Adil Najam
It is not as if we do not have enough real problems in Pakistan to worry about. Why, then, do we keep inventing imaginary fights to worry about? Here are some Valentine’s Day pictures from Pakistan.
Adil Najam
It is not as if we do not have enough real problems in Pakistan to worry about. Why, then, do we keep inventing imaginary fights to worry about? Here are some Valentine’s Day pictures from Pakistan.
56 comments posted
Have Your Say (Bol, magar piyar say)
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Do these people even know what valentines day is… a day to express feelings of friendship and love… it an be to your spouse, your children, your mother… anyone… and so they are protesting because they think that friendship and fraternity are against Islam?
Gimme a break!
Happy Valentine’s Day, Pakistan.
May peace and love be in all of our futures!
Is anyone surprised? The Jamaat and other “religious” parties are doing exactly what polarizing entities do; these people do not have any ideas, they do not make any sincere efforts towards the betterment of people.
Most political parties, despite their many faults, are FOR something, whether it be philosophical or more concrete. However, these religious parties base their existence not on ideas they want to promote, but ideas they are AGAINST.
Why are they against something that probably gives many deserving, hard-working people more income?
Basant is not far away; expect a similar response then.
All four pictures are telling, but the first one most of all.
The lady at the back of teh motorycle wearing Valentine red (by coincidence or on purpose) and a poor guy making his livelihood selling baloons – A livelihood this ninjas are trying to destroy!
Happy Valentine Everyone.
the politics of extremist group does not have an ideology of “against” rather it has the ideology of “alienate and segregate”. these extremist group know that their politics will only run if they convince masses specially uneducated ppl, or middle class people, or hajee/tajir groups of pakistan that religion requires separating and segregating. To achieve this end they will invent they will leave no stone unturned….so they will provide new interpretations, give fatwas, invent new ahadees and sayings of sahabees that serve the purpose of alienation.
these extremist groups know that their power game is based on and thrives on an average pakistani, who will buy anything in the name of religion. they brainwash ppl not to question anything that is wrapped in islamic covering. they teach this world is to suffer, thus select a cave and live in it, and if u are a woman get dressed in a black grave called hajab and just focus on breeding. this is the whole proposition of life that they give to control and rule. It is a CULT producing brainedwashed sociopaths who ask you on every breath u take”"”bahiyoom kya yai islamic hai”….”khuda hidayat dai..yai islami naheen”…..”kya yai aik muslmaan ko zaib daitaa hai, zara socho or khuda sai dro”?
this line of thinking leaves no room for open mind, integration with others…and thus creates a xenophobic breed whose /existence/purity/spirituality/disease is corrupted by merely saying happy x-mas, or buying a valentines day card or any little imbecile thing which any modern normal person will need to do in todays diverse, multi cultural, multi lingual world.
its ironic that this CULT is using the very modern technology of internet to serve its purpose. This cult will tell u dont learn english cause it is a language of kufaar (i saw this article on face book and this saying is ascribed to hazratai umer) but ironically it will write the article in english on facebook (a platform of kufaars) to propgate these thoughts. medicore brain ppl will happily post this on their status – which by the way will be in urdu but written in roman letters. this way a medicore pakistani person will be servng the cause of religion,
This cult wants to breed an alienated, segregated, breed of humans…who would overtime will turn into vicious specie just like certain animals who are bred in isolation, and who thus would attack on a mere sound of any other living being. a vicious, dangerous, fighting breed of watchdogs…whose only purpose is to safeguard the dangerous politics of religious fanaticism…..nothing new….world has seen this before.
It is ridiculous how someone can think that the stupidity of valentine’s day is trivial, or even noble (according to the comment about creating jobs and celebrating love??!!). I think that the public is mindless both in the promotion and acceptance of something as pathetic as valentines day, and in the misguided religious fervor directed at suppressing it.
Sorry Adil, I have to disagree with you on this one. This is crucial battle for us that we must fight just as we must fight to protect our national integrity and economic freedom.
Whereas life and liberty are paramount principle on which societies must be built, what is going on here is blind following of Western culture. This is very much reflection of western colonialization- in action.
In any case, I do not support growning Western cultural influence. We must be proud of our cultural values.
However, I disagree with the manner in which growing influence of western culture is opposed by religious parties. These religious parties are no friend of culture or beautiful expression.
What must be done is to revive and energize our culture. Next question would be what exactly is our culture? What are the parameters that we will adhere.
How did the people before us built beautiful culture yet keeping religious sensitivities intact.
I don’t find Valentine’s day to be interesting or important and I also deplore the shallow following of all western cultures, but I would hope that my own culture and my cultural roots are strong enough that unlike these mullahs and ninjas I am not threatened by whether someone gives flowers and chocolate to someone else or not.
I pity these people whose faith is so shallow that they find threats in everything!
Story worth seeing and reading: http://tinyurl.com/yjmf2jn
Pakistan love braves bombs for Valentine’s
By Lehaz Ali (AFP)
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Hip young romantics in Pakistan’s most dangerous city are splashing out on text messages and teddy bears, defying Taliban bombers and conservative parents to find love this Valentine’s Day.
It’s taken four years and the prospect of never seeing her again, for Mohammad Asif to pluck up the courage to approach the object of his affections, a fellow engineering student in northwest city Peshawar.
Destined to graduate and look for a job in a city where bomb attacks have closed businesses and emptied markets, Asif realises it’s now or never.
“After four years of studies, my classmates are dispersing and I finally want to express my love for a girl I’ve liked for the past four years, but never said anything,” gushes the 21-year-old.
“I’ve bought a card and chocolates to give her, so she knows that I love her. This is the day to disclose your hidden feelings,” he said.
For Shama Aamir, who bought scent, chocolates and a love heart for her husband, Valentine’s Day is a ray of sunshine in a miserable life.
“Some people cannot express their love and Valentine’s Day provides them a good opportunity. It’s a positive thing in this gloomy atmosphere and bombings,” the 32-year-old told AFP.
Retailers only wish there were more people like her. Nasir Ahmed, who owns a gift shop in Peshawar’s Sadar bazaar, says Valentine sales are down 30 percent this year because of unrest and inflation.
Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked bombings, which have killed more than 3,000 people in Pakistan within three years, surged late last year, much of it focused around Peshawar and northwest Pakistan.
Morale has suffered among the city’s 2.5 million residents. Checkpoints have mushroomed. Many struggle to make ends meet and cloister themselves at home, frightened of becoming the bombers’ next victim.
“Sales have plummeted by at least 30 percent this year. People are scared of going shopping and purchasing power has been severely dented by back-breaking inflation,” Ahmed told AFP.
“Most of my customers are young people buying cards, chocolates, love hearts and teddy bears for their beloveds.”
Peshawar is a conservative Muslim city, where many disapprove of Valentine’s Day as a Western import. Women are veiled and few girls go out alone.
Valentine’s Day is the preserve of the young, educated and wealthy. Secret trysts are a dream, even more difficult on Sundays, when schools are closed.
“There will be a lot of problems and difficulties for boys to take girls out as it will be a holiday… so please celebrate Valentine’s Day on Monday,” said the “Love Guru” in a text message pinged through Peshawar and other cities.
But for young lovers with strict parents there can never be chocolates, roses or candlelit dinners as enjoyed by contemporaries in the West.
Kashmala Qasim fell in love with someone she met when displaced by fighting between the army and Taliban last year. Now at home with her family in the Swat valley, far from Peshawar, a text message is her only Valetine’s hope.
“It’s impossible for me to go to Peshawar. I tried my best but it is impossible to meet him. So the only way I have is my mobile. I’ll send him wishes by SMS,” she told AFP by telephone from Swat.
But Aftab Ahmed, a 30-year-old civil servant, claimed to be among those bombarding networks with furious text messages condemning Valentine’s Day as an offence to local culture.
“Valentine’s day is un-Islamic and against our culture and values… I’ve sent more than 1,000 text messages to various people,” Ahmed claimed.
“Say no to Valentine’s. Spread modest culture. Modesty Day, 14 February 2010,” said another text message received by mobile phone users.
Haji Zar Khan, spokesman for militant group Lashkar-e-Islam, currently subject to Pakistani military operations near Peshawar, was unaware of the significance of the day — until he was filled in by an AFP journalist.
“Through you we send this message to all Peshawar — people should refrain from celebrating Valentine’s Day otherwise they’ll be responsible for the consequences,” Khan told AFP.
The picture of the girl should be blurred even if she does not have brothers to follow the cameraman (if it was without permission…….which seems to be the case).
Why can’t we grow up and be tolerant? Let those who want to exchange flowers be and those who want to express in others ways be.
What gives us the right to impose our will on others?
Adil Sahab, You’re a one smart fellow.
This three line post with four pictures is a good example of how gullible We, the people, are.
Jeo aur Jeenay dou!
How stupid. Do these so-called Islamic activists have nothing better to do than condemn the sales of flowers and balloons? I didn’t see any mobilization following the Karachi Ashura and Chehlum attacks. Why didn’t they make placards decrying those?
HAHAHAHAHHAA
You know at the end of all this, we have to admit. One can only find such awesome protests in Pakistan. We are professionals in the protest category…very few ppl have the same kind of diversity and regularity of protests that we do.
Oh and just for the record…I think V.day is a bit of a sham. Forgive me for sounding cliche: but most ppl’s already distorted idea of love is further restricted to buying ballons, chocolates and wearing red.
I didn’t do anything on V-day…just spent the day before it with some terrific friends….:D
@JJ loving your comment man. These Islamic activists have nothing else to do but seclude Pakistan from rest of the world. Under those veils I say are some shady women being funded by extremists. This article in THE NEWS ‘Plea to progress’ Sat feb 13 by Aniq Zafar reads how due to these people Pakistan economic position has SHOOK! These people should be punished!! CRAZY they are!
Live and let live!
God bless Pakistan
Hi !
Those who are supporting this event and saying this is about love and peace and advocating it can tell who was “valentine” ? what is the history behind this so called happy ceremony and how it is relate to us as pakistaniat ? if it is so worthy of enjoying why it was not celebrated 20 years ago. who want to allow to participate their family teenagers in this memorable event ?
Those who are supporting this so called love and peace day as per wiki pedia
“Saint Valentine’s Day (commonly shortened to Valentine’s Day) is an annual holiday held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companionsThe holiday is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in AD 496. ”
How come this relates to our culture or society. How many of us are ready to allow our family teen ager in this activity of love and peace ???? As said this love expression can be between family memebers I have never seen celebrating any one in this spirit.
Keeping the tradition of binding two cities in the bandhan of Twin cities to promote love and tourism, Shev sena and Jamat-e-Islami today announced themselves as twin organizations. Both will promote inter parties conferences of how to promote u know what. In the everlasting spirit of friendship, Munawwar hasan will head the anti valentine protest next year in Mumbai and Bal Thackaray will do the same in Karachi.
Fazlur rehman strongly objected to shive sena choice of choosing jamaat. however it is being said that he is in close contacts with RSS.
Just annountned in the famous new channel MARO
As muslims, we should not blindly follow other cultures. How can it help Pakistan make progress? The valentines day and many other events like Basant and Holloween have nothing to do with progress.
I agree with Shahid and these Jamati women. We should not follow outside ideas and culture about friendship and love and giving gifts and being happy. Like the women in the picture we should follow our own culture of burning and klling and protesting and shouting and telling everyone else that they are going to hell!
why every one is criticizing there protest. they are using their right of ” freedom of expression”. What they think they demonstrated. Even if the sentimental puppies of Zardari can protest on his recent adventure then why they don’t??
lets us agree to disagree,must have patience to accept others views.Its essence of democracy.(if its working in Pakistan)
Some comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
- “we are such an intolerable bunch!”
- “Why Pakistanis have to wage a war for everything under the sky???”
- “Coz in pakistan… many things r out of their shapes… this happens when culture of east mixes with west.”
- “Happy Valentine Day! Clerics create conflicts to bring cleavages and establish their territories of influence. This is their power politics for ‘social and political space’. They are good in using religion for gains.”
- “arnt you a Pakistani as well? just bcoz u dont live in Pakistan doesnt give you the authority to comment on Pakistanis as some aliens living on a different planet. Own yourself fgs. and yes valenstupidtine does not hold a place in our society..and should be discouraged on every level.”
- “INwestrn culturethay love onlyone day in a year. but we dont need to celebrate it ,bz we love allyear…..our whole life……….we love,to …………every one..who r very close to us….”
- “hahahahah LOLx, Goodi Good (N.M)”
- “Nothing Problem in Valentine or Love day ……………. Do love but in Legitimate way. Love your Parents, Siblings, Wife. But why doing Haram act in the name of Love ? All know what is usage of this day in our society. Go to any Park and see.”
- “Sooraj Hamen Har Shaam Yehi Dars Deta Hay
Maghrib Ki Taraf Jaogay To Doob Jaogay.”
- “Firstly, being a thinking human gives me the authority/privilege to comment on anything and it has nothing to do with my being a pakistani living outside of it. Secondly, its never too late to step back a moment in life and take a look at our mistakes. Its not a matter of a day like valentines to be celebrated or not, its our intolerance of the difference. And lastly, I think muslims should celebrate the day as it is the epitome of what our religion is all about: love and peace. Leave somethings for God to judge.”
- “celebrate love but with ur loved once woth crosiing limits of our religion or culture. GF ya BF 7 celebration allow nhi per family members k 7 jao, koun mana karta h”
- “Valentine is Haram!!!”
- “not valentine is haram…valentine’s day is haram…”JO MAZHAB KISI AUR MAZHAB KE SATH MUSHAHBAT RAKHE GA(RESEMBLANCE OR SIMILARITY)USKO USSI MAZHAB KE SAATH UTHAYA JAYEGA”(Hadees)….(@_@)”
- “YA THOSE “NINJA TURTULES” HOLDING DA PLAY CARD ARE BUNCH OV AMUSMENT ………….”
- “our youth is taking valentine in wrong sence,,,,,,,(BOY TO GIRL,,girl to bor,,,,)celebrate it 4 ur father,,sis,,,bro,,mother,,grand maa,,grand paa,,,,,,”
- “THESE SO CALLED MUSLIM SCHOLARS WANT US TO STOP SMILING ,CHEERING UP AND ENJOYING SOME BEARDED MULLAH ALONG WID NINJA LADIES COME ON DA ROAD AND DO STUFF LIKE THIS????………………..I HAVE TO GO IN MY OWN “QABAR” WHO ARE THAY TO STOP ME …..OR ANY ONE ELSE …………”
- “i agree with u in some manner but its______[?] as i mention above…”
- “YAAR V HAVE CREATED ENUF MESS IN OUR COUNTRY AND SOCIETY USING THESE INTOLERABLE METHODS OF IMPOSING ISLAM……………TRY TO CONVINCE RATHER THAN CONDEMN AND FORCING……………………KHAIR THINGS ARE NOT GONA CHANGE AS I SAY…………..BUH I CAN HOPE…..”
- “make me understand how this is Haram? Disclaimer: for all, ever so ‘quick to judge’ Pakis that im neither the celebrator nor this day bothers me!”
- “read again what ever i mentioned….i wrote a Hadees…now u want anything else more than this…”
- “ye hai pakistan”
- “m 2″
- “what do u thin, is it Islam to take ur GF to a date??? don’t change Islam to your wishes. our religion has defined some curbs which must a binding upon all of us. it is not allowed in Islam that boys and girls are going on date and doing rubbish there. so, think before u act. u must have enough information before u give any FATWA”
- “and for this “I HAVE TO GO IN MY OWN “QABAR” WHO ARE THAY TO STOP ME …..OR ANY ONE ELSE …………”: Mr, it is an ayat of Quran “Wa Amaru Bil Marufi Wanahau Anil Munkar” whish translates as “Neki ka Hukum Dou aur Burai se Roko”. so Mr, i hope u have understood why they are those Daughters of Ummah, u r calling ‘Ninja Turtles’, are asking u to adopt the right path”
- “its true..”
- “yeh tou aik bahana hai get together ka, its not abt to hurt some ones feelings….. jis ko jo karna hai woh kare sab ko apni qabar main jana hai …..”
- “”
LOL! @ Asma That was funny.
What the hell was she wearing??
I was asked by a friend who just saw a woman wrapped in a black burqa walking ten feet behind her fellow man.
(Since I am little bit familiar with this culture)
Listen buddy I said, I am equally shocked and amused at the sametime when I see a very little shorts (I would not describe more, since its a family site)
This is the only dominance they have, I continued.
Its like a control, somewhat like a Revenge of the ninjas.
We can see you but you cant see us.
Happy judges day.
@Asma: What do you mean by “outside culture”? We do not live in the 7th century anymore and we should not try to live in that century either. The world is not “mine and yours” anymore. We are a melting pot. Everything fits in its place. We cannot be rigid and not express our feelings through other cultures specially when your own culture does not any dedicated day to express love and affection. The Indian Sub Continent is a mixture of several different cultures including British.
Also remember, culture is different than religion. If someone defies religion and drink or eat pork etc., are not along the same lines of showing affection on February 14th or wishing New Year on January 1st. I work in USA. I am the only muslim in my deparment yet in the month of Ramadan, they fast with me. They may not follow the rules to the dot but they atleast try to respect the fact that I am fasting and they decide not to eat also. It benefits them in several ways. First, it saves them $10 a day for 22 days. Second most of them lose weight. Their intention may not be the same as mine when we all fast but the fact that they understand “other” cultures and religions and respect it makes me proud of them.
No other country needs valentines day more than Pakistan right now. It may have a Catholic history but it makes me feel good when I bring flowers and gifts to my wife, kids and parents. It makes me feel good that I can take time out of my busy life and acknowledge that I am what I am today because of the ones I am loved by and vice versa.
So grow up Pakistanis. Valentines day has been celebrated in Pakistan for years and years and no protests were held until recently. Do yo use a trend?
@Aziz
If they did fast with you or anyone follows Islamic rules, these will help anyone because in Islam nothing is useless and harmful.
But let’s see if I have Hindu or some other religion friends and I am working with them to show them sincerity and to gain their trust in me Should I go to worship their idols? Of course I will NOT do that? Should I also eat Pork with amricans or westerners if I am living in Europe becuase they fast when I fast? NEVER.
Becuase I have my values, rules and most of all I have my identity which I know and I must trust that they are the best in the universe. I will stick with them.
Valentine was a Jew who gave an idea of sex b/w man and women without marriage, he was hanged or whatever on 14th Feb and I and also MUSLIMS MUST NOT be his followers by celebrating his day [full stop]
And anyway our MEN in Pakistan are all becoming girls and try to become at least. For our youth now money and love are the only things left in the world.
IN the picture above I salute to those sensible GIRLS who are doing a little but at least doing something and making statements! A right statement. Valentine is not our day to celebrate
Ali,
Please read my post one more time…and then tell me if what I said is same as what you said about pork and alcohol or not?
Now that we have cleared that, read my post again and see what I said about difference between culture and religion. Religion is something that you follow. Culture is something that evolves with you. I follow my religion at my office. My co-workers follow the office culture by fasting along with me. We do it for different reasons. For them, it is a culture without any religious element in it. For me, its religion.
I never talked about worshiping idols. I am merely talking about difference between religion and culture and sooner we, Pakistanis, understand that the better it will be for our country.
Whatever the history of Valentine maybe, today it is used to express your love for significant people in your life. Love could be sex and only sex for one person and true expression of feelings for someone else. It depends on you choosing the radical meaning or a liberal one. THAT…my friend, is the exact problem we have. We believe more in radical thinking than liberal.
Indian Taliban (a.k.a. Shiv Sena) and Pakistani Taliban agree on one thing:
They both are against Valentine Day.
Happy Valentine Day (belated)
Just a little history:
Valentine’s Day is named after early Christian martyr named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in AD 496.
The sending of Valentines cards and gifts was a fashion in nineteenth-century Great Britain, and Esther Howland developed a successful business in her Worcester, Massachusetts home with hand-made Valentine cards to follow the British custom in the year 1847.
good luck.
Some comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
- “Wah bhai wah. So, valentine’s day and friendship and goodwill is “Haram” and burning property and shouting and abusing and blowing yourself up and killing innocent people is “bayas-i-sawaab”…. wah bhai wah… ajab eeman hai aap logouN ka!”
- “The whole GF and BF nonsense is here because most people on facebook are frustrated, which why so many men are posing as girls and all that…”
- “Look at that second photo… you really think these who ladies are getting flowers for their BFs…. sharam karo logou, you are just imposing your own frustrations on others.”
- “who is saying that it is bayis sawab to burn the property of people, blowing yourself up etc? No one has done so. Why u r summarizing this discussion with ur wishes? Ofcourse it is not allowed to kill innocents etc but it is also not allowed to take ur girl friend to date and other rubbish like this. Mr, Islam is a code of life. It gives u the instructions for the every second of ur life u spend in this world.”
- “it is not hidden what our youth do this day. The parks become dating places, girls and boys are expressing their love for eachother. What is this? Is it Islam? Ye aap ki kham khayali hai, aesa Islam apne pas hi rakhiye tou behtar hoga”
- “Why can’t we just leave it to the One who is supposed to know?? Islamic lit is full of incidents when God forgave ppl who were mighty sinners in the ordinary sense of the term. God also said that actions depend on intentions and religion is a very personal affair. Its between that person and God. If you dont like it, dont do it. But don’t give fatwahs abt it. You dont have the authority which resides with God only. And I hope you all know that all the things you are attaching with this specific day happen in pak and around the world regardless of valentine’s day..”
- “Its cultural, nothing to do with Islam, and culture changes with time. So people, please stop dictating your personal interpretation of Islam on the rest of us. Let each one of us deal with our religion as we see fit. After all we are individually answerable in the hereafter so allow us this liberty here too, which is our right.. ”
- “god has forgiven mighty sinners but that doesn’t mean that we start comitting sins keeping this in mind that the god who has forgiven mighty sinners, why wouldn’t forgive us. This we should think when mistakenly or due to ignorance, we have comitted any sin and want to repent. Religion is a personal affair but there are various Ayats and Ahadith which command us eradicate the evil and spread the goodness. There are many commandments about preaching. That’s what i and others are trying to do!”
- “And also, even if the things we are attaching to this happens regardless of valentines day, who is stopping u to eradicate these evil activities in normal days. Since the day is specific, our objections here are also specifically for this day. Look at the history of this, should we celebrate it? Does islam allows us to indulge in obscenity or dating? No never”
- “though we are individually answerable, but we will also be asked there what we have done to wipe out the evil from society and bringing the ignorant to the right path. It was therefore, that the prophet(pbuh) started preaching people, he could also sit in home thinking i am individually answerable to my god but he was ordered to eradicate evil from society and spread the message of Allah. Hence, as to follow our beloved Allah and his messenger(pbuh), we should also do what he did.”
- “I reminded you of the ultimate power of God who can forgive, and has forgiven those who never repented and consciously committed sins. And if you want to eradicate evil, do it, stop it but I am against your judging ppl and their intensions which you don’t know, no matter how wrong they appear to you. And btw there is a difference between teaching which our prophet(pbuh) did and forcing your point and terming every other thing haram which you are doing.”
- “sorry to see that Shiv Sena and RSS has so many followers in Paksitan. They also think that Valentine is haram and are burning things to protest against Valentines Day. I guess at the end of teh day there is not much difference between Taliban supporters this side of the border and Shiv Sena wallas on that side!”
WoW these Mulani’s and Mullahs have opened my eyes. I cannot follow western ways anymore. I am logging off the internet and destroying anything western from now on.
Wait hold on… I think that means I have to start living in a cave with a flame light. DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
sorry I think that I am too westernized I even think like Homer Simpson. :)
how western of them . They are showing off their bare hands!!!!!!
Where is the taliban police!!!!!
time for a whip and these niqab wali deserve it.
Since this “Valentine War” is not of any importance, I would call this a useless blog entry. It is not as if we do not have enough real problems in Pakistan to WRITE about. Why, then, do we keep WRITING about USELESS fights?
Won’t this war stop itself, if we stop projecting media exposure on it? Believe me, if media don’t cover anti-valentine-day rallies, there won’t be even a single. Why do we lure political parties to come on roads holding anti-valentine-day cards, by giving Extra- Importance to Valentines day?
If any body wants to celebrate, it’s his choice. If you don’t like it ignore it. Similarly, if anyone is not interested in valentine, why we oppose him?
Alas, we all are hypocrites and racists.
@lidaliqa. Lolz good one lida. Crazy extremist people. Prolly don’t even know the translation of the Holy book. They pretend to be the best muslims and have so much of damn empty time on their hands that they waste time on such issues which don’t even concern them.
Such protests are absurd and distasteful, celebrating valentines or basant are more of an individual preference and it should be kept that way, we need to focus upon issues that need stronger public attention and supports such as the war against extremism
Ali said: Valentine was a Jew who gave an idea of sex b/w man and women without marriage, he was hanged or whatever on 14th Feb and I and also MUSLIMS MUST NOT be his followers by celebrating his day [full stop]
Oops. Mr. Mullah would you attend a few history lectures before opening your precious mouth?
I personally don’t care about this or that day unless I am already acquainted with it.
Valentine’s day does have serious roots in Christianity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine‘s_day. For those Muslims who hold tight to their religion, it does make sense to oppose this cultural import as it not only has roots in a religion that has been declared out-of-date in Islam (which strongly prohibits imitating non-Muslims), but it also brings impurities with it such as mingling of opposite sex in a not so un-passionate manner. But of course (it is quite evident from all the earlier comments) that the majority of Pakistaniat readers don’t appear to fall in that category of Muslims.
Thank you to Mr. Waqar and other Shiv Sena sympathizers for propogating the RSS and Shiv Sena version of what is “their” culture.
My religion and my culture is strong enough not to be threatened by a box of chocolate!
According to Chhipa welfare Org.
Number of newborn killed and thrown in trash is around 2 dozens each month in Karachi alone.
Oh yea, btw, Happy Valentine’s .
ciao.
@Wasim
>>My religion and my culture is strong enough not to be >threatened by a box of chocolate!
Your religion may be, but i am sure a newborn is not.
We are a melting pot. Everything fits in its place. We cannot be rigid and not express our feelings
Aziz is sounding like a “Madhosh Mehboba” who is ready to get melted in the arms of her love. ;)
Aziz,fine that we re melting pot but why this melting only going to take place at our end? Why not the other side is getting melted. Why do we have to get melted in others arms? Where on earth it’s written that we always have to import others ideas and cultures? you curse others to live in ancient centuries. I think people like you still are not being able to come out of British Raj when several “desi angrez” happily become slaves of GOra and earned medals and what not at the cost of so called honor and respect.
No one,so called literate and progressive class of Pakistan is actually the residue of Western society.
i wanna share a excerpt ;
“in PAKISTAN,this 14th feb day has come to mean getting dressed in red,valentine cards,hearts and chocolates…..Through these ‘APPARENTLY INNOCENT’ things and gestures the occasion promotes the culture of free sex and male-female relations…….The question that comes to mind is why we should celebrate valentine’s day?Is it our National day or religious 1 ?
are we only like cattle following others(Saint valentine/cupid’virtually naked God of love’) without knowing WHY,without understanding?
If we love ALLAH ,how can we celebrate pagan custom when our LORD abhors paganism more than anything else? ”
i know it would be hard for some to absorb and digest this (initially i didnt like it but its reality why we celebrate valentine?no logical reasoning …n i am not claiming i m a good MUSLIM , certainly i m not but i do need satisfactory answers in favour of celebrating valentine)
Afreen is right. We should not do pagan things. Anyone who uses a computer (a haram pagan invention) is not a muslim, of course. Because if our religion wanted us to use computers Allah would certainly have given his mahboob Prophet (PBUH) a computer. Don’t tell me that you think Allah could not have given us a computer 1400 years ago. If He did not, it obviously means that Allah did not want us to use it. Anyone using it is pagan and should go to a cave and fight with Taliban to clean their soul.
Janaab “Afreen” afreen hai aap pay!
Yeh “free sex” kahan milta hai Valentine day pay. Humain bhi batain? Ya yeh aap kay frustrated zehn ki eejad hai sirf!
And as for “male-female” relations. They is basic human aspect and even the Quran encourages it through nikah and marraige.
All the problems with Valentine’s day are in your head.
ummm….can someone please explain why some people have to squeeze religion in every aspect of their (and others) lives?
I bet God says “What a pathetic fool!” whenever He sees someone not enjoying the life He gave.
‘“male-female” relations. They is basic human aspect and even the Quran encourages it through nikah and marraige. ‘
well sis then better to arrange wedding ceremonies on 14 feb rather than organizing dates or ball rooms…..
‘Anyone who uses a computer (a haram pagan invention) is not a muslim, of course’
……bro try to bring a logical reasoning :) why dont you adopt healthy things from others…like having tolerance , honesty , cleanliness etc why to adopt superficial cheap things…?sorry to say you have brought the same ..(illogical) reasoning like TALIBANS present for suicidal attacks and their self created SHARIAH…
and kindly re-look what i said n meant….you must havent , most probably thats why you read and interpret my name as afreen ….its ARFEEN….
People like Muhammad Waseem always amaze me and support my point of view that Pakistan is not ‘blessed’ with illiterate molvis only but there’s abundance of “parhay likhay jahil” as well who often goes silly just to prove themselves “smart” while in reality they become a reason of laughing for others when they show ignorance about the thing which they want to discuss.
Bhai wasim,apna first name ki he laj rakhlo. I don’t know whether computer is haram or not but I am sure that it’s not “Haram” to use brain once in a while. Trust me it’s not haram at all. Aap k pir o Murshid St.Valentine ki Qasam
@Humaira aap bhi kam kamaal ki nahin hay. Are you saying that everyone in a pair who *have fun* on V-day or any other day are “husband and wife”. Just wondering!
And here I thought that it was only the Shiv Sena fanatics who had problems with the Valentine’s day; was I ever wrong.
May be its eating the masala everyday that makes people hyper so quickly.
Todays is my day off and I will be taking a ferry with my “Jewish friend” (who I danced and worn a yamaka with in a wedding party) to a small Island for “hiking” and “birds watching” My favourite is a red tail hawk. That reminds me of the beautiful birds of Islamabad, when they are not caged and tortured.
http://www.nationalbirdday.com/popups/2010poster_photo.php
I have been waiting for the sun to come out and I realised you cannot become a girl, girls have ovaries.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFbDhbl3QPY
Happy Birdsday
We as a subculture enjoy lots of prominent days and events of a dominant culture say, New Year Day (Gregorian calander), Christmas, Halloween, etc etc
now ,Valentine’s day celeberation is another addition to follow by force or by the infectious – cultural influence of the dominant culture, washing your hand is not the resolve or hiding in the qurentine cube is a temporary care. So be a dominant or be dominated by……..
C):-)+ (I:{=
a dominant culture is one that is able, through economic or political power, to impose its values, language, and ways of behaving on a subordinate culture or cultures. This may be achieved through legal or political suppression of other sets of values and patterns of behaviour, or by monopolizing the media of communication”. (Encyclopedia.com)
I am not against Valentines Day. Nor do i support it for me it is a just a harmless invention of card companies which bring no harm to you if you just choose to ignore it.
I am prompted to write this after reading a comment made by M. Wasim. I cant quite comprehend that anyone can be so illogical. Infact even if you put logic aside can you please tell me which pagan inventions should we avoid. Just to name a few what about cars, air conditioners, cell phones, fridges etc etc.
West culture…just leave it…
@Mohammed Wasim
very funny indeed..what you wanna say that Islam and its teaching is not compatible with contemporary century.
using a computer and celebrating valentine is entirely different things.computer is a neutral technology and its upto you how you use that.
and you forget its Muslims who monopolized in the field of science in those centuries when they were strongly following the teachings of Quran and sunnah.
Yep! After viewing the illustrations i noticed that our religon and than culture not allow to adapt such accustoms revolved around in Western!
Stupid extremist. Where in the quran does it say you cannot celebrate Valentines day?