Valentine’s Day Pagan roots: Catholic & Muslim views [English & Urdu]

ویلنٹائن ڈے کی مخالفت کیوں؟

February 14th is often celebrated as Valentine’s Day. Should you celebrate it?

Christians who may be tempted to compromise need to ask themselves about the origins of Valentine’s Day.

Notice what the Roman Catholics teach,

The roots of St. Valentine’s Day lie in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on Feb. 15. For 800 years the Romans had dedicated this day to the god Lupercus. On Lupercalia, a young man would draw the name of a young woman in a lottery and would then keep the woman as a sexual companion for the year (The Origins of St. Valentine’s Day. (http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/ValentinesDay/).

It is of interest to note that the same Catholic source states,

The Catholic Church no longer officially honors St. Valentine, but the holiday has both Roman and Catholic roots.

It is good that the Church of Rome no longer officially honors Valentine or the holiday.

Look at some of what the Muslims say about Valentine’s Day,

Celebrating the Valentine Day is not permissible because: Firstly, it is an innovated holiday that has no basis in the Sharee`ah…Christians were aware of the Pagan roots of Valentine’s Day. The way the Christians adopted St. Valentine’s Day should be a lesson for Muslims. In fact, the failure to fully separate Valentine’s Day from its pagan roots explains why Islamic scholars and a number of Muslims avoid adopting traditions of non-Muslims, even though they could possibly be Islamicized…We should avoid anything associated with pagan immoral practices -…- Islam does not encourage flirting or suggestions of romantic relationships before marriage – Love between families, friends and married people does not need to be celebrated on a day with such un-Islamic origins (Ruling on Celebrating Valentine’s Day. (http://www.contactpakistan.com/news/news144.htm ).

What is the ruling on Valentine’s Day?…

Firstly: Valentine’s Day is a jaahili Roman festival, which continued to be celebrated until after the Romans became Christian. This festival became connected with the saint known as Valentine who was sentenced to death on 14 February 270 CE. The kuffaar still celebrate this festival, during which immorality and evil are practised widely…Secondly: It is not permissible for a Muslim to celebrate any of the festivals of the kuffaar, because festivals come under the heading of shar’i issues which are to be based on the sound texts…Partially joining in, at the very least, is disobedience and sin…it is not permissible to celebrate the festivals of the ignorant and the mushrikeen (polytheists). (fatwa No. 73007. What is the ruling on Valentine’s Day? (http://islamqa.info/en/ref/73007 )

So, according to Muslims, it is improper to celebrate pagan holidays and the so-called “Christians” clearly adopted a pagan holiday.

In Pakistan and other Islamic-dominated lands, steps to minimize its impact have been taken:

Conservatives in Pakistan tacked up posters urging people to boycott Valentine’s Day on Thursday, saying it’s a western-inspired event that’s spreading vulgarity in their country…

For them, Valentine’s Day is nothing but an occasion to encourage illicit relations between the country’s young  unmarried males and females. It’s a sign that Western culture and values are eating away the fabric of Pakistan’s traditional, Islamic society. Valentine’s Day, they say, is not a Pakistani holiday and not part of the culture here…

In Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, government officials and clerics in Jakarta called for young people to skip Valentine’s Day, saying it was an excuse for couples to have forbidden sex. Santana R. Valentine’s Day under attack in Pakistan. AP, February 14, 2013  )

Pakistan’s Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, or PEMRA, sent a letter to TV and radio stations reminding them that the holiday is “not in conformity to our religious and cultural ethos.” The report warns that “a large segment of society” has complained about “Valentine’s Day celebrations” and blames Valentine’s Day for “depraving, corrupting and injuring morality of Pakistani youth.”…

The letter begins:

It is generally observed that in the past “Valentine’s Day” is celebrated on February 14 by all the satellite TV channels whether an Entertainment or News & Current Affairs channel. PEMRA has been receiving complaints from a large segment of society that Valentine’s Day celebrations are not in conformity to our religious and cultural ethos and has, therefore, condemned its unequivocal propagation through media. Furthermore, such events have been perceived as a source of depraving, corrupting and injuring morality of Pakistani youth as well as violating Code of Conduct developed by PEMRA in pursuance of Rule 15 & PEMRA Rules 2009. (Dewey C. Pakistani regulator warns media against promoting Valentine’s Day (Washington Post, February 14, 2013.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/02/14/pakistani-regulator-warns-media-against-promoting-valentines-day/)

Notice that because of sexual immortality associated with Valentine’s Day, many of the states in Malaysia have taken proactive steps to try to stop sinning then:

PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hasan Tantawi said the Kedah, Kelantan and Selangor governments have directed all local authorities to work closely with police and Rela in order to carry out operations to check immoral activities during Valentine’s Day…He said the National Fatwa Council forbids Muslims from celebrating Valentine’s Day because of elements of Christianity and sin. (Move on Valentine’s Day ‘sins’ Malaysia Star – Feb 8, 2011. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/2/9/nation/8024821&sec=nation)

KUALA LUMPUR – More than 300 volunteers between 19 to 25 years-old today joined a programme to make Muslims wary of the importance of not celebrating Valentine’s Day.

Islamic Development Department (Jakim) director of Family, Social and Community Division, Saimah Mokhtar hopes parents take the ban on Valentine’s Day celebration seriously as it has elements of Christianity and mixed with vices forbidden by Islam.

The programme called “Jerat Hari Valentine” (Valentine’s Day Trap) targets several locations in Kuala Lumpur, said Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha. (Bernama. Now Jakim wants parents to ban Valentine’s Day celebration. Malaysian Chronicle. February 3, 2013. http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=51672:now-jakim-wants-parents-to-ban-valentines-day-celebration&Itemid=2)

Notice that many of the Muslims associate Valentine’s Day with Christianity (obviously the false compromising kind) and sin.

In other words, Valentine’s Day causes the name of Christ (through the term ‘Christianity’) to be blasphemed among the Gentiles (Romans 2:24; Isaiah 52:5)!

Valentine’s Day causes the name of Christ (through the term ‘Christianity’) to be blasphemed among the Gentiles–which is something that the Bible warns against doing:

24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written. (Romans 2:24)

How does this pagan holiday help get the true gospel out?

It does not.

And that is the point.

Of course, Valentine’s Day is NOT a real Christian holiday and does have its basis in sinful pagan practices.

Jesus did not observe Valentine’s Day or anything close to it.

Valentine’s Day is not a biblical holiday.

It is essentially based upon lawlessness and does not edify Christ. 13 years ago, an article in Christianity Today stated:

There are more tales of the “origins” of Valentine’s Day than arrows in Cupid’s quiver. As expected, most have something to do with pagan ritual (pretty much every holiday—from Christmas to Mother’s Day—has something to do with pagan ritual). Four centuries before Christ, Romans had a day called Lupercalia. Without going too much into it, I’ll sum it up as a sexual lottery. Pull names out of a box at random and couple with a young member of the opposite sex. After a year, you get to pick another name (Olsen T. Then Again Maybe Don’t Be My Valentine. Christianity Today. February 12, 1999).

The modern practice of giving cards to ask/tell someone to “be my Valentine” seems to be a holdover from the ancient sexual lottery.

None who profess Christ should observe this February “holiday”–it simply is not a Christian holiday. It began as a sexual lottery and still has sexual ramifications, even in the 21st century. Modern Muslims and modern Catholics realize this, shouldn’t you?

For more information, please consider studying the following articles:

Valentine’s Day: Its Real Origins Christianity Today suggests that Valentine’s Day is good for Christians to observe. Is this true?  There is also a YouTube titled Should Christians Observe Valentine’s Day?

Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? 

Source: cogwriter.com

More legends on it see : http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day

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ویلنٹائن ڈے کی مخالفت کیوں؟

By Aamir Hashim Khakwani

ویلنٹائن ڈے کے حوالے سے ہمارے ہاں تین مختلف قسم کے ردعمل موجود ہیں۔ کچھ لوگ اس کے حق میں ہیں، اسے پروموٹ کرتے اور اس کے لئے دلائل دیتے ہیں، چونکہ اس معاملے میں کارپوریٹ معاملات شامل ہیں۔ بعض پراڈکٹس ویلنٹائن کے حوالے سے فروخت ہوتی ہیں، اس لئے کنزیومر ازم بھی ساتھ شامل ہو جاتا ہے۔ ویلنٹائن ڈے کی پروڈکٹس (چاکلیٹ، پھول، ٹیڈی بیئر وغیرہ) کی فروخت سے جن کے مفادات وابستہ ہیں، ان کی حمایت کی وجہ سمجھ بھی آتی ہے، مگر ویلنٹائن کو نظریاتی اور فکری بنیادوں پر سپورٹ فراہم کرنے والا حلقہ بنیادی طور پر یا تو عیش پرست ہے جو موج مستی کرنا پسند کرتے ہیں یا پھر یہ لبرل عناصر ہیں،جو فرد کی آزادی کے موید ہیں۔ جس کا جو جی چاہے ، وہ کرے، کوئی پابندی نہ لگائی جائے۔ ادھر ویلنٹائن کی مخالفت کرنے والے حلقے میں روایتی مذہبی لوگوں کے علاوہ لوئر مڈل کلا س کی روایتی اخلاقیات والے لوگ شامل ہیں، جن کے خیال میں اپنی مشرقی اور اسلامی اقدار کی حفاظت کرتے ہوئے ہمیں اپنے بچوں کو مغرب کی تہذیبی یلغار سے بچاناچاہیے۔

ویلنٹائن ڈے کی حمایت میں تین چار دلائل دئیے جاتے ہیں۔'' یہ محبت کے اظہار کا دن ہے، اس پر پابندی کیوں لگائی جائے؟انسانی زندگیوں میں نفرتیں اس قدر زیادہ ہوچکی ہیں ، اگر ایک دن محبت کے نام کر دیا گیا ہے تو اس میں کیا برائی ہے؟ نوجوان لوگ کچھ دیر کے لئے خوش ہوجائیں، کچھ ہنس کھیل لیں تو کون سی قیامت آ جائے گی، مولوی حضرات کسی کو خوش دیکھ نہیں سکتے ... وغیرہ وغیرہ۔ ‘‘ایک اور دلیل جو عام طور سے دی جاتی ہے، ''ویلنٹائن ڈے صرف لڑکے اور لڑکی کی محبت کا دن نہیں ہے، محبت کا صرف یہی رنگ تو نہیں ، ماں ، باپ ، بھائیوں وغیرہ کو بھی پھول دئیے جاسکتے ہیں۔ پرخلوص محبت کا اظہار ہی ہے، ایک دن مقرر ہوگیا ہے تو اسے منانے میں کیا حرج ہوسکتا ہے؟ ‘‘بعض لوگ اس الزام پر برہم ہوجاتے ہیں کہ ویلنٹائن ڈے مغرب سے درآمد شدہ تہوار ہے، جھنجھلاہٹ میں یہ ایک ہی فقرہ دہراتے ہیں،''ویلنٹائن مغرب سے آیا ہے تو پھر کیا ہوا؟ اس میں کیا حرج ہے...؟ ‘‘ 

ویلنٹائن ڈے کے حوالے سے کوئی حتمی رائے قائم کرنے سے پہلے دو تین باتیں سمجھ لی جائیں۔ سب سے اہم یہ کہ ہر تہوار یا دن کا ایک خاص پس منظر اور ایک مجموعی تاثر (Overall Impact)ہوتا ہے۔اسی مخصوص پس منظر ہی میں اسے دیکھنا پڑے گا ، یہ ممکن نہیں کہ آپ اس کے کسی ضمنی اثر(Side Effect) کو قبول کر لیں اور صرف اسی کی بنیاد پر رائے قائم کر لیں۔ مثال کے طور پر روزے ہم اللہ کے حکم کی تعمیل میں رکھتے ہیں اور یہ ایک طرح سے تذکیہ نفس کا طریقہ ہے۔ اس کے ضمنی فوائد بے شمار ہوسکتے ہیں، بعض ماہرین اس کے طبی فوائد بھی گنواتے ہیں۔ یہ ثانوی اثرات یا فوائد خواہ جس قدر ہوجائیں، مگر روزے کا بنیادی سبب جو ہے ،و ہی رہے گا۔ ایسا نہیں کہ کوئی سمارٹ ہونے کے لئے روزے رکھنے شروع کر دے، ایسا کرنا ہرگز عبادت نہیں کہلائے گا۔ یہی بات نماز کے بارے میں کہی جاتی ہے۔ اللہ کا حکم ہے، ہمیں رسول اللہﷺ نے یہ سکھایا اور اس کے اجر سے متعارف کرایا۔ اب نماز پڑھنے کے ضمنی اثرات کئی ہوں گے ، بعض سکالر اس میں ورزش کے پہلو کی جانب اشارہ کرتے ہیں، تو کچھ اسے ذہنی سکون کا نسخہ تصور کرتے ہیں وغیرہ وغیرہ۔ یہ سب کچھ اپنی جگہ ،نماز مگر نماز ہی رہے گی، اللہ کی بندگی کا ایک اسلوب، نبیﷺ کے بتائے ہوئے طریقے کے مطابق ۔اس کا مجموعی تاثر بھی وہی رہے گا، اسی سے یہ عبادت پہچانی جاتی ہے۔ تہوار کی بات چل رہی ہے تو عیدکو لے لیں۔ عید الفطر انعام ہے رمضان المبارک کی عبادت کا، اس دن کو اسی پس منظر میں دیکھا اور جانا جاتا ہے۔ 

عیدالضحیٰ میں قربانی کی سنت پوری کی جاتی ہے، تاریخی پس منظر ہے،جس سے اس دن کو پہچاناجاتا ہے۔ 

ویلنٹائن ڈے کا ایک پس منظر ہے، مغربی تاریخ میں کچھ روایات ہیں اور پھر جدید مغربی تاریخ میں اس دن کو منانے کا بدلتا انداز ہے، جس پر اب دو عشروں سے کارپوریٹ روایات اور کنزیومرازم کا غلبہ ہوچکا۔ ویلنٹائن بنیادی طور پر پرو نکاح یا پرومیرج تحریک تھی۔ جب ایک خاص زمانے میں بادشاہ وقت نے نوجوانوں پر شادی کرنے کی پابندی عائد کر دی کہ شادی شدہ لوگ اپنی بیوی بچوں کی محبت میں فوج میں شامل ہونے سے گریز کرنے لگے تھے۔روایت کے مطابق سینٹ ویلنٹائن نے اس ناروا شاہی حکم سے بغاوت کا راستہ نکالا اور نوجوان جوڑوں کی شادیوں کا سلسلہ شروع کر دیا۔اسی جرم میں اسے سزا بھی ہوئی ،مگر یہ سلسلہ چل نکلا۔ بیسویں صدی کے دوسرے نصف حصے میں جب مغرب کی بدلتی اخلاقی قدروں میں شادی کا انسٹی ٹیوشن کمزور پڑنے لگا تو ویلنٹائن ڈے کا انداز بھی بدل دیا گیا۔ اب محبت کرنے والے جوڑوں کے مابین عہد وپیمان اور کھلے اظہار محبت کے لئے اسے استعمال کیا جانے لگا۔ رفتہ رفتہ اس میں کنزیومر ازم کا رنگ بڑھتا گیا۔ اب صرف اظہار کافی نہیں بلکہ سرخ پھول ، چاکلیٹ ، ٹیڈی بیئر وغیرہ لازم ہوگئے، ویلنٹائن ڈنرروایت ہوگئی اور پھر ویسٹرن سٹائل میں رومانوی شام منانے بلکہ زیادہ کھلے الفاظ میں شب بسری کے تمام لوازمات شامل ہوتے گئے ۔

ویلنٹائن ڈے کی مغربی روایت میں اور جو لوگ پاکستان جیسے ملک میںیہ دن رائج کرنا چاہتے ہیں، ان سب پر یہ واضح ہے کہ یہ خالصتاً مرد و عورت کے مابین اظہار محبت کا دن ہے۔ یہ اظہار محبت بھی مغربی کلچر سے مستعار یا اخذ کردہ ہے۔ مشرقی کلچر اور اسلامی روایات میں جس کی قطعی گنجائش نہیں۔ جس طرح کسی نئی چیز کو معاشرے کے لئے قابل قبول بناتے ہوئے پہلے کچھ تکلفات اور ادب آداب کا لبادہ پہنایا جاتا ہے‘ اسی طرح اس دن کے حوالے سے کہہ دیا جاتا ہے کہ اسے ماں باپ یا بہن بھائیوں سے محبت کے اظہار کے لئے بھی استعمال کیا جا سکتا ہے۔ نہیں جناب، یہ دلیل درست نہیں ہے۔ یہ صرف ایک حیلہ، دھوکہ اور تنقید کرنے والوں کا منہ بندکرنے کا حربہ ہے۔ ہمیں اپنے والدین اور بہن بھائیوں سے اظہار محبت کے لئے غیر اخلاقی، مشکوک پس منظر والے کسی دن کی ضرورت نہیں۔ اول تو مقدس رشتوں کے ساتھ اظہار محبت کو الگ دن کی ضرورت نہیں۔ ہمارا مذہب، ہماری روایات ہمیں یہ سکھاتی ہیں کہ اپنے ان عزیز رشتوں کے ساتھ محبت ہمیں ہر لمحہ اپنے دل میں زندہ رکھنی اور اپنے عمل سے اسے ثابت کرنا ہے۔ کسی فرماں بردار اولاد کو اپنی سعادت مندی اور محبت ثابت کرنے کے لئے سرخ پھولوں کی ضرورت نہیں۔ اسے صبح سے شام تک کے عمل سے جھلکنا چاہیے۔ اگر ایسا نہیں تو پھر خواہ کتنے پیسے پھولوں، چاکلیٹوں پر خرچ کر دئیے جائیں، وہ سب بیکار ہیں۔ 

ایک اور اہم نکتہ سمجھنا ضروری ہے کہ محبت کا جذبہ قدرت کا تحفہ ہے، مرد اور عورت کے درمیان محبت ہونا فطری چیز ہے، مخالف جنس کے لئے کشش رکھنابھی ایک حقیقت ہے۔ اس کشش، محبت اور تعلق کو دیرپا بنیادوں پر استوار کرنے اور پھر قائم رکھنے کا ایک طریقہ، قرینہ اور سلیقہ ہے۔ ہماری اسلامی اور مشرقی روایات میں مرد اور عورت ایک خاص اسلوب اور طریقے سے رشتے میں بندھتے ہیں۔ ہمارا مذہب اور سماج اس کی اجازت دیتا ہے، بلکہ حوصلہ افزائی کرتا ہے۔ یہ صرف اسلام کا معاملہ نہیں بلکہ مشرقی تہذیب میں رچے بسے غیر مسلموں کی بھی یہی روایات اور آداب ہیں۔ اس خطے میں رہنے والے ہندو گھرانے ہوں، سکھ یا عیسائی... ہر ایک میںبزرگوں کا احترام کیا جاتا ہے، والدین کی رضامندی سے معاملات آگے بڑھائے جاتے اور اپنی محبت کے جذبوں کو نفاست اور شائستگی کا لبادہ پہنا کر مزید خوبصورت بنایا جاتا ہے۔ اپنی انہی روایات کا احترام کرنا چاہیے، ہر معاشرے کے کچھ بنیادی اجزا ہوتے ہیں، سماج کا فیبرک جن سے جڑا ہوتا ہے، انہیں ادھیڑنے کی کوشش پورے سماج کو درہم برہم کر دیتی ہے۔ 

ویلنٹائن ڈے کی مخالفت کرنے والے جنونی ، متشدد یا محبت کے مخالف نہیں۔ ان کے دلوں میں بھی بہاریں آتی، جذبے مہکتے اور آنکھیں سپنے دیکھتی ہیں۔ یہ لوگ مگر اپنے جذبات کے کھلے، بے لگام اظہار کو حیوانی فعل گردانتے ہیں۔ یہ چاہتے ہیں کہ محبت جیسے حسین ترین جذبے کی توہین نہ کی جائے۔ عامیانہ، سطحی اور بازاری انداز سے اس کے اظہار کے بجائے مہذب، شائستہ انداز میں رشتوں کے تقدس اور نزاکتیں ملحوظ خاطررکھی جائیں۔ خواہشات کی اس انداز میں تکمیل محبت کو نہ صرف مقدس اور پاکیزہ بنا دیتی ہے بلکہ رب تعالیٰ کے بتائے ہوئے طریقے پر عمل کرنے سے رحمتیں اور برکات بھی شامل ہو جاتی ہیں۔ 

By Aamir Hashim Khakwani

Source: http://dunya.com.pk/index.php/author/amir-khakwani/2016-02-13/14364/56620965#tab2

Jews & Christian Extremists Justify Killing others

Islamophobes like Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller claim that Islam is more violent than other religions, particularly Judaism and Christianity.  To prove this, they argue that the Islamic holy book, the Islamic prophet, and the Islamic God are all uniquely violent–certainly more so than their Judeo-Christian counterparts.

We proved these claims completely bunk by showing the Bible to be far more violent than the Quran,the Biblical prophets to be far more violent than the Prophet Muhammad, and Yahweh of the Bible to be far more violent than Allah of the Quran.  (See parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-i, 6-ii, 6-iii, 6-iv, 7, 8, 9-i, and 9-iiof LoonWatch’s Understanding Jihad Series.)

Instead of defending their initial claim (which they simply cannot), the Islamophobes quickly shift gears and rely on a fallback argument: they argue that “the Bible doesn’t actively exhort its believers to commit acts of violence, unlike the Quran.”  I refuted this argument in part 6 (see 6-i, 6-ii, 6-iii, 6-iv) in an article entitled The Bible’s Prescriptive, Open-Ended, and Universal Commandments to Wage Holy War and Enslave Infidels. Keep reading 》》》
https://islamphobia.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/jewish-law-justify-killing-civilians/

A deadly consciousness of religiosity

In medieval India, people were conscious of their social cast and ethnic identity but in the colonial period right up to 1813, new political and social changes significantly shaped religious identity and its consciousness.

In its earlier days the East India Company, being solely interested in economic expansion, but also aware of the religious sensitivities of the subcontinent, discouraged missionaries from coming to India. Later, as the government became more stable, their policies changed and they supported the missionaries who arrived in the subcontinent to convert people to Christianity.

The government believed that if the people converted and became Christians, it would be relatively easier to govern them on the basis of sharing the same religious beliefs.

The missionaries condemned the religions of the subcontinent and persuaded people to embrace the Christian faith. They openly preached in public places like Lahore`s Anarkali bazaar. Their activity intensified when in 1837, a German missionary known as Karl Pfander arrived in the subcontinent at a time when the Muslim community had lost its political power, vitality and energy.

He believed that the society was backward and degenerate, so it would be easy to convert people to Christianity, which was in his view an advanced and progressive religion. But his argument was refuted by Dr Nazir and Maulvi RehmatAli in public discussions and a disappointed Pfander left India in 1857.

The activities of the missionaries alarmed people who began to feel insecure about their religious beliefs. The Hindu and Muslim religious leaders came forward to defend their religion through munazra or public debates held in dif`f`erent cities, where people would gather to listen to religious scholars criticising each other`s f`aith while defending their own religion. These debates created a religious consciousness among the masses while elevating the social status of the religious scholars within the community.

Religious activity was further enhanced when religious organisations such as the Arya Samaj for the Hindu community; and the Tablighi Jamaat and Tanzim for the Muslim community, were founded in order to protect their respective religions. To reach out to the masses, newspapers, magazines, and pamphlets were published to highlight the truth of their avowed faith.

Hostility and conflict increased between the communities and riots broke out that continued up to partition in 1947.

As some Hindu or Muslim leaders converted to Christianity, the respective communities grew even more insecure. Another factor which further promoted religious identity was the f`irst census of 1881, which reported the numbers of people belonging to various religious communities. In this way, for the first time, the concept ofreligious majority and minority was created; later becoming a matter of conflict for the district council and municipal elections. Being a religious minority, the Muslims were concerned about not being able to win elections.

This prompted Sir Syed Ahmad Khan to oppose the democratic system; a policy adopted and followed by other Muslim leaders.

Eventually, the two-nation theory emerged as a result of religious consciousness among the Muslims. When the Hindi-Urdu conflict heated up, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan became convinced that the Hindus and Muslims could not become a nation as their religion and ways of life were quite distinct from one another.

Later on, he exploited religious ideals to winpopularity among the Muslims.

On the other hand, Savarker, a Hindu leader, presented the idea of Hindutva, according to which, the subcontinent was not a homeland for Muslims and Christians, but only the Hindus.

The fundamentalist views further exacerbated intolerance and hatred, creating disorder and chaos in the society.

Sadly, even after partition, the consciousness of religious identity has become a source of continuing hostility which has fragmented the entire fabric of society.

In Pakistan, religious identity further split into sectarian consciousness plunging the society into what seems like a never-ending 

کھلا خط آپ کے نام، پاکستان کے لیے

Open Letter for Pakistan

پاکستان کی ترقی ، خوشحالی اور امن کے لییے کچھ بنیادی معاملات طے کرنا ضروری ھیں. اس وقت پاکستانی سوسائٹی فکری طورپرتین بڑے حصوں تقسیم ہو چکا ہے : ایک طرف  "اشرافیہ , لبرل طبقہ"   دوسری طرف "خاموش اکثریت" ؛ تیسری طرف "مذہبی  شدت پسند دہشت گرد اور ان کے ہمدرد". ایسے حالات میں ضروری ہے کہ کنفیوژن کو دور کیا جائے تاکہ اکثریت ایک نقطہ نظر پر متفق ہو  جائے. اور پھر تمام توانایوں کو مرکوز کرکہ عظیم مقاصد ، امن . خوشحالی . ترقی کی طرف رواں دواں ہوں. اگر ہم کچھ بنیادی سوالات کا جواب موجودہ تناظرمیں قرآن سنت کی  روشنی میں معلوم کر لیں. ان پر قومی مباحثہ ہو جس میں میڈیا ، دانشور ، مذہبی سکالرز علماء ، سیاسی مفکرین ، سول سوسائٹی ، فوجی ماہرین ،  قانون ، خارجہ امور کے ماہرین اور تمام دوسرے متعلقہ ماہرین  اور عوام حصہ لیں . پھر جس پر سب یا اکثریت متفق ہو ان پر پھر ڈٹ کرعمل کریں تو پاکستان ایک ترقی یافتہ باعزت ملک، قوم  بن سکتا ہے .... اس لنک پر کلک کریں :

http://pakistan-posts.blogspot.com/2013/11/pakistan-basic-issues-need-immediate.html
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Video response to Sacrilegious Anti Islam Film

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Let's Know this man: Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] Views of Non Muslim Scholars: https://www.facebook.com/v/480920318603784

A PRGMATIC RESPONSE- VIDEO:  Embed Code:
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Link:  www.facebook.com/v/505095522852930 Read more about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), slanders against him and rebuttals:

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! ویلےنٹائن ڈے اور اسلام Valentine's Day & YOU

During last few years, celebration of Valentine's Day has become a social and cultural phenomena among Muslim societies. People have found it to be an easy way to express love to their near and dear one's. They consider it to be a just social phenomena which has nothing to do with religion. The oldies and religious scholars are in habit of resisting every thing which is enjoyable. There is a need to look at this issue rationally. Enjoyments and pleasures are not forbidden in Islam, if they are with in bounds of morality. Allah says:

 قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّـهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبَادِهِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ ۚ قُلْ هِيَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا خَالِصَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣٢﴾ قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالْإِثْمَ وَالْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَأَن تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّـهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا وَأَن تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّـهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣٣﴾

Quran; 7:32-33

Say, `Who has forbidden the adornment of ALLAH which HE has produced for HIS servants and the good things of HIS providing?' Say, `They are for the believers in the present life and will be exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection.' Thus do WE explain the Signs for a people who have knowledge. Say: My Lord has only prohibited indecencies, those of them that are apparent as well as those that are concealed, and sin and rebellion without justice, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down any authority, and that you say against Allah what you do not know.

Valentine’s Day is a modified form of old Roman festival, which continued to be celebrated until after the Romans became Christian. This festival became connected with the saint known as Valentine who was sentenced to death on 14 February 270 CE. The non believers still celebrate this festival, during which immorality and evil are practised widely. It is not permissible for a Muslim to celebrate any of the festivals of the non believers, because festivals come under the heading of shar’i issues which are to be based on the sound texts.

ویلےنٹائن دن ایک jaahili رومن تہوار ہے، جس کے بعد رومیوں عیسائی بن گیا جب تک منایا جائے گا جاری رکھا ہے.یہ تہوار بن گیا ویلنٹائن جنہوں نے 14 فروری 270 عیسوی کو موت کی سزا سنائی گئی تھی کے طور پر جانا جاتا ہےسنت کے ساتھ منسلک ہے. کفار اب بھی اس تہوار کو منانے کے، جس کے دوران شر و فساد اور وسیع طور پر مشق کر رہے ہیں. اس جشن کے بارے میں مزید تفصیلات کے لیے براہ مہربانی ملاحظہ کریں: ویلےنٹائن دن منانے.
کفار کے تہواروں میں سے کسی کو منانے کے لئے ایک بھی مسلمان شخص کے لیے جائز نہیں ہے، کیونکہ تہوار شرعیمسائل جو آواز کی نصوص پر مبنی کیا جانا ہے کی سرخی کے تحت آتے ہیں.

اردو ویڈیو ویلےنٹائن ڈے اور اسلام: http://youtu.be/JgXOjAP5zZo

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Festivals are part of sharee’ah, clear way and rituals of which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way”

[Quran; al-Maa’idah 5:48]

“For every nation We have ordained religious ceremonies which they must follow”

[Quran: al-Hajj 22:67]

-- such as the qiblah (direction faced in prayer), prayer and fasting. There is no difference between their participating in the festival and their participating in all other rituals. Joining in fully with the festival is joining in with kufr, and joining in with some of its minor issues is joining in with some of the branches of kufr. Indeed, festivals are one of the most unique features that distinguish various religions and among their most prominent symbols, so joining in with them is joining in with the most characteristic and prominent symbols of kufr. No doubt joining in with this may lead to complete kufr.                                              

Partially joining in, at the very least, is disobedience and sin. This was indicated by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when he said: “Every people has its festival and this is our festival.” This is worse than joining them in wearing the zinaar (a garment that was worn only by ahl al-dhimmah) and other characteristics of theirs, for those characteristics are man-made and are not part of their religion, rather the purpose behind them is simply to distinguish between a Muslim and a kaafir. As for the festival and its rituals, this is part of the religion which is cursed along with its followers, so joining in with it is joining in with something that is a cause of incurring the wrath and punishment of Allaah. End quote from Iqtida’ al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem (1/207).

He also said (may Allaah have mercy on him): It is not permissible for the Muslims to imitate them in anything that is uniquely a part of their festivals, whether it be food, clothing, bathing, lighting fires, refraining from a regular habit, doing acts of worship or anything else. It is not permissible to give a feast or to give gifts, or to sell anything that will help them to do that for that purpose, or to allow children and others to play games that are part of the festivals, or to wear one’s adornments.

To conclude: the Mulsims should not do any of their rituals at the time of their festivals; rather the day of their festival should be like any other day for the Muslims. The Muslims should not do anything specific in imitation of them. End quote from Majmoo al-Fataawa (25/329).

Al-Haafiz al-Dhahabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: If the Christians have a festival, and the Jews have a festival, it is only for them, so no Muslim should join them in that, just as no Muslim should join them in their religion or their direction of prayer. End quote from Tashabbuh al-Khasees bi Ahl al-Khamees, published in Majallat al-Hikmah (4/193)

The hadeeth to which Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah referred was narrated by al-Bukhaari (952) and Muslim (892) from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) who said: Abu Bakr came in and there were two young girls of the Ansaar with me who were singing about what had happened to the Ansaar on the day of Bu’aath. She said: And they were not (professional) singing girls. Abu Bakr said: “Musical instruments of the shaytaan in the house of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)?!” and that was on the day of Eid. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “O Abu Bakr, every people has a festival and this is our festival.”

Abu Dawood (1134) narrated that Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah, they had two days when they would play. He said: “What are these two days?” They said: “We used to play on these days during the Jaahiliyyah.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah has given you instead of them two days that are better than them: the day of al-Adha and the day of al-Fitr.” This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

This indicates that festivals are among the characteristics by which nations are distinguished, and it is not permissible to celebrate the festivals of the ignorant and the mushrikeen (polytheists).

The scholars have issued fatwas stating that it is haraam to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

1 –Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:

In recent times the celebration of Valentine’s Day has become widespread, especially among female students. It is a Christian festival where people dress completely in red, including clothes and shoes, and they exchange red flowers. We hope that you can explain the ruling on celebrating this festival, and what your advice is to Muslims with regard to such matters; may Allaah bless you and take care of you.

He replied:

Celebrating Valentine’s Day is not permissible for a number of reasons.  

1-     It is an innovated festival for which there is no basis in Islam.


2-     It promotes love and infatuation.


3-     It calls for hearts to be preoccupied with foolish matters that are contrary to the way of the righteous salaf (may Allaah be pleased with them). 


It is not permissible on this day to do any of the things that are characteristic of this festival, whether that has to do with food, drinks, clothing, exchanging gifts or anything else. 


The Muslim should be proud of his religion and should not be a weak character who follows every Tom, Dick and Harry. I ask Allaah to protect the Muslims from all temptations, visible and invisible, and to protect us and guide us. 

End quote from Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (16/199)

2 – The Standing Committee was asked: Some people celebrate Valentine’s Day on the fourteenth of February every year. They exchange gifts of red roses and wear red clothes and congratulate one another. Some bakeries make red coloured sweets and draw hearts on them, and some stores advertise products that are especially for this day. What is your opinion on the following:

1-     Celebrating this day

2-     Buying things from the stores on this day

3-     Storekeepers who are not celebrating it selling things that may be given as gifts to people who are celebrating it?

They replied:

The clear evidence of the Qur’aan and Sunnah – and the consensus of the early generations of this ummah – indicates that there are only two festivals in Islam: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Any other festivals that have to do with a person, a group, an event or anything else are innovated festivals, which it is not permissible for Muslims to observe, approve of or express joy on those occasions, or to help others to celebrate them in any way, because that is transgressing the sacred limits of Allaah, and whoever transgresses the sacred limits of Allaah has wronged himself. If the fabricated festival is also a festival of the kuffaar, then the sin is even greater, because this is imitating them and it is a kind of taking them as close friends, and Allaah has forbidden the believers to imitate them and take them as close friends in His Holy Book. And it is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” Valentine’s Day comes under this heading because it is an idolatrous Christian festival, so it is not permissible for a Muslim who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to observe it or approve of it or congratulate people on it. Rather he has to ignore it and avoid it, in obedience to Allaah and His Messenger, and so as to keep away from the causes that incur the wrath and punishment of Allaah. It is also haraam for the Muslim to help people to celebrate this or any other haraam festival by supplying any kind of food or drink, or buying or selling or manufacturing or giving or advertising etc., because all of that is cooperating in sin and transgression and is disobedience towards Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment”

[al-Maa’idah 5:2]

The Muslim must adhere to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah in all his affairs, especially at times of fitnah when evil is widespread. He should be smart and avoid falling into the misguidance of those who have earned Allaah’s anger and who have gone astray, and the evildoers who have no fear of Allaah and who do not have any pride in being Muslims. The Muslim must turn to Allaah and seek His guidance and remain steadfast in following it, for there is no Guide except Allaah and no one can make a person steadfast but Him. And Allaah is the source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. End quote.

3 – Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (may Allaah preserve him) was asked:

Among our young men and women it has become common to celebrate Valentine’s Day, which is named after a saint who is venerated by the Christians, who celebrate it every year on February 14, when they exchange gifts and red roses, and they wear red clothes. What is the ruling on celebrating this day and exchanging gifts?

He replied:

Firstly: it is not permissible to celebrate these innovated festivals, because it is an innovation for which there is no basis in Islam. It comes under the heading of the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected.”

Secondly: it involves imitating the kuffaar and copying them by venerating that which they venerate and respecting their festivals and rituals, and imitating them in something that is part of their religion. In the hadeeth it says: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”

Thirdly: it results in evils and haraam things such as wasting time, singing, music, extravagance, unveiling, wanton display, men mixing with women, women appearing before men other than their mahrams, and other haraam things, or things that are a means that leads to immorality. That cannot be excused by the claim that this is a kind of entertainment and fun. The one who is sincere towards himself should keep away from sin and the means that lead to it.

And he said:

Based on this, it is not permissible to sell these gifts and roses, if it is known that the purchaser celebrates these festivals or will give these things as gifts on those days, so that the seller will not be a partner of the one who does those innovations. And Allaah knows best. End quote.

And Allaah knows best.

http://islamqa.info/en/ref/73007

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Hizb ut-Tahrir, A New Threat?

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THE arrest of Brig Ali Khan and four majors last month bring Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT) into the spotlight. Though HT did not confirm or deny their links with itself, its spokesman in Pakistan said in a recent interview that the idea of resonates with officers of the armed forces.

HT is an ideological group that falls somewhere between political Islamists and militant Islamists, and may also be classified as a kind of a revolutionary Islamist set-up. HT emphatically asserts that the only way to progress, prosperity and development is the implementation of Islam as an ideology in Pakistan, in fact the whole world.

In Pakistan, it has an anti-constitutional and anti-democratic outlook and agenda, and its narrative on militant and violent movements and groups in the country remains vague. This vagueness is a major hurdle in assessing the real threat the group can pose. Most analysts tend to watch madressahs and popular mass movements for signs of radicalisation. The danger with HT is ever more serious and often overlooked because it is not always visible and does not conform to stereotypes.

HT`s political discourse is based on religio-ideological narratives that are already in abundance in Pakistan and are one of the root causes of the main security threats posed to Pakistan`s state and society. HT can, in fact, give impetus to the theo-political polarisation in Pakistani society where space for any discourse other than the Islamist narrative has almost already disappeared. This is a threat in general, irrespective of which Islamist organisation or group is contributing to it; and HT is also a part of this threat augmentation.

HT claims to be a non-violent movement, but has been linked to a number of terrorist plots in Pakistan, including an attempt to assassinate former president Gen Pervez Musharraf. A report by the Pak Institute for Peace Studies, quoting an HT member, claimed that the group did not deny the involvement of HT members in some “violent activities” — such as the plot to assassinate Musharraf and the case of an army captain who faces court martial in Kotli, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on charges of planning a coup on HT`s behalf. khilafat khilafat

Some other factors also suggest that HT may pose potential threats to the security of the Pakistani state and society. Firstly, the frustrated youth associated with HT may get involved in terrorist activities; secondly, HT does not denounce such activities. Thirdly, HT does not discount the possibility of resort to violence via the military, in order to achieve the ultimate goal of establishing the state; it rather obliges it. Naveed Butt, HT spokesman in Pakistan, states that after the establishment of , part of the second phase will be to widen the borders of the state through offensive `jihad` or aggressive warfare. kufr khilafat. khilafat khilafat

At another level, the pursuit of a jihadist agenda cannot be ruled out in the case of HT. It believes that jihad and preaching will be used for “taking humanity out from the darkness of (infidelity) to the light of Islam” after the establishment of Perhaps HT has assumed a timeline for the establishment of their in Pakistan after which it plans to pursue a `jihad` to expand the boundaries of .

However, the question is, if things do not happen according to HT`s expectations, as the dominant discourse in Pakistan suggests, who can guarantee that the organisation, or its members at least, will not adopt the militant or jihadist discourse to achieve their primary objectives, especially when there are already some indications of their involvement in such activities. khilafat

Secondly, HT tries to influence the political leadership, mainly leaders of Islamist parties in Pakistan. It claims, as discussed earlier, that they do not have a clear agenda and that HT can provide them with a viable blueprint for the establishment of , or an `Islamic` revolution, that they are working towards.

Most Islamist organisations are traditionalists in their approach and work under the constitution of Pakistan. HT can lead the Islamists to a viewpoint that is characterised by opposition to the constitution. In other words, HT has the potential to compress the political and democratic space by guiding the Islamist parties and the citizens of Pakistan towards non-democratic and unconstitutional narratives of governance and state-functioning.

Thirdly, HT has been persistently targeting Pakistan Army officials for enlisting and the fact that it has the potential to augment the `Islamic revolution` niche occupied by some senior military officials cannot be ignored.

It is pertinent to mention that in two military coup plots unearthed in Pakistan HT was the prime suspect. A military court in Pakistan-administered Kashmir identified two military officers and two civilians in January 2010 as members of HT and charged them with planning to attack the Shamsi airbase in Balochistan. This facility is generally believed to be used as a base for US drones attacking targets in Pakistan`s tribal areas. The accused were also charged with transferring sensitive information to HT, which had also developed close links with Maj Gen Zaheer Abbasi, the main accused in the foiled military coup in 1995.

Fourthly, HT concentrates considerably on university students and those studying in professional institutions. The infiltration of these groups, especially with an anti-state and anti-constitutional agenda, runs the risk of putting more and more educated Pakistani youth on the path of radicalisation. According to Maajid Nawaz, a former member of HT, the radicalisation of this section of youth could have a poisonous effect on other segments of society, eventually making the core fabric of society prone to extremism because of its Islamist-guided polarisation.

HT certainly has the potential to polarise progress in Pakistan by injecting schismatic dogma into the very classes that Pakistan so desperately needs to progress.

"The Hizb ut-Tahrir threat" By Muhammad Amir Rana, is editor of the quarterly research journal Conflict and Peace Studies. mamirrana@yahoo.com

http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/11/the-hizb-ut-tahrir-threat.html

Peace-Forum منتدى السلام שלום פורום: Hizb-ut-Tahrir - Pakistan Jun 26, 2011 ... We trained inside Hizb-ut-Tahrir on how to give responses to journalists in a way that didn't make our cause look very sensationalist so ...

Peace-Forum منتدى السلام שלום פורום: Defeating the ideology of ... Jul 3, 2011 ... Though some analysts believe that the Hizb ut-Tahrir is not a terrorist outfit, its agenda is no less deadly. It is built around the ...

Hizb ut-Tahrir, A New Threat? http://t.co/eTp4tbL.

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