Nurfika Osman – Roses, chocolates and candlelight dinner may be OK after all. Just in time for today, Indonesia's ulema council appears to be backing down from its previous attempt to label Valentine's Day as forbidden for Muslims.

The council's secretary general said on Sunday that while Valentine's Day is not part of Islamic culture, the council, known as MUI, would "allow" people to celebrate it if they choose.

"Valentine's Day is just a fad among youngsters and just like any fad, it will fade away as it tends to get boring as time goes by," the MUI's Ichwan Sam said.

MUI has tried in the past to ban Valentine's Day because of its origins as a Christian holiday – a move that has been largely greeted with derision and apathy.

Last week, MUI chairman Amidhan said the occasion was considered bid'ah in Islam, referring to something never recommended or undertaken by the Prophet Muhammad and therefore unwanted.

In reality, of course, it is a bit of Western holiday fluff long divorced from any Christian roots and mostly driven by people pushing expensive dinners and long-stemmed roses and other pricey presents.

Niken, 18, said she did not celebrate Valentine's Day because it is not part of Indonesian culture.

"Expressing love is done every day and I think it is better to spend money on something more valuable," she said. "Love does not have to be expressed with a gift."

The MUI, she said, has nothing to do with it. "But maybe we should just celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, which falls on Tuesday," she said.

In an effort to show MUI itself some love, Jakarta resident Alex Junaidi has started a campaign on Twitter asking people to send the council Valentine's Day greeting cards. "I am still looking for a nice card for them and I will send it on Tuesday," Junaidi said.

Past MUI fatwas against aerobics in "sexy" attire and infotainment gossip shows on TV have largely been ignored.