KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has said that the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) is meant to guide and advise Muslims to stay away from the Valentine’s Day celebrations.The Deputy Prime Minister said the campaign was not to enforce any ruling against those observing the event.
“We only want to advise that, from the perspective of Islam, Valentine’s Day is not appropriate for Muslims,” he told a press conference. Malaysia Muslim Authority, Jakim launched its campaign in Putrajaya on Friday, The Star reports.
- The National Fatwa Council had decreed in 2005 that Muslims should refrain from celebrating Valentine’s Day because it is not part of Islamic teachings.
Muhyiddin said people of other faiths were free to observe the event, as it is an old tradition where people express their love for each other.- “We (Muslims) do not want to belittle Valentine’s Day. It is an old tradition but not appropriate from the Islamic perspective,” he reiterated.
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