Muslims are advised to distinguish themselves in their external appearance adopting Islamic ways and methods in all their affairs, whether worldly or Deeni. By this, it is meant that Muslims are recognised and identified by a single religious culture or code, which is purely Islamic.
Valentine's day has its origin and significance in the sacrifices of a Christian personality. This in itself will quite clearly illustrate to any Muslim with even an iota of Imaan how repugnant any involvement or recognition of such a day is and to what extent it goes against the spirit of Islam. It has always been the Christian and Jewish aim to get Muslims to forfeit their identity and take to heart un-Islamic practices, as elaborated in the words of Allah Ta'ala, "The Christians and Jews will never be happy with you until you follow their ways." (Baqarah 120)
The Islamic viewpoint and reaction to such practices is clearly and unequivocally outlined in the following Aayat, "O Believers do not take as friends the Christians and Jews … he amongst you who will befriend them is of them (and not of us Muslims)" (Maaidah 51)
By joining them in their occasions of celebration, we will fall well within the purview of the warning contained in the above Aayat. Consider the grave warning given to us by none other than our Noble Master Rasulullah ( Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), "He who will imitate a nation will be raised up among them on the Day of Qiyaamat." (Mishkaat)
The festival of love, which they celebrate on February 14 each year is an expression of what they believed in their pagan religion to be divine love. This festival was invented more than 1700 years ago, at a time when paganism was still prevalent among the Romans. Whilst their state was still idolatrous, they executed Saint Valentine, who had converted to Christianity after having been a pagan. When the Romans converted to Christianity, they made the day of his execution an occasion to celebrate the matyrs of love. This festival is still celebrated in America and Europe, to declare feelings of friendship and to renew the covenant of love between spouses and lovers. This festival now has great social and economic significance.
It seems that another practice stemmed from the concept of this feast, which is the anniversary celebrated by spouses or friends who love one another, where the couple celebrate the anniversary of their marriage each year, to confirm the love between them. This custom has passed to the Muslims because of their mixing (with the non-Muslims), so that couples celebrate the night of their marriage in a special way in many Muslim countries, imitating the kuffar.
Ameen