Statements in Meeting with Members of the Cultural and Social Council of Women and Officials of the First Congress on the Islamic Veil

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Welcome. I am pleased to see that, thanks be to God, the intellectual direction of the distinguished women of our country is promising and encouraging for the future, God willing. I also extend my congratulations on the birth of the pure Zahra (peace be upon her), who is a model for women throughout history and for all generations, and in whom the example of the perfect human and the celestial aspect of human existence is manifested, to you dear sisters, to all the women of our country, to all Muslim women, and to all Muslims worldwide.

Regarding the issue of women—which remains an issue in the world today—much has been said and continues to be said. When we look at the human map of the world and human societies—both Islamic societies like our own country and other Islamic countries, as well as non-Islamic societies, including those so-called civilized and advanced—we see that in all these societies, unfortunately, the issue of women still exists; this indicates a kind of misperception and deviation and reflects a kind of shortsightedness towards human issues. It becomes clear that humanity, with all its claims, with all the efforts made by sincere and compassionate individuals, with all the extensive cultural work done especially regarding the issue of women, has still not been able to find a straight path and a correct way regarding the issue of the two genders and the issue of women—which consequently also raises the issue of men in a different form.

Perhaps among you ladies, there are those who have seen or read the literary and artistic works of the world's female artists—some of which have been translated into Persian, and some exist in their original languages. All of these indicate the same issue mentioned; that is, humanity has still not been able to solve the issue of women, and consequently, the issue of the two genders—meaning women and men—and inevitably the issue of humanity. In other words, excesses, deviations, misunderstandings, and consequently, transgressions, injustices, psychological deficiencies, family-related problems, and issues related to the interaction and integration and relations of the two genders are still among the unresolved issues of humanity. That is, humanity, which has made so many discoveries in material fields, in celestial bodies, in the depths of the seas, and boasts about the intricacies of psychology, psychoanalysis, social issues, economic issues, and other things, and has indeed made progress in many of these fields, is at a loss in this issue! If I were to even list these deficiencies briefly, it would take a long time, and you are aware of them yourselves.

The issue of 'family,' which is a fundamental problem in the world today, arises from where? It arises from the perspective on the issue of women or from the perspective on the relationship between women and men. Why is the family, which is a natural and fundamental institution of human existence, in such crisis in the world today; so much so that if someone in today's so-called civilized Western world has even a very subtle message about strengthening the foundation of the family, they are welcomed; women welcome it, men welcome it, children welcome it? If you examine just this one issue of the family in the world and pay close attention to and investigate this crisis in the issue of 'family,' you will see that it arises from the fact that issues related to the interactions of the two genders and the coexistence of the two genders and the relations of the two genders have not been resolved, or in other words, the perspective is a wrong perspective. Now, we who are in the set of ideas created by men, say the perspective on the issue of women is not correct; it can be said the perspective on the issue of men is not correct—there is no difference—or the perspective on the quality of the two genders, meaning the geometry of the placement of the two genders, is a wrong perspective.

There are many deficiencies and numerous problems; what is the remedy? The remedy is to seek the divine solution and find it; because regarding the issue of women and men, the message of revelation contains important matters; let us see what revelation says about this. Revelation has not only sufficed with preaching but has also provided examples. You see, when God Almighty wants to give an example for the believers throughout the history of prophethood in the Quran, He says: 'And God presents an example for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh.' (Tahrim: 11) In the time of Moses, there were so many believers, so many who strove and sacrificed for faith; but that example is mentioned. What is this due to? Did God Almighty want to support women; or is the issue something else? The issue is that this woman reached such a height in spiritual movement that only she can be exemplified and no one else. Now, this is before Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her); this is before Mary the Great (peace be upon her); this belongs to that time. Pharaoh's wife is neither a prophet nor a prophet's daughter, nor a prophet's wife, nor has she been in the family of any prophet. The spiritual upbringing and growth and flourishing of a woman bring her to this point.

Of course, the opposite point also exists; that is, in corruption, it is the same. Again, to give an example of the worst of humans, God Almighty says: 'God presents an example for those who disbelieve: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot.' (Tahrim: 10) Again, two women are exemplified as the worst of humans. In the time of Noah and the time of Lot, there were so many disbelievers, bad people, but the Quran does not exemplify them; it exemplifies the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot.

What is this attention to the female gender and focus on the various peaks and troughs of women due to? Perhaps it is because the Quran wants to point out the wrong perspective of the people of that time's world—which unfortunately remains the same wrong perspective today; whether the people of the Arabian Peninsula who buried their daughters alive, or the people of the great empires of the world, like Rome and Iran.

The foundation of today's European civilization is the same Roman culture. That is, today, what governs the entirety of European and Western culture and consequently American culture and the remnants of the West is the same principles and lines that existed in the Roman Empire; those are the criteria today. At that time, too, women were elevated to the highest positions, respected, and adorned with decorations and ornaments; but for what? To satisfy one of the most earthly and materialistic traits of human nature in men! This is such an insult and such a degradation to humanity and to the female gender!

In Iran, it was exactly the same. You have heard things about the harems of the Sassanid kings. What does harem-keeping mean? Harem-keeping means the same insult to women. A man, because he has power, gives himself the right to keep a thousand women in his harem! If all the people of that king also had the same power, each would keep a thousand, five hundred, four hundred, or two hundred women according to their own capacity! What does this indicate about the perspective on women?!

Then, in such a world, the Holy Prophet raises a daughter who becomes worthy of the Prophet of God coming to kiss her hand! The kiss on the hand of Fatima Zahra by the Prophet should never be interpreted as a mere emotional gesture. It is very wrong and very trivial if we think that because she was his daughter and he loved her, he kissed her hand. Would a personality of such nobility, with the justice and wisdom that the Prophet possesses and his reliance on divine revelation and inspiration, bend down and kiss his daughter's hand? No, this is something else and has another meaning; this indicates that this young woman, this woman who, when she passed away, was between eighteen and twenty-five years old—eighteen has been said, twenty-five has been said—was indeed at the peak of human celestiality and was an extraordinary person. This is Islam's perspective on women; pursue this; both in studies related to culture and social issues and perspectives—which these ladies of the cultural and social council of women are responsible for—and in scientific development—which you scholarly ladies are pursuing—pursue this.

Knowledge is a very precious thing, and I am an advocate for women in our society to become scholars in all fields. Of course, in the previous session—which was last year or the year before—I prioritized the field of medicine; this is because medicine is our immediate and urgent necessity; otherwise, in all fields, women should respond to their high talents. Suppose, among this fifty million population of our country, if there are, for example, thirty million or thirty-five million people who are at suitable ages to contribute to this country, naturally, half of these thirty-five million are women. Can we easily overlook all the talent that is latent in them? Can we ignore these divine treasures in them? Among them, there must be scholars; however, knowledge, with all its greatness, is nothing compared to the spiritual dignity that God Almighty has given to women.

Imagine a woman who is at the highest level of knowledge, but in human issues and in her human interactions as one gender of two genders, she is degraded; do you think this individual has value? Of course, a woman who is a scholar is less likely to fall into these degradations—one of the pitfalls of illiteracy is that it drags women more into these degradations—but the extent of degradation is not limited.

A woman may be, even at a high scientific level, but if the value of that human gem that is precious in her—as it is in men, and both men and women strive, learn knowledge and wisdom, to manifest it in themselves—remains hidden and neglected and is disregarded and disrespected, what value does it have? The human gem in both women and men must grow; this is a value issue.

Islamic value issues must be revived in our society. For example, the issue of the veil is a value issue. The issue of the veil is an issue that, although it is a prelude to higher things, is itself a value issue. The reason we are so committed to the veil is that maintaining the veil helps women reach their high spiritual rank and not fall into the very slippery pitfalls placed in their path.

The opposite of this is precisely the Roman culture prevailing in today's Europe. They compromise on everything except two or three things; one of them—and perhaps the most important—is maintaining this disciplined protective state between the two genders of women and men; that is, self-restraint in the face of what is called sexual freedom. They are very stubborn against this; any other action is not important. In their view, someone is reactionary who insists on this issue. If in a country, women are separated from men with some limits, this becomes against civilization! They are right; their civilization, built on the ruins of the same Roman civilization, is nothing but this; but this is wrong from a value perspective; the opposite is correct.

We are owed by the Western world that has so degraded the human woman throughout past periods to today. You see, in Europe and Western countries, until recently, women did not have independent financial rights. I once extracted the statistics accurately and presented them in a speech—it was apparently in a Friday prayer sermon four or five years ago. For example, until the early twentieth century, with all the claims made, with that strange and bizarre unveiling that has increased day by day in the West, with that limitless and unrestrained sexual mixing—which they think is respecting and valuing women—yet the Western woman did not have the right to freely use the wealth that belonged to her! In front of her husband, she was not the owner of her own property. That is, a woman who married, her wealth and property and estate belonged to her husband; she herself did not have the right to make any disposition regarding it; until gradually, the right of ownership and the right to work were given to women in the early twentieth century. That is, this issue, which is among the most primary human rights, was withheld from women; but the pressure and emphasis were placed more on that issue which is exactly the opposite of the real value issues that Islam has emphasized. This is why we now emphasize the veil so much.

In our view, the discussions about women's covering are good discussions that are taking place; however, you must ensure that no discussion in these areas related to women's covering is influenced by Western propaganda; if it is influenced by that, it will be ruined. For example, let us think to ourselves that we should have a veil, but not a chador; this is a wrong thought. Not that I want to say the chador is the only type; no, I say the chador is the best type of veil; it is a national symbol of ours; there is no problem with it; it does not conflict with any kind of activity in women. If there is truly an intention for social activity, political work, and intellectual work, a woman's official attire can be the chador and—as I said—the chador is the best type of veil.

Of course, one can be veiled without a chador; however, even here, the boundary must be found. Some flee from the chador to avoid being caught in Western propaganda; however, when they flee from the chador, they do not turn to that real veil without the chador; because that too is attacked by the West!

Do you think that if we put aside the chador, suppose we made that certain scarf and those clothes of 'and let them draw their veils over their bosoms' (Nur: 31) and those mentioned in the Quran, will they leave us alone? No, they are not satisfied with these things; they want the same cursed culture of theirs to be exactly implemented here; like during the Shah's time when it was implemented. At that time, women had no covering or veil at all; even here, when it comes to these matters, the lack of restraint is much more; as during the Shah's time, the lack of restraint in this very city of Tehran and some other cities of our country was more than the usual cities of Europe! The ordinary woman in Europe had her own dress and covering; but here it was not like that. As we had seen and heard and knew and the scenes from that time are now before my eyes, one is truly amazed at why it should be this way; as it is unfortunately in many backward Muslim and non-Muslim countries. Therefore, value issues must be observed with precision and utmost scrutiny and without compromise.

Of course, the issue of the family is very important. The lady referred to the plans of the cultural and social council of women. Your main effort in these plans should be—and it presumably is—to truly untie the knots of women's work; see where the major knots are. One of the most important knots is in the 'family'; go and see what is happening in families; you yourselves know and see. See what creates these disorders; find their roots and make long-term plans to eliminate those disorders.

The issue of motherhood, the issue of being a wife, the issue of home and family, are very fundamental and vital issues. In all the plans we have, the 'family' must be the basis. That is, if you become the greatest specialist in medicine or any other field, if you are not the woman of the house, this is a deficiency for you. You must be the housekeeper of your home; the axis is this. If we want to make an imperfect analogy, we must compare it to the queen bee.

The family center is where emotions and feelings must grow and flourish; children must see love and affection; the husband, who is a man and the nature of a man is a cruder nature compared to a woman and in a specific field, is more fragile and his wound's balm is only and only the affection of the wife—not even the affection of the mother—must see affection. For a great man, this wife does what a mother does for a small child; and precise and delicate women are familiar with this point. If these feelings and these emotions, which need the existence of a main axis in the home—which is the lady and housekeeper of the home—are not there, the family will be a form without meaning.

You have work too, you are outside too, you do your surgery too, you see your patient too, you do that scientific work too, you write that plan too, you teach that lesson at the university too—all these are preserved in their place—but you must also consider the share of the 'home.' Of course, the share of the home, like all other things, can have its quantity sacrificed for its quality; that is, reducing the quantity. The twenty-four-hour presence of a woman in the home has one meaning; but when you reduce that twenty-four hours, but increase its quality, then it will have another meaning. If you see that your work is harming this issue, you must think about it. This is important and fundamental; except in emergency cases. In all things, there is a necessity that is outside the rule. I am talking about the rule; I have nothing to do with exceptions.

I have heard that there is talk and discussion about establishing a university specifically for women, God willing; that is, the professor, manager, student, and even administrative staff are all women; especially in medical universities. This is a very good idea. As I look at it from a distance, without having thoroughly examined the aspects of the issue—because I have not had the opportunity—I see that generally, this work is completely compatible with the overall and value goals of women's movement in our society and is very good. I hope that, God willing, you will be successful and supported.

Among the very fundamental tasks is to make women literate. Among the very important tasks is to make women readers. Find innovative methods to make housewives readers. Unfortunately, our women do not have much familiarity with reading. Thousands of books come and go in the market, but they are not informed. These books are human knowledge that prepares minds for better understanding, better thinking, better innovation, and being in a better and more correct position.

Among the other very important things is teaching the correct methods of work inside the home—that is, dealing with the husband and dealing with the children—to women. There are women who are very good; they have patience and tolerance and good morals; but they do not know the methods of dealing with their husband or their children correctly. These methods are scientific; they are things that have progressed day by day with human experience and have reached good stages. There are those who have good experiences; you must find methods for those who can guide women to these issues.

We hope that, God willing, these obstacles that were mentioned will be removed from the path of the women of our society, so they can advance. Thanks be to God, the revolution made a great contribution to the women of our country. I have seen and see families and women whose sacrifice and courage in the face of events are greater than men. I have relatively frequent interactions with the families of martyrs. I have repeatedly said that among the families of martyrs, often the mother of the martyr has a better spirit, better understanding, and greater capacity to endure this important event than the father of the martyr. Of course, there are opposite cases; but such cases are almost more, and I have seen it more. As a result of this great event of the revolution, women have advanced and grown a lot. The role of women in the revolution was a decisive role; in the war, it was a decisive role; in the future, their role will also be decisive, God willing; provided that we observe these value aspects in women. These are what ensure and guarantee this future. We hope that God will support you.

I would also like to say one sentence at the end of my speech. This tendency towards luxury that had gradually decreased in our society, or at the beginning of the revolution, for example, women did not pay attention to luxuries and ornaments, unfortunately, these things—as it is heard—are growing in our society. The thoughtful and knowledgeable women of our society should consider this a danger. Women should not be led towards luxury. Of course, this danger is also for men; however, it is more and more possible for women. Moreover, in this matter, in many cases, men are influenced by their wives. You must really fight against this issue; you must also be vigilant yourselves.

I do not oppose the display of luxury and luxury-seeking in its moderate, minimal, unavoidable extent; but if it is to become an extreme trend, it is a very ridiculous thing. In clothing, in adornment, in ornaments and jewelry, women must give great importance to thrift and disregard these things, so that, God willing, more attention may be paid to more real brilliance and beauty, rather than these superficial beauties.

God willing, you will be successful. The talk was long, but there are many words on this fundamental issue, many of which remained unsaid. God willing, may God grant you success and support you. God willing, may you be under the grace of the Guardian of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) and may you succeed in continuing the path of the great women of Islam, especially Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her).

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings