Is it Allowed to Celebrate Valentine’s Day, Nowruz, Mahrajan, and Yalda?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Regarding Valentine’s Day, Nowruz, Mahrajan, and Yalda. The above-mentioned festivals have lost all religious connotations and are celebrated by millions of Muslims around the world. 

Nowroz, the Persian festival is so old that no one knows its true significance anymore and is celebrated by Kurds, Iranian people, Afghanis, Albanians, Turkish and Central Asians. 

Are we allowed to celebrate them?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

As Muslims, we cannot celebrate any religious occasions of other religions. So, if the holiday is a purely religious holiday, we cannot celebrate it. As for culturally celebrated events they would be fine, as long as one keeps to the limits of the sharia.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, 

“Whoever imitates a group of people is amongst them.” [Abu Dawud]

“If a Muslim gives a gift to another Muslim and he does not intend glorifying that day but it is the habit of some people, he will not have committed disbelief (kufr). However, he should not do that on that specific day. He should do it before it or after it so as to not imitate those people for verily the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever imitates a group of people is amongst them.”

[Ibn Maza al-Bukhari, Al-Muhit al-Burhani]

Nowruz, the Persian New year, Maharjan, celebrated by Maronite Catholics and Yalda, all having religious roots, although some may argue they have lost their religious connotations. 

Ruling of Attending

Therefore, if the Muslim celebrates it as a religious observance, this is an act of ignorance, and he is to be rebuked and taught. If he does it out of a socialization with children, his friends, neighbors and wider community, and goes out as a family outing, then it is blameworthy.

Actions are but by intentions, caution and Allah-consciousness is to stay away.

Valentine’s Day

This day should not be celebrated by couples going out and having dinner. One can find an alternative day, also couples should as and when they can go out and enjoy their marriage in various social ways, instead of that particular day.

May Allah (Most High) give us success to do things with the correct balance of the spirit and letter of the law, amin.

Linked Answers

Context for the Hadith: Whoever Imitates a People Is of Them – SeekersGuidance

Valentine’s Day Archives – SeekersGuidance

I pray this helps in your question.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.

He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.

He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.

He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.