A similar situation exists in the United Kingdom, with regards to Halloween. Although we’ve always had All Hallows Eve, some British people don’t appreciate the importation of the Americanised version of the festival – to them it has no relevance or meaning! I guess it’s similar with Valentine’s Day in Pakistan.

Nevertheless, we are living in an evermore globalised culture, all the Eids, Diwali, Holi, Vaisakhi and Chinese New Year are celebrated by increasing numbers of people here in the U.K., and not only by those minorities you would expect, so it’s only natural that our traditional festivals will travel to other parts of the world too…

As you quite rightly point out, the things you highlighted are not really because of Valentine’s Day, they would most likely be happening anyway.

Romeo and Juliet is closer to the truth than you think, as this story was in all likelihood based upon similar Islamic ones, like Layla and Majnun which preceded it. To be honest, our modern Valentine’s Day probably owes a greater debt to Geoffrey Chaucer than any of the saints named Valentine.

Author, Idries Shah wrote about how Chaucer himself was influenced by Sheikh Fariduddin Attar, who wrote the Conference of the Birds (Mantiq-ut-Tair). Thus contrary to popular belief, the actual original influences of today’s Valentine’s Day, may well in fact have been Islamic! Even as I realise this may sound strange to people used to certain interpretations of Islamic culture…

I have only two objections on Valentine’s Day. First is that the youth is engaged in such acts that are neither allowed in Islam nor could be written in words. And, to be very honest, Valentine’s Day is the Eid of such people. A brother knows that if his sister is going out, where is she going for what purpose and a sister knows that if her brother is going out, where is he going for what purpose. The reason for that is not VALENTINE’S Day but lack of Islamic education that make the youth frustrated and so and so. Until or unless, this frustration exists in Eastern youth (it is also found in West), there should be some governmental restrictions on a few things.

Secondly, here, people celebrate it, connecting it with Romeo and Juliet. They don’t even know that Valentine is a day in the memory “martyr” St. Valentine. A person should have a knowledge that if he is celebrating Milad, why is he celebrating. Again, lack of education. However, they celebrate this day more enthusiastically than a Milad.

At the end, whatever the reason is for the lack of education and whoever is responsible, the fact is that it exists and, till whatsoever time it exists, there should be some restrictions on such events. Second thing is, definitely, to educate people. Believe me or not, the Valentine’s Day is seen as something different in the East as it is seen in the West.

Thank You