My Sweet Valentine?

Assalamualaikum

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We always heard about valentine over the year, we also know that it is a special day for the couple especially those who still not married. Some of us might already know the fatwa about this, but still unintentionally celebrate it by giving the chocolate or any kind of present to their beloved one, their friends and family. For them,

‘arghh, we not celebrate, we just give present to our beloved. We don’t even have intention to celebrate’.

But you can give present on other days, like the birthday, right?

For those who still don’t know about it, let me share you some fatwa about it. And if you know it is prohibited in islam to celebrate this pagan tradition, would you will stop from celebrate it?
I’ve found some articles about it and feel free to read it.

History
Though popular modern sources link unspecified Greco-Roman February holidays alleged to be devoted to fertility and love to St Valentine’s Day, Professor Jack Oruch of the University of Kansas argued[20] that prior to Chaucer, no links between the Saints named Valentinus and romantic love existed. Earlier links as described above were focused on sacrifice rather than romantic love. In the ancient Athenian calendar the period between mid-January and mid-February was the month of Gamelion, dedicated to the sacred marriage of Zeus and Hera.

In Ancient Rome, Lupercalia, observed February 13 through 15, was an archaic rite connected to fertility. Lupercalia was a festival local to the city of Rome. The more general Festival of Juno Februa, meaning “Juno the purifier “or “the chaste Juno,” was celebrated on February 13-14. Pope Gelasius I (492-496) abolished Lupercalia.

It is a common opinion that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine’s feast day in the middle of February in an effort to Christianize celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia, and that a commemorative feast was established in 496 by Pope Gelasius I, of those “… whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God,” among whom was Valentine, was set for the useful day. Alternatively, William M. Green argues that the Catholic Church could not abolish the deeply rooted Lupercalia festival, so the church set aside a day to honor the Virgin Mary.[21]
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Islamic Views

To love is a natural instinct and Islam is the religion of love and brotherhood. It encourages good relations among the members of society. Allaah will provide shelter under His Shade for those who love one another when there would be no shade other than His.

Allaah’s Apostle said: “Verily Allaah would say on the Day of Resurrection: ‘Where are those who have mutual love for My Sake only? Today I shall shelter them in My Shade when there is no other shade but Mine.’” [Muslim]

Moreover, the true love of the believers is a reason to enter Paradise as the Prophet said:

“You shall not enter Paradise so long as you do not affirm belief (in all the articles of faith), and you will not achieve belief as long as you do not love one another. Should I not direct you to a thing which, if you do, will foster love amongst you: spread Salaam (by saying As-Salaamu Alaykum) amongst yourselves.”

Therefore, the Muslims who celebrate Valentine’s Day are heedless of their religion and follow the footsteps of non-Muslims.
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As regards the Islamic stance on this festival, Dr. Su`ad Ibrahim Salih, professor of Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) at Al-Azhar University, states the following:

Indeed, Islam is the religion of altruism, true love, and cooperation on that which is good and righteous. We implore Allah Almighty to gather us together under the umbrella of His All-encompassing Mercy, and to unite us together as one man. Allah Almighty says: (The believers are naught else than brothers. Therefore make peace between your brethren and observe your duty to Allah that haply ye may obtain mercy.) (Al-Hujurat 49: 10)

Focusing more on the question in point, I can say that there are forms of expressing love that are religiously acceptable, while there are others that are not religiously acceptable. Among the forms of love that are religiously acceptable are those that include the love for Prophets and Messengers. It stands to reason that the love for Allah, and His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) should have the top priority over all other forms of love.

Islam does recognize happy occasions that bring people closer to one another, and add spice to their lives. However, Islam goes against blindly imitating the West regarding a special occasion such as Valentine’s Day. Hence, commemorating that special day known as the Valentine’s Day is an innovation or bid`ah that has no religious backing. Every innovation of that kind is rejected, as far as Islam is concerned. Islam requires all Muslims to love one another all over the whole year, and reducing the whole year to a single day is totally rejected.

Hence, we Muslims ought not to follow in the footsteps of such innovations and superstitions that are common in what is known as the Valentine’s Day. No doubt that there are many irreligious practices that occur on that day, and those practices are capable of dissuading people from the true meanings of love and altruism to the extent that the celebration is reduced to a moral decline.
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Note: This is reminder for me first of all and then to you, the readers. Jazakallah khair.