l****z 发帖数: 29846 | 1 Muslims told Valentine’s Day can invoke wrath of God
February 10, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 — An invitation “to be my Valentine” on February 14
is against Islamic beliefs and would incur the wrath of Allah, Muslims were
told today in the official Friday sermon prepared by the federal government.
The sermon warned Muslims against celebrating Valentine’s Day, which the
federal Islamic authorities claimed was in breach of the tenets of their
religion.
In the text of a sermon provided by the Department of Islamic Development
Malaysia (Jakim) titled “Awas jerat Valentine” (Beware Valentine’s trap),
Muslims were told that asking someone to be his or her “Valentine” could
lead to idolatry.
The text of a second optional sermon prepared by the Federal Territory
Islamic Department (Jawi), titled “Butakah Cinta?” (Is love blind?),
likened celebrating the global day of romance to celebrating the anniversary
of “Islam’s fall at the hands of Christians”.
Citing a person named Ken Swiger who purportedly wrote an article titled, “
Should Biblical Christians Observe It?”, Jakim in the text of its sermon
said the word “Valentine” originated from Latin and means “The Bravest,
The Strongest, The Most Powerful” to refer to ancient Roman gods Nimrod and
Lupercus.
The federal Islamic authority said it was wrong to ask someone to be his or
her Valentine.
“Whether they realise or not, if a person asks another person or his
partner to ‘Be my Valentine?’ it is clearly an act that is against the
Islamic faith and that would invoke the wrath of Allah SWT.
“This is because they are asking a person to be their ‘Most Powerful’
this is the same as reviving the culture of idol worship,” the sermon said.
It added that “love can only be to Allah SWT [and to] his prophet”.
A quick search online failed to turn up details on Sweiger’s identity or
the alleged article he wrote that Jakim had referred to.
Jakim said that the National Fatwa Council had sat in 2005 and declared that
Islam did not sponsor Valentine’s Day, as the spirit of the celebration
was mixed with vice activities which Islam forbids.
It urged Muslims to strengthen their faith, family and community through
five steps, namely for parents to teach their children Islam’s true path;
to forbid Muslims, especially teens from copying pagans; to sow feelings of
love for Allah SWT and his prophet; for unmarried Muslims to keep away from
mixed company; and to leave celebrations that are not provided for under
Islam’s laws.
In the text of the sermon prepared by Jawi, it claimed that February 14 was
celebrated as Valentine’s Day to commemorate the victory of the Christian
government in an offensive against the Muslim government in Cordoba,
Andalusia, which is now modern-day Spain.
“Therefore, is it right for Muslims to celebrate the fall of Islam at the
hands of Christians? Should we worship and celebrate the arrogant
declaration of a Christian priest?” it asked.
“Are there no other prominent Islamic leaders for us to worship and follow?
” it said.
Both texts of the government’s official sermon called on Muslims not to be
influenced by Western culture and celebrate Valentine’s Day, which falls on
Wednesday next week.
Valentine’s Day celebrations have long taken on a commercial nuance since
1969, when the Roman Catholic Church dropped February 14 as the feast day of
a purportedly beatified person named Valentine as it could not determine
which one of three Christians to whom it was referred.
However, PAS Youth has been spearheading anti-Valentine’s Day celebrations
the past few years.
It has claimed that the celebrations would lead to greater vice among Muslim
youths.
This year, the Islamist opposition party’s Youth wing urged the federal
government to exert greater control over Valentine’s Day advertisements to
curb social ills. |
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