millennials are precariously being lured into adopting the tradition. Their social media posts betray the influence.