Short answer
Yes, in the mainstream Hanafi view Muslims should not celebrate Valentine's Day. It is named after a Christian saint, and today it mostly promotes dating and relationships outside marriage, which Islam forbids. Married couples do not need a special day: love, gifts and kind words to your spouse are rewarded all year.
Celebrating Valentine's Day is not permitted, because it imitates a festival of others and promotes haram relationships. Expressing love between spouses is encouraged on any day.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Valentine's Day is named after Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr, and historians often link it to older Roman festivals. Whatever its exact origin, today it is a day of cards, roses and dates for couples, most of them unmarried.
The Hanafi muftis give two reasons to avoid it. It copies a festival that is not ours, and the Prophet ﷺ warned against imitating other communities. More importantly, it celebrates the very thing Islam closes the door to: romance outside marriage. Allah says do not even approach zina. See is it haram to have a girlfriend.
What about married couples? The Prophet ﷺ said the best of you are those who are best to their families. Islam asks spouses to show love openly and often, so you do not need 14 February to bring flowers home. Many Hanafi muftis advise couples not to single out that date, to avoid imitation. Some scholars see no harm in a gift between spouses on the day, since for many it has become a commercial custom. Either way, the love itself is worship.
- At school, children can skip the card exchange politely.
- At work, there is no need to join office Valentine's events.
- Surprise your spouse on an ordinary day instead. It means more.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Israa 17:32
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَٰحِشَةًۭ وَسَآءَ سَبِيلًۭا ﴿٣٢﴾
And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.
Islam closes the doors that lead to zina, which Valentine's Day culture often opens.
Quran, Surah Ar-Room 30:21
وَمِنْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا لِّتَسْكُنُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةًۭ وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢١﴾
And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.
Love between spouses is a sign of Allah and needs no special day.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4031
Graded hasan sahih... من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم ...
"Whoever imitates a people is one of them."
Adopting other communities' festivals is discouraged.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895
Graded sahih... خيركم خيركم لأهله وأنا خيركم لأهلي ...
"The best of you are those best to their families, and I am the best of you to my family."
Kindness to your spouse is rewarded every day.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Fatawa Mahmudiyya, Chapter on customs and innovations. Occasions taken from other communities are to be avoided.
- Iqtida al-Sirat al-Mustaqim (Ibn Taymiyya), Discussion of festivals. Muslims do not adopt the festivals of others.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.