Saint Valentine and today's Muslims
Valentine's day. A day on which a couple show their outward affection for each other through gifts and other acts of devtion. It may involve flowers and even chocolate. Isn't this the height of western decadence mixed with fairytale Hollywood romance?
Surely this is something that all Muslims should stay away from Or should they?
If you look at the underlying message of Saint Valentine, who was Christian, the message is not one of romance, decadence or fairytales. It is a simple tale of marriage.
Saint Valentine conducted marriage ceremonies for individuals who wanted to get married but for whatever reason wanted to get married, religion allowed but but for whatever reason they couldn't (including reasons of societal taboo).
The Muslim origins of Valentine’s Day
There once was a village in Muslimistan, where a young boy called Wali Nuteen lived. He was a kind, fun-loving adventurous boy, who was Sunni, practicing, tall, with a fair complexion, steady job and a healthy respect for Shia people, without appearing dogmatic. In fact, just the kind of description any Muslim lady scouring adverts on Muslim matrimonial sites would be happy with.
One day, Wali was walking along the main street of his village when he spied a beautiful lady. In an instant, he fell in love. The girl was called Begum; she was from a rival tribe. She was 23 years his senior, and already married. But he still, Walis love for Begum knew no bounds.
Usually, someone like Wali would be smacked silly at the very least by Begum’s husband, or by Begum’s family or more likely, by both. However, Wali was known as being an eccentric boy and decent if not very bright sort, so they didn’t kill him. Wali didn’t do much about his love either, just quietly waited for the right time.
Many years later, news reached Walis village that Begum’s husband had tragically chocked on his miswaak. Begum was distraught and her children fatherless. Wali, being the insensitive, selfish chap that people in love usually are, thought he had found his chance. Begum’s father, who was now 76, met with Wali.
“Your only chance with my daughter is if you can kiss your elbow”
For the next few days Wali wandered between his village and Begums village, vainly trying to kiss his elbows. At last, he couldn’t take it anymore. With the assistance of a local blacksmith, Wali dislocated both shoulders, and kissed both his elbows. Triumphant, he staggered to Begums house.
However the awkward angle of his drooping arms, along with the screams of pain, looked like an insult to Begum’s father. He promptly shot Wali through the heart. Begum did not know any of this as she was on a recuperative trip to the seaside. Begum’s father was a very very clever man.
The locals used this story to warn children about love, and the story became ‘Wali Nuteen Day’, which after visits by Crusaders, and many years of retelling, became ‘Valentine’s Day’. The moral, dear readers, is this:
Do not dislocate both your shoulders to kiss your elbows on Valentine’s Day, or any other day for that matter
Read more @ Mr Moo
Ban on Valentine's Day cards at school
A primary school in Weston-super-Mare has been criticised for banning Valentine cards to save pupils the "emotional trauma" of being rejected.
Children at Ashcombe Primary School were stopped from exchanging cards because the head teacher said they were not emotionally mature enough to cope.
Peter Turner told parents of the 430 pupils that cards would be confiscated.
One pupil's mother said: "I think it's outrageous. They're just children. Why spoil their fun?"
The woman, whose son attends the school, said: "It's comical really. I couldn't believe it when I saw the newsletter.
"My son is six and he's had a little girlfriend since nursery. They say they're going to get married, but we don't read anything into it."
Mr Turner said in the newsletter that children get upset when they are "dumped" which interrupts their learning.
Read more @ BBC News
