These scholars contend that this holiday was originally named after St. Valentine who defended the sanctity of marriage which is something common between us and it isn't related to polytheism or false worship. With that argument they also bring up the debate among the madhabs about al-Ateerah. Al-Ateerah was a feast in Rajab where people originally slaughtered animals for their idols. The Muslims later took the same practice in the same month, slaughtered for Allah's sake, and gave some meat to the poor. Some scholars held that this allowance was later abrogated and prohibited while others held that it being a sunnah was abrogated and thus remained permissible. This is because many texts are hard to put together and make an easy ruling (for more info see the Kuwaiti Encyclopedia for Islamic Jurisprudence volume 29 under Furthermore, they argue that in the west this is a part of secular culture; even atheists take part in this holiday, and it is not seen as a Christian holiday, nor celebrated in churches like Christmas and Easter. Allah knows best if there is sin in taking part in the tradition of this day, as both arguments have their proof, but let's take our love seriously and live a life that reflects our love for Allah and His messenger . This is indeed the true love; as Bob Marley correctly said, "One Love... Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."' Source: SuhaibWebb - Yahya Ederer (Abu Majeed) ***
These scholars contend that this holiday was originally named after St. Valentine who defended the sanctity of marriage which is something common between us and it isn't related to polytheism or false worship. With that argument they also bring up the debate among the madhabs about al-Ateerah. Al-Ateerah was a feast in Rajab where people originally slaughtered animals for their idols. The Muslims later took the same practice in the same month, slaughtered for Allah's sake, and gave some meat to the poor. Some scholars held that this allowance was later abrogated and prohibited while others held that it being a sunnah was abrogated and thus remained permissible. This is because many texts are hard to put together and make an easy ruling (for more info see the Kuwaiti Encyclopedia for Islamic Jurisprudence volume 29 under Furthermore, they argue that in the west this is a part of secular culture; even atheists take part in this holiday, and it is not seen as a Christian holiday, nor celebrated in churches like Christmas and Easter. Allah knows best if there is sin in taking part in the tradition of this day, as both arguments have their proof, but let's take our love seriously and live a life that reflects our love for Allah and His messenger . This is indeed the true love; as Bob Marley correctly said, "One Love... Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."' Source: SuhaibWebb - Yahya Ederer (Abu Majeed) ***