There has been, in certain classes of our society, an imperceptible rising trend, for the last few years, in blindly following some festivals borrowed from other cultures and celebrating them with zeal and zest, without even having a profound background knowledge of these festivals, many of which are merely spreading profanity. Besides this, the local vendible media and a majority of liberals, including multinational chains of various institutes, also vigorously play their part in injecting foreign ideology into our culture through such festivals, and, hence, contaminating it at various levels.
One such day is Valentine's day, popular worldwide as the day of love. Regardless of the debate, that whether it should be celebrated or not and whatsoever the anecdotes are associated with it, the focal point this article will discuss is that who are the beings to be loved and who are to be preferred in the list of those. One thing to consider, before diving in, is that almost all of the religions practiced around the world preach love, in one way or the other. In addition, it is also worth noting that neither of the religion has any single day specified for expressing love. Apart from it, Islam is the only religion that was flourished merely through love, care, forbearance and at the top through the conduct of our Holy Prophet PBUH, and it still teaches its followers to have a harmonius relationship, based on love, among all its followers.
Coming to the point that who should be in our list of beloved ones and how to express our love for them:
At the top of the list are ALLAH and HOLY PROPHET PBUH.
Why? Evidentally, because they love us more than anyone else in this whole universe. According to the meaning of one Hadith, Allah loves HIS human beings 70 times more than a mother does her children. Moreover, HE endows us each moment with countless blessings, even those which we haven't even asked for or never even thought of. Similarly, our HOLY PROPHET PBUH loved us to such an extent that all His life he has been praying for the forgiveness of their Ummat, even cried bitterly just to receive impunity for all of the Ummat. Therefore, every muslim must consider it their prime duty to return the love of BOTH, and the easiest way to do so is to follow THEIR teachings. Carry out what Allah has ordered us in the HOLY QURAN through THE PROPHET PBUH. In addition, what PROPHET PBUH has taught us through His conduct, we must follow those too.
At the second place, the persons who hold the right to be loved and cared are our parents. A father toils hard for the livelihood of his family, particularly children, fulfills their wishes, sacrificing his own needs and even sometimes his health for the sake of happiness of his children. Besides this, the mother showers her love for her children in the way no other could. She is the cook, teacher, washwoman, maid, chef, waitress, designer, tailor, watchwoman and a guide for her children. She sacrifices her night's sleep for the sake of her children, and loves them to such an extent that if the angel of death comes for her children, she would die for her children, but would never let anyone come near them. So, our parents are the beings to be loved dearly after Allah and Prophet PBUH.
Next and the final comes the stage of one's family: wife, children and siblings, who all have their own respective levels to be loved depending on their care they show for us, the support they provide, and the affection they give. So, they all have the ultimate right to be loved and cared.
Wrapping up the whole discussion in a single expression: In lieu of wasting your time, energy, and money for those whom you have known only for a short span of time, say a few days, months, or years, express and show your love for those who love you selflessly, without ever demanding any favour in return, except to regard and value their love.
Brmirza.