Think of Valentine’s Day and inevitably we conjure up an image of lovers eating a romantic candle lit dinner and red roses galore. Valentine’s Day falls on February 14 each year. Although it probably had its origin in a Roman Catholic religious context, like Christmas it has become commercialized to such an extent that the origin is often lost on those who observe it. But in some countries, Valentine’s Day has become illegal, and red roses are taboo on this day.
Indonesia
In Indonesia, the Ulema Council (also known as MUI) has issued a fatwa declaring that celebrating Valentine’s Day is forbidden in Islam.
What exactly is a fatwa, and is it binding on all Muslims? One web definition says that a fatwa is an Islamic religious ruling, a scholarly opinion on a matter of Islamic law.
Who can issue a fatwa? Any recognized religious authority in Islam can issue a fatwa. These are knowledgeable people who base their rulings on knowlede and wisdom. It is not necessarily binding on all Muslims.
Why did MUI issue that fatwa concerning Valentine’s Day? Amidhan, the head of MUI explains: “We have to ban Valentine’s Day because we are celebrating another religion’s holiday. Santo Valentino was a Christian, so it is not allowed in Islam. People who celebrate Valentine’s Day are spreading Christian beliefs.”
But others do not agree. Azyumardi Azra, advisor to the vice president, said: “The substance of Valentine’s Day is love, and love is the basis of Islam. We don’t have to relate this to faith, as that’s just going overboard. It seems to me that those ulemas who issued the fatwa are narrow-minded.”
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has banned the celebration of Valentine’s Day. Each year, Saudi religious police, backed by the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, swings into action a couple of days before February 14, Valentine’s Day. They go all out to enforce the ban on celebrating Valentine’s Day.
So what do the Saudi religious police do? Well they go on a nationwide inspection tour of shops, telling shopowners to get rid of all items associated with Valentine’s Day. These would include red roses, heart-shaped products or gifts wrapped in red, etc.
The irony is that these items are available for sale legally all year round except for the period preceding Feb 14 each year when such items become illegal.
This year, the Saudi religious police issued a statement which reads simply: “Those who don’t comply will be punished.” Not surprising therefore, shopkeepers generally remove all red items from their shelves during the period before Valentine’s Day.
Sheikh Ali Qarni, spokesman for the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice said that Muslims do not need a single occasion to commerate love because Muslims who know the true meaning of love (meaning the love of God) behave accordingly throughout the year. Sheikh Ali Qarni said: “Muslims are people of love, as evidenced by the fact that this word appears in the Koran 83 times.”
Ahmed Omran, a prominent Saudi blogger said: “Those who want to celebrate Valentine’s Day find their way around the ban, and those who think it’s haram (meaning forbidden) don’t celebrate it. It’s as easy as that.”
So how does one find the way around the ban on Valentine’s Day celebration? Firstly, Saudi lovebirds can simply do their shopping several weeks before February 14.
Secondly, if they have left it too late, they can still get round the ban if they know how to make contact with enterprising owners of flower and gift shops who don’t mind taking a risk for profit. One florist said in a press interview recently that the price of contraband red roses jumps rom 5 riyals to over 30 riyals during the period when these items are banned from sale.
Egypt & UAE
In Cairo, capital of Egypt, shops and restaurants are decked in red ribbon and heart decorations for Valentine’s Day.
In Dubai, hotels are also decked in red for Valentine’s Day, and they have special romantic dinner packages for that night. Malls are also actively selling red roses, and other Valentine’s Day items.
Think about it. Are you celebrating Valentine’s Day this year? What would it be like if there were no red roses, no Valentine’s dinner, and no Valentine’s gifts? In some Muslim countries this is the situation while in other Muslim countries, Valentine’s Day is no different from what it is in London, Paris or New York. Where are you this Valentine’s Day?
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