Celebration of Valentine Sinful, Forbidden

A notable Nigerian cleric, Ustadh Abdul Ghaniyy Shittu, has kicked against the celebration of annual Valentine Day.

Imam Shittu who also doubles as the Imam of Salahudeen Oladejo Central Mosque in Osogbo, South West Nigeria said this at a monthly lecture tagged Fiqh Forum organised by The Muslim Congress.

He stressed that Valentine Day celebration is not only Haram (forbidden), but also sinful.

Tracing the origin of the celebration, the cleric said Valentine is an innovation that started as an idolatry festival for which there is no Islamic or biblical backing.

He said Valentine only calls to excessive immorality, sexual perversion and social corruption with its practice prevalent among the youths who should have nothing to do with sex at their prime age.

Imam Shittu called for hearts to be preoccupied with serious issues rather than frivolous matters that are contrary to the way of the righteous.

According to him,  “Valentine’s Day celebration is linked to a popular Saint known as Valentine who was sentenced to death on 14th February, 270CE for going against the royal decree of Emperor Claudius I.

He said the emperor decided that unmarried men are better soldiers than those with wives and families, the king therefore outlawed marriage for young men who were his crop potential soldiers but Saint Valentine resisted this.

”Saint Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree and the sinful implication it portends for the society, defied Emperor Claudius and continued to solemnize marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered by the authorities, Emperor Claudius ordered that he be put to death for promoting amorous relationship among the soldiers.

”Along the line, the story alluded that Saint Valentine himself fell in love with a young girl, who was his jailor’s daughter. The lady visited him during his confinement and travails. Before his death however, the Saint wrote her a letter, which he signed, ‘From your Valentine,’ an expression of love that is still in vogue today.”

The cleric wondered how a Saint who relapsed to having a secret love affair became a hero and why such alien festivity, without any noble origin or glorious basis would be accepted by the young and old in our society today.

He also warned parents and authorities that encourage depraved cultures and corrupt practices to be wary of living unwholesome legacies for the future generations.

Imam Shittu, therefore urged every responsible citizen not to participate in the celebration of Valentine Day which he described as celebration of immorality and permissiveness.
By Sodiq Lawal