Celebrating Valentine's Day is So Uncool

“In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful”

Open Letter
To, Chairman PEMRA
PEMRA Headquarters, Mauve Area, G-8/1, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan

12 February 2013 – 01 Rabi-us-Sani 1434 H

Subject: Celebrating Valentine’s Day is So Uncool

Respected Sir,

Asalamo Alykum,

Sir, have we no identity, no ideology and no ethics of our own?

Why should we celebrate Valentine’s Day which has its roots neither in our culture and nor in our religion? Are we so vacant intellectually, emotionally and spiritually that we have to poke around into other people’s culture and history and pick out vague myths to celebrate whose authenticity itself is at question mark?

There are three myths uncertainly associated with the origin of Valentine’s Day. First, a Saint struggled against the ban of matrimony for soldiers by the Roman Emperor of the third century. Second, it was an attempt to ‘christianize’ a pagan, Roman fertility and coupling festival by the name of Lupercalia. Thirdly, it was believed by the English and the French that February was the beginning of the mating season which added strength to February, the fourteenth. Nevertheless, it was around the middle-ages that February 14th formally became associated with ‘love’ and picked up the trend of being celebrated.

All these traditions wipe out the weak justification arguments that Valentine’s Day is simply about expressing love, love for anybody, be they parents, children or friends. No, it’s not the case. Valentine’s Day is definitely about romantic love.

Well, for the decent mind, romantic love is definitely a worthy emotion but in the cloak of privacy. It does not need to be flaunted on TV channels, radio programs and roadsides. If I love somebody, rest assured I have enough personal communication channels today to communicate it to that person without the whole world being made an audience to it.

Further, the expression for such a love is recommended for married couples and not unmarried individuals. Or are we all set to make Zina a cool thing to do?

Last but not the least, are we heading towards a ‘free’ society where it is increasingly embarrassing to even walk down to the grocery store for one would see couples in romantic entangles on the street benches?

“Those who love to spread vulgarity among the believers will have a painful punishment in this life and in the Hereafter. Allah knows and you do not know.” [The Holy Quran, Surah Al-Noor, Verse 19]

Or is it, in fact, all about economics? With the onset of February, the advertizing agencies get new ads to produce, the flower-chocolate-gift shops get more business and the media has a new mantra to play?

“Shaitan threatens you with poverty and prompts you to commit what is indecent, while Allah promises you His forgiveness and bounties, and Allah has boundless knowledge.” [The Holy Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 268]

Allah Almighty has put you in a position of power and, with due respect, you shall definitely be questioned about how you utilized this position of power; to uphold Islamic values or to demolish them? Please, discourage all Valentine’s Day related programs, advertisements and campaigns. Wsalam.

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Chairman PEMRA
PEMRA Headquarters,
Mauve Area, G-8/1,
Islamabad 44000, Pakistan

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May Allah Almighty bless you...Ameen!