AL-FURQAN CENTRE FOR EXPATRIATE COMMUNITIES
Celebrating VALENTINE'S DAY
Page 3
became Christian, after Christianity had become widespread, the Roman emperor Claudius II decreed in the third century CE that soldiers should not get married, because marriage would distract them from the wars they used to fight. This decree was opposed by Saint Valentine, who started to perform marriages for the soldiers in secret. When the emperor found out about that, he threw him in jail and sentenced him to execution. In prison, he (Saint Valentine) fell in love with the jailer's daughter, but this was a secret because according to Christian laws, priests and monks were forbidden to marry or fall in love. But he is still regarded highly by the Christians because of his steadfastness in adhering to Christianity when the emperor offered to pardon him if he forsook Christianity and worshipped the Roman gods; then he would be one of his closest confidantes and he would make him his son-in-law. But Valentine refused this offer and preferred Christianity, so he was executed on 14 February 270 CE, on the eve of February 15, the festival of Lupercalis. So this day was named for this saint.
In The Story of Civilization, it says that the Church devised a calendar in which every day was designated as the feast day of one of the saints. In England, Saint Valentine’s Day was to come at the end of winter. When that day came, according to them, the birds mated enthusiastically in the forests, and the young men would put flowers on the windowsills of the homes of the girls whom they loved. (TheStory of Civilization by Will Durant, 15/23)
The Pope designated the day of the death of Saint Valentine, February 14, 270 CE, as a festival of love. Who is the Pope? He is the “the archbishop, the supreme pontiff of the universal church, the successor of Saint Peter.” The archbishop has prescribed for the followers of his faith the observance of this festival which was an innovation in their own religion. This reminds us of what Allah says in the noble Quran:
Among the most important symbols of this holiday:
1- Expressing joy and happiness on this occasion, as on their other major festivals.
2- Exchanging red roses, which is an expression of love, the "spiritual love" of the pagans or the "love" of the Christians. Hence it is known to them as the Feast of Lovers.
3- Sending greeting cards. On some of these cards are pictures of "Cupid", who appears as a child with two wings, carrying a bow and arrows. This was the god of love of the pagan Romans - Exalted is Allaah
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment