Valentine’s Day and April Fool’s Day as Vehicles of Western Cultural Globalization: An Analysis from the Perspective of Islamic Creed (ʿAqidah)

Abstract

This study examines the phenomena of Valentine's Day and April Fools' Day as part of the process of Western cultural globalization, which has become increasingly prevalent in modern society, particularly through the influence of social media and digital entertainment. The rapid expansion of platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube has accelerated the dissemination of Western cultural values, resulting in both celebrations being widely embraced as popular entertainment trends and cultural practices among various communities, including Muslims. The research problem arises from the uncritical acceptance of these celebrations without adequate consideration of their historical origins, elements of tashabbuh (imitation of non-Islamic practices), hedonistic culture, and their implications for Islamic creed (ʿaqīdah) and Muslim identity. Accordingly, this study aims to analyze Valentine's Day and April Fools' Day as instruments of Western cultural globalization and to evaluate their implications for the ʿaqīdah and identity of Muslims. The study adopts a qualitative approach based on library research and critical analysis of primary and secondary sources, including the Qur'an, Prophetic traditions (hadith), classical Islamic texts (turāth), the works of Muslim scholars, and academic literature on cultural globalization, social media, and Islamic creed. The findings indicate that Valentine's Day and April Fools' Day are not merely forms of social entertainment but also function as carriers of Western cultural values that may influence the thinking, moral conduct, and religious sensitivity of Muslim communities through the process of digital cultural normalization. The study further reveals that social media plays a significant role in accelerating the acceptance of these cultural practices through viral trends, prank culture, couple culture, and contemporary entertainment, particularly among Muslim youth. In conclusion, Muslims should possess a sound understanding of ʿaqīdah and the ability to critically evaluate contemporary cultural practices based on the principles of Islamic law (Sharīʿah), ḥifẓ al-dīn (the preservation of religion), and the preservation of Islamic identity, so as to avoid being influenced by external cultural practices that contradict Islamic beliefs and values.