Valentine's Day - Haram tetap Haram tapi...

Pada 14 Feb lumrahnya adalah hari romantis bagi para kekasih kerana hari ini adalah merupakan Hari Kekasih yang disambut oleh orang Kristian diserata dunia. Namun budaya ini telah digunaka pakai oleh bangsa dan penganut ugama lain termasuklah Islam. Badan-badan tertentu telah pun mengharamkan sambutan ini. Ianya termasuk:
*PKA, Panel Kajian Akidah JAKIM dan
*PKS, Panel Kajian Syariah JAKIM, memutuskan amalan itu adalah haram dan bertentangan dengan ajaran Islam.

*Jawatankuasa Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan bagi Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Malaysia, yang bersidang pada 22 hingga 24 November 2005 memutuskan bahawa amalan merayakan Valentine's Day tidak pernah dianjurkan Islam. Roh perayaan itu mempunyai unsur Kristian, amalannya yang bercampur dengan perbuatan maksiat adalah bercanggah dan dilarang oleh Islam. Oleh itu amalan meraikan Hari Kekasih tidak digalakkan oleh agama Islam.

Hari ini telah diasaskan sebagai Hari Kekasih oleh penganut ugama Kristian kerana memperingati hari kematian bagi St Valentine oleh Maharaja Rom Claudius. Beliau mendapati tenteranya telah lemah dan rakyat pula tidak minat untuk memasuki tentera. Mereka lebih sayangkan keluarga, isteri dan kekasih. Raja Rom telah mengharamkan perkahwinan. Namun St Valentine masih menguruskan pernikahan secara rahsia sehinggalah beliau di tangkap oleh Raja Rom dan dipenggal kepalanya.

St. Valentine Beheaded
On February 14 around the year 278 A.D., Valentine, a holy priest in Rome in the days of Emperor Claudius II, was executed.

Under the rule of Claudius the Cruel, Rome was involved in many unpopular and bloody campaigns. The emperor had to maintain a strong army, but was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. Claudius believed that Roman men were unwilling to join the army because of their strong attachment to their wives and families.

To get rid of the problem, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements in Rome. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.

When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Valentine was arrested and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. The sentence was carried out on February 14, on or about the year 270.

Legend also has it that while in jail, St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine."

For his great service, Valentine was named a saint after his death. Gradually, February 14 became a date for exchanging love messages, poems and simple gifts such as flowers.