Though
it is neither our national holiday, nor our religious holiday, but it
is considered as important as our own Quaid’s holiday. In fact, the
preparation and celebration is much more than our own holidays. In the
state of inferiority complex, when the desire of today’s youth to follow
west is increasing, the trend of celebrating valentine day is also
increasing greatly in our society.
It
is an undeniable fact that celebration of valentine`s day is the result
of strong western influence on our youth. Some claim that there is
nothing wrong in borrowing such cultural aspects of west which spreads
joy and happiness in the society. Indeed, there seems no problem in that
claim. But is it justified to adopt such festivals that go against our
religion and social norms? Surely, there are certain things which we
need to rethink.
Along
with the emerging East-meet-West culture, from the past few years,
Valentine’s Day has converted from American’s holiday to a full-blown
holiday in Pakistan. Average shopkeeper of Pakistan thinks that
valentine day should not be celebrated as an important day but no
businessman can ignore the important day to generate revenue when youth
becomes crazy to send gifts and cards without thinking about money or
the wastage of time.
Majority
of our youth know the history of valentine yet they remain as if they
are unaware. It’s just like closing your eyes from the reality but the
thing is that you know it’s not permissible in Islam yet you do so.
Young
generation is only trying to adopt American-ism. From sociology
perspective it is that state in which material things changes quickly
than non material things. Same is the case with today’s generation, they
want to be like West, want to follow west and in fact they are
following to much extent but the pace of changing their mindset is not
as fast as they are changing themselves.
Celebrating
valentine is nothing but just a waste of time and money. A certain
percentage of Youth is trying to make something as our culture that has
nothing to do with our culture. Actual love is the one which doesn’t
need any constant reminder. Love is the feeling which is felt not
reminded again and again.
Coming
to religion first, I think majority of our youth knows the history of
the Valentine`s day, yet they remain as if they are unaware of it. It’s
just like closing the eyes from the reality. Commemorating Christian
martyrs would not enlighten our society. Everyone has certain plans for
the valentine`s day, but we are not even bother to know when 12th
Rabi-ul-Awal falls this year. They are unaware of the fact that
celebrating such events on the cost Islamic ethics is simply blindness
of mind.
If
we talk about the outcome of celebrating this day we will get to know
that there are two possible outcomes of this day, one is enjoyed by the
participants while the other is enjoyed by the businesses and owner of
different businesses. And both the outcomes is not permissible in our
religion.
Concluding
my article, I am indifferent to the fact if Valentine day should be
celebrated or not but the issue which need to be raised is the culture
of Pakistan which is deteriorating day be day to the lowest degree.
Moving
to social norms, I would argue that isn`t it really ironic how can one
adopt a particular festivity which he cannot celebrate openly? A type of
celebration where we have to hunt for places that is not easily
accessible to our closed ones? On what grounds can we justify rejoicing
something which we are actually afraid of, which involves deceiving the
morality of our family and culture.
I
can certainly not consider this as modernization of the Pakistani
society. In plain terms this is westernization of the society (read not
modernization). Our way to celebrate love is not defined within the
parameters of a particular Day nor is it dependent on it. I reckon that
love demands expression but every culture has its own values and demands
that must not be diluted in the name of modernization
Love is like shadow !! will leave you in darkness
