What is Valentines Day? Do MUSLIMS celebrate this or Not. ?

Valentines Day, A day of Love, Romance and Affection celebrated on 14th February of every year from decades, lovers exchange gifts, candies and many other attractive stuff to impress their love Ones . Another eye opener fact about this day is that over 150 million Love Cards are exchanged only at this day and millions of people are employed in chocolate factories for this day every year. BUT, A question rises why people celebrate this day? Why just 14 February is called THE DAY OF LOVE. ? What is Valentines Day? Who was Valentine? Many people put my focus on this topic by arguing with me on different social websites then I decided to make some researches on this topic and gathered some of the information that might be unknown for many of the people around the world. There is a Legend that contends Valentine or Valentinus was a priest who served in third century in Rome. It was the time when Claudius II was the ruling emperor. He was of the belief that single men are much powerful and courageous than the married Ones. So he ordered in his region that NO MAN WILL MARRY ANY WOMAN. Valentine , the priest of a church stood against this injustice and he starts arranging marriages of the Lovers and many of the men from Royal house also got married under the supervision of Valentine. When this act of Valentine was discovered. Emperor Claudius ordered to put him to death on 14th February. People of Rome went against this Act of Claudius, Specially the lovers. And people start getting married. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were tortured. One legend suggests that Valentine himself sent a Valentines gift to A girl in the jail who was jailors daughter by the way and often visits him in his last days. Before the day of his death it is said that he wrote a note with the title from your Valentine and this expression is still in use. Although the truth behind Valentine is still a mystery. But all the stories appeals his sympathetic, heroic and most importantly his romantic figure. As time passes by Valentine became the most popular said in England and France. All of the researches I have made point towards the sacrifices of saint Valentine for Love. Many of people believe that VALENTINE promotes Sex before marriage in Europe which is totally wrong and have No background. Then another question rises SHOULD MUSLIMS CELEBRATE THIS EVENT? SO my dear Islamic fellows just think what is Islam? Its A religion for brotherhood and Love. Allah and Hazrat mohammad (PBUH) himself said to promote love between your relatives. Prophet mohammad himself spread love in the world.

This fact is on the other hand that many of the people use Valentine s Day for their NON SOCIAL ACTS weather MUSLIM OR NON MUSLIM. as being muslims we should refrain from this act because it is prohibited in islam. but boycotting this event for some of the cheap acts of some SEX LOVERS. Valentines Day itself dedicated to LOVE and Love is not bound between lovers only. Love is in every relation. And we should celebrate this event to dedicate our love for those relations which means a lot to us. thanks. Regards, Ummair Qayyum