Basant, Valentine's Day aliens' festivals
By: Jam Sajjad Hussain | Published: February 14, 2010
LAHORE - It is very strange we are showing enthusiasm to the festivals of the aliens at a time when the nation is besieged with manifold crises.
The first one festival is the Basant, which has Hindu origin, and the second is Valentine’s Day falling on February 14 (today) having origin to the Latin Priest Valentine, who in his frivolous pursuits set an example of illegal love affairs, which is denounced in Islam.
Citizens expressed these views during a survey conducted by The Nation here on Saturday. We should condemn Valentine’s Day, as it is a shameful and sinful act, which leads to western culture that is the hub of illegal relations among youth, a 19-year-old student Tayyaba Yasmeen, of Govt College for Women commented. We should forbid students and Muslims to celebrate Valentine’s Day, she said, adding that the day is attributed to young, unmarried people and students, who celebrate the day by holding hands or having illicit relations, which they are not supposed to be doing in Islamic society like in Pakistan.
Government College University athlete Hafiz Mohammad Safdar said the celebration of romance and love was a Western tradition and therefore should not be supported in Muslims countries especially in Pakistan. He said Muslim culture is a pure of vulgarity, adding that Valentine’s Day is not in accordance with Islamic and Eastern culture.
Asma Hamza, 22-year-old student of Punjab University said every Pakistan should seek forgiveness from Allah for our sins than celebrating evils acts like Valentine’s Day. “One flower giver should think if someone else send flowers to his sister then what will be his feelings,” she questioned.
It is worth mentioning one legend revealed that Valentine was a priest during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men are better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men.
Valentine, realising the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. Claudius awarded death sentence to Valentine as he continued his act even in prison.
It is generally believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl - who may have been his jailor’s daughter - who visited him during his imprisonment. It is believed that before his death he wrote her a letter, which he signed ‘From your Valentine’, an expression that is still used today.
Ibtisam flays Valentine's Day
Jammat Ahle Hadith Pakistan Nazim Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer has said the celebrations of the festivals like Valentine’s Day and Basant were aimed at demolishing the Muslim civilization. In a communique, he said Islam is flexible religion, but it is strictly against vulgarity and illegal liberalism. “Youth should avoid indulging from immoral activities on this occasion,” Zaheer further said. He also urged the Governor Punjab Salman Taseer to initiate a special security plan for the protection of the lives of Lahorities instead of issuing ridiculous statements regarding Basant.
Meanwhile, Young Muslim International also condemned Valentine’s Day saying it was a devil festival, which promotes impropriety among Muslim Society.
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