Valentine's Day Prohibition

I was alerted about this via Politics 101 Malaysia, and apparently sumilar statements are made every year around this time - celebrating Valentine's Day is haram.

Image: "Bleeding Heart" by Mike Bohatch

Oh well, I guess there can't be much else more evil and immoral than spending time with your loved ones, be it your spouse, parents, your kids or your significant other. Especially not your significant other...

Isn't it funny how anything the slightest bit non-Islamic is deemed to be bad, regardless of the ideal behind said thing? Is celebrating Romantic Love evil, and lead on a clear pathway to Hell? Or is it okay any other time, as long as it's not on Valentine's Day? So far, no state has issued a "fatwa" on this yet, but it wouldn't surprise me one single bit the day that happens.

Sure, Valentine's Day has fallen victim to commercialization, much like other days of significance (Christmas, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Chinese New Year, etc.), with the chocalatiers and flower-mongers being the biggest beneficiaries. And tonight is also the time of year when posh places hike their prices up. Such is the commercialized world we live in today.

But nevertheless, show your love, by all means, not just on Valentine's Day but every day. Expensive roses, chocolates or gifts don't mean squat if it doesn't come from the heart, n'est pas?

I hope all of you enjoy the time you spend with your loved one or ones - but beware the holier-than-thou do-gooders who will undoubtedly be on the prowl tonight, ever so keen to clean up the immorality that is supposedly synonymous with Valentine's Day, as they did in 2001.

I don't know the mood these morons may be in today, but with all the recent fuss about youth immorality, Black Metal and the Danish cartoon controversy, there may be some keen on reclaiming the sanctity of our time by acting as Valentine Vigilantes, nabbing and harassing those keen on celebrating life... Anyhow, I do hope the day will pass without incident.

For me, Valentine's Day is an extra-special day to express the mutual appreciation and love my wife and I have for each other. Every day, for us, is Valentine's Day... February 14 is just that extra bonus day to go the extra mile...