Wish they'd do that here
As Salaam Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/me...ine/index.htmlCNN) -- Saudi Arabia has asked florists and gift shops to remove all red items until after Valentine's Day, calling the celebration of such a holiday a sin, local media reported Monday.
With a ban on red gift items over Valentine's Day in Saudi Arabia, a black market in red roses has flowered.
"As Muslims we shouldn't celebrate a non-Muslim celebration, especially this one that encourages immoral relations between unmarried men and women, " Sheikh Khaled Al-Dossari, a scholar in Islamic studies, told the Saudi Gazette, an English-language newspaper.
Every year, officials with the conservative Muslim kingdom's Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice clamp down on shops a few days before February 14, instructing them to remove red roses, red wrapping paper, gift boxes and teddy bears. On the eve of the holiday, they raid stores and seize symbols of love.
The virtue and vice squad is a police force of several thousand charged with, among other things, enforcing dress codes and segregating the sexes. Saudi Arabia, which follows a strict interpretation of Islam called Wahh abism, punishes unrelated women and men who mingle in public.
Ahmed Al-Omran, a university student in Riyadh, told CNN that the government decision will give the international media another reason to make fun of the Saudis "but I think that we got used to that by now."
"I think what they are doing is ridiculous," said Al-Omran, who maintains the blog 'Saudi Jeans.' "What the conservatives in this country need to learn is something called 'tolerance.' If they don't see the permissibility of celebrating such an occasion, then fine -- they should not celebrate it. But they have to know they have no right to impose their point of view on others."
Because of the ban on red roses, a black market has flowered ahead of Valentine's Day. Roses that normally go for five Saudi riyal ($1.30) fetch up to 30 riyal ($8) on February 14, the Saudi Gazette said.
"Sometimes we deliver the bouquets in the middle of the night or early morning, to avoid suspicion," one florist told the paper.
Saudi Arabia has often come under criticism for its treatment of women, most recently in a United Nations report that blasted the kingdom for widespread discrimination. Under Saudi law, women are subject to numerous restrictions, including a prohibition against driving and a requirement that they get a man's permission to travel or have surgery.
A businesswoman told the Times of London this month that she was detained and strip-searched by the religious police for holding a meeting in a coffee shop with male colleagues.
Two years ago, a teenager was raped by seven men who found her alone with a man unrelated to her. The government sentenced the 19-year-old woman to 200 lashes and six months in prison for being in the company of a man who wasn't a family member or her husband. She was later pardoned. The seven rapists were sentenced to two to nine years in prison.
Allah Hafiz
Sister Fatima
Wish they'd do that here
And the problem is
I thought valentine's day was about love (never saw it as encouraging relations between unmarried people specifically). It doesn't even have to do with romantic love necessarily - I've received and given cards to my mom and dad.
But I do find it is overhyped - I hope people express the love they feel for the ones dear to them more than once a year.
Greetings,
This is pretty hilarious, you have to admit. I never realised red wrapping paper, for instance, was such a threat to public morality!
The authorities have also created huge scope for profits for those who choose to ignore the ruling. Way to go! Let's create more criminals!
Peace
I ponder, perhaps the inclusion of this Christian occasion within Saudi should be permitted in the interest of multicultural and interfaith respect. Perhaps, it is unavoidable in Saudi that it will be celebrated. Then again, an Islamic country (I say that with a pinch of salt) banning un-islamic culture is the norm for Islamic countries. Only Christian dominated countries don't ban un-christian celebrations.
Ah well. I don't suppose they have a big immigration problem.
Greetings,
Absolutely right!format_quote Originally Posted by root
It's a classic example of a paranoid state shooting itself in the foot yet again.
Peace
^ Blaim the government (The)
thats just ridiculous, i think the saudis should focus on more important islamic issues, such as why our bro's and sisters are dying all over the world due to wars and not banning of flowers...
totally agree with u sis, the worlds going crackersformat_quote Originally Posted by Noora
format_quote Originally Posted by Noora
Just because they are focusing on this doesn't mean they can't focus on other things too. It's called multitasking!
No it should not be included. If non-Muslims living in Saudi want to celebrate their holidays, fine, but it doesn't mean that Muslims should celebrate it too!format_quote Originally Posted by root
And its not about culture either - holidays like this in Islam are a religious thing, they aren't only cultural, that is what it matters. Making up holidays like this is not allowed.
We have our two special holidays - the two Eids. That is all we need.
Last edited by Malaikah; 02-13-2008 at 02:40 AM.
Now if only folks in the west got this msg, muslims workers can be more productive by eliminating those holidays.format_quote Originally Posted by Malaikah
Just because they are focusing on this doesn't mean they can't focus on other things too. It's called multitasking!
Actually they cant. Policing flowers costs money and resources. What they are focusing on is simply stupid and wasteful.
No it should not be included. If non-Muslims living in Saudi want to celebrate their holidays, fine, but it doesn't mean that Muslims should celebrate it too!
And its not about culture either - holidays like this in Islam are a religious thing, they aren't only cultural, that is what it matters. Making up holidays like this is not allowed.
We have our two special holidays - the two Eids. That is all we need.
An excellent system.
In regards to the topic at hand, its Saudi Arabia. Cant say this is surpising, granted its good for a laugh.
It is not our place or duty to eliminate such holidays from non-Muslims lands. It is their land and they are free to celebrate what they want. Just don't try to bring it to Muslim lands.format_quote Originally Posted by Isambard
No one ever said a country must focus on only thing at a time! That is ridiculous!Actually they cant. Policing flowers costs money and resources. What they are focusing on is simply stupid and wasteful.
While you might not think it is a big deal, Muslims do. This is our religion, so get over it and respect that.
format_quote Originally Posted by root
Muslims only have 2 celebrations, and that is eid al fitr, and eid al-adha, last i checked no western country recognizes these as holidays nor give Muslims time off. so what are you on about?
if that happened all of you people would go loony OHHHH NOW WE LET THEM CELEBRATE EID! WHAT NEXT! AHHHHHHHH!
ban valentine all the way, why do we need this silly day to fall in love and dandy? no such thing in Islam, in Islam every single day with your wife is a valentines day, not one day in february just out of no where you decide to buy roses and go out for dinner and all that garbage.
and yes valentines does lead to fornication and immorality, because it makes singles ask a certain girl they have a crush on out for a date, will you be my valentine??????????? and next thing their getting it on by the night, or end of the week. now you may disagree, but thats the Islamic prespective, so instead of comming here saying oh this is funny, or oh it makes us laugh respect the position and move on or try to rationally respond instead of simply laughing it off and saying oh those nutters!!!!!
it would really do the west good, because oh my the teen pregnancy rate in the west IS SKY HIGH!!!!!!! so i repeat it would do very good if you actually tried to rationally discuss these issues rather than say OH DEM **** CRAZY SAUDS!!!!!!!!!!
sis Malaikah I fully agree with you.
Allah constantly tells us in the Qur'an that there is a difference between the believers and the disbelievers and that these two paths should not be intermnigled. so perhaps thats why we shudn't celebrate valentines day, becuase we wud be following the disbelievers, and we need to follow the belivers path; the sunnats of the Prophets SAW.
and for logical purposes, honeslty you only celebrate your spouse's love once a year??? thats rediculous!
Last edited by ayesha309; 02-13-2008 at 03:15 AM.
No, but keeping in mind that gov't resources are finite, blowing them of something frivilous like getting rid of red colours and roses is just stupid.format_quote Originally Posted by Malaikah
My critisism has nothing to do with your religion, but has it everything to do with stupid economic planning (assuming there is a plan).
Well, that is your opinion.format_quote Originally Posted by Isambard
No! First of all, Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country which acts in accordance to Islam and as far as I know does not prohibit non-Muslims from celebrating their own holidays.Im referring to non-muslim lands eliminating muslim holidays. I assume thats okay as well correct?
Now I would have a big issue with non-Muslim (i.e. secular/Western) lands forbidding Muslim holidays because it is pure discrimination if they forbid only Muslim holidays and allow holidays of all other religions!
If we were talking about Christian (non-secular) countries, then I would not have an issue with them banning non-Muslim from celebrating Muslim holidays, as long as they don't ban Muslims from celebrating it.
Anyway, Valentines Day isn't a sacred religious holiday for anyone so I don't see the validity of the comparison.
Last edited by Malaikah; 02-13-2008 at 03:36 AM.
Right. So it's okay for Christian or secular nations to ban Muslim themed items?format_quote Originally Posted by Malaikah
Right, gotcha.
Now, let's be clear here.format_quote Originally Posted by Malaikah
You're saying that it's okay for the Vatican to not only ban Islamic themed holiday items, but also everything of a certain color, yes?
Like, banning all green items for example?
Its roots are based upon two different Christian martyrs.Anyway, Valentines Day isn't a sacred religious holiday for anyone so I don't see the validity of the comparison.
praise God alhamdulillah...saudi banned all valentine's thing that has nothing to do with islam.
islamic government should do it wherever they are....
we have to stay away from jahiliyyah ritual...
it has connection with Christian history and we should stay away from it...
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