Statements in Meeting with the Eulogists of the Ahl al-Bayt (Peace Be Upon Them)

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen progeny, especially the Awaited One on earth.

Dear brothers and sisters! Happy Eid; God willing, may you always be in the service of the family of Prophethood and Guardianship, and may you raise the loud cry of justice in the age of the dominance of darkness and falsehood; as today, thanks be to God, it is so. Our faithful youth, our dear ones, this group of eulogists and admirers of the Ahl al-Bayt (the Pure and Immaculate), are truly the loud cry of truth in this world filled with oppression and rebellion.

Regarding the exalted and indescribable status of the daughter of the Greatest Prophet, my tongue and those like me are inadequate; humanity cannot describe the spiritual ranks and the greatness of the divine and heavenly figures, including Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her); one must hear and learn from God Almighty and from the words of His great servants and divine friends; to the extent that our understanding is capable, we must guess at these ranks. The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said about Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her): "The Mistress of the Women of Paradise"; indeed, there are other narrations: "The Mistress of the Women of the Worlds"; "The Mistress of the Women of the Earth"; all of these have been transmitted with reliable chains from both Shia and Sunni sources; it is not that only Shia have narrated them; however, in my opinion, the most important is the title "The Mistress of the Women of Paradise." See, God Almighty in the verse of the Quran - the very verse that the esteemed reciter recited today - says: "And God has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh"; [the wife of Pharaoh] is a model for all believers, not just for women; it is for "those who believe." This means that God Almighty has set forth two women as models for all believers: "And God has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh," one is the wife of Pharaoh - Asiya - about whom He says a few sentences; then He says: "And Mary, the daughter of Imran." These two are models for all of humanity; for all believers in the world; these two and all the prominent women and divine friends of the feminine gender are all in Paradise, their place is Paradise; and then Fatimah al-Zahra is "The Mistress of the Women of Paradise," the leader of all of them. We cannot comprehend these ranks any further. Of course, our esteemed poets, our respected and dear reciters today have expressed statements, and very well, but all of these are less than the high rank of the Pure and Chaste (peace be upon her); the words of the Prophet and the words of God are more eloquent than all of these.

Time has passed; I have noted some points here to mention, but it is close to noon, so I will briefly state. The day of the birth of the Pure and Chaste (peace be upon her) is Women's Day. In the logic of Islam and Islamic knowledge, there is a model for women, a framework has been defined for women; this framework is a complete framework. That is, an Islamic woman is one who possesses faith, has chastity, is responsible for the most important aspect of human upbringing, has an impact on society, possesses scientific and spiritual growth, manages the very important center of the family, and is a source of comfort for men; all of these alongside feminine qualities, such as tenderness, like a soft heart, like the readiness to receive divine lights; this is the model of the Muslim woman; these very qualities that the Noble Prophet has repeatedly mentioned in praise of Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) or Khadijah al-Kubra or generally about women; this is the Islamic model.

In contrast, there exists a deviant model that has varied over different periods of time; today, that deviant model is the Western model of women. In this era in which we live, instead of all the prominent and distinguished qualities observed in the Islamic woman, the main characteristic and distinction of the Western woman today is that she can attract men's attention and be subjected to men's pleasures. Therefore, you see that the hallmark of the Western woman today is nudity. In an official gathering where men and women participate, men must be completely covered, while women must, as much as possible, move towards nudity; [even] in official gatherings! Now, in the social environment, it is clear. This situation pertains to recent periods of the West - Europe and America - it has not always been this way. As far as we know, and are informed, until 150 years ago or 120 years ago, of course, there was no Islamic hijab there, but licentiousness, nudity, and lawlessness did not exist in women as it does today. What policy has led Western society in this direction and what its goal is, is a matter for lengthy and detailed discussions; however, the reality is this: the Western woman is a symbol of consumption, adornment, and display before men and a means of sexual excitement for men. The rest of the statements they make, such as the issue of gender justice and such words, are all superficial and external; the essence of the matter is that you have heard that a significant number of prominent Western women, just a few months ago, one after another announced that in their youth, in the course of administrative matters in which they were involved, they were subjected to abuse with force and violence; they spoke out about this. These are not ordinary women; they are prominent Western women. Islam, through hijab, has closed the door on the path that leads women to this point of deviation; it has not allowed it. Islamic hijab is a means of protection for women; hijab is not a means of limitation for women.

Today, the flag of the independence of identity and culture of women is in the hands of Iranian women; today, Iranian women, while maintaining hijab, declare their identity independence and cultural independence and export it to the world; that is, the world is hearing a new message. A woman can have an active presence in social arenas, have a profound social impact. Today, the women of our country have such an impact in various sectors; at the same time, hijab and chastity and the distinction between men and women, the distance between men and women, not being subjected to the abuse of men, not lowering themselves to the level of being mere objects of pleasure for foreign and greedy men, and not degrading themselves, are among the characteristics of Iranian and Muslim women today. Of course, we have this model, we have this framework; among our women, there are those who live up to this model very well, some to a moderate extent; in any case, this model exists, and the basis of the work of Iranian women is this.

Those who belittle the family unit are committing treason; both to the nation and to women [meaning] to the community of women. Those who pretend that gender justice means that wherever men enter, women must also enter, are betraying the trust of women and the dignity and identity of women. Women are respected; no one has said that women should not enter social arenas or take on responsibilities or gain knowledge; no, today among our best scholars, among our best writers, among our best cultural figures, there are countless women who are present in our society today; this is also an achievement of the revolution; know this, such a thing did not exist before the revolution! Very few women were able to reach high scientific, cultural, and literary ranks; today, there are many; this was the art of the revolution that accomplished this; it is because the model of the Muslim woman is fundamentally this; however, at the same time, the manager of the family is a woman, the axis of the family unit is a woman, and more importantly than all of women's occupations, motherhood, being a wife, and creating comfort and tranquility are essential. "And He made from it its mate that he might find comfort in her"; this is the characteristic of women in Islam, and on Women's Day, these matters should be considered. Of course, we advise the esteemed Iranian and Muslim women who believe in these Islamic and Quranic concepts to preserve these, to increase them day by day; to avoid pitfalls such as extravagance, negative envy - such as negative competition, such as taking models from deviant Western women - and to take care of themselves. The Muslim woman today in our country is proud. The Iranian woman has the privilege of having an independent cultural identity and is not influenced by others; this must be preserved within yourselves.

Well, this situation has enemies. Let me tell you, a significant part of the enemy's soft war and psychological warfare in our country is focused on this issue. You are the heralds of truth; these matters must be disseminated in your statements, in your expressions, in your poetry - of course, today in some of the statements and poems that were recited and read - this is your very important duty; you are a media outlet. One of the most important media outlets is the media of eulogists and religious and devotional singers, which, thanks be to God, has also expanded in our country today; this media is very important!

Let me mention one issue here and make use of the time; now, God willing, I will try to be shorter. See; the enemies of the Islamic Revolution are constantly plotting; and this is a source of pride for us. For forty years, they have been continuously plotting against the Islamic system, against Islamic Iran; billions of money are spent; intellectual figures gather to strike a blow to this system, to uproot this [system]; and for forty years, day by day, this blessed tree, this pure tree, is growing; this is a source of pride for us. If they were not active against us, we would not feel that we are so favored by divine grace. So much is being done against the Islamic Republic; against no nation, no country has there been this much plotting, yet they have not been able to do anything, and the Islamic Republic has progressed on its path of growth and perfection; this [plotting] exists, and today it is still present. Just a few months ago, as they say in their think tanks - that is, special intellectual groups - they gathered, discussed, and planned for the Islamic Republic, set a timeline, for the month of Dey, Bahman, Esfand - that is, in these days that you and I are in - that in Dey we will do this, in Bahman we will do this, in Esfand we will do this, and by the end of the year, we will dismantle the Islamic Republic. Well, a camel dreams of a cotton seed! In Dey, you saw how the Iranian nation responded; in Bahman, you saw how the Iranian nation responded! In Esfand, which we are currently in, the Iranian nation is ready; the Iranian nation will put every aggressor, every assailant, and every wrongdoer in their place.

What I want to convey is not these matters; we have said these many times, everyone knows, and the enemy knows that the strength of the Islamic Republic is based on the people, based on faith, based on enthusiastic and interested youth, based on the correct line and path that Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) has delineated; we are moving forward, others can do whatever they want; they can say whatever they want; they cannot do anything wrong; that is clear. I want to mention the issue of hijab and point out: they spend a lot of money, they engage in a lot of activities, they employ hundreds of media outlets - of all kinds of media - to try to influence this sensitive point, [that is] the point of the independent cultural identity of the Muslim woman; our enemies truly exert themselves outside the country [for this purpose]; in various ways; now, how much money is spent to operate these televisions and radios and this virtual space and these internet sites - constantly advertising, saying, saying, a hundred times - so that what happens? So that the result is that, for example, four girls get deceived and remove their hijab in the street. All this expenditure, all this effort, all this thought is behind this work; they are trying, [but] their efforts are fruitless; the result is that four people - now four girls in a corner - get deceived or find various motivations; some of them may even receive money - now I do not know, I cannot say for sure - and remove their headscarves, meaning, for example, what have we become! The result of all that effort is summarized in this small and insignificant result.

Well, up to this point, there is no issue; [but] what makes me sensitive is that suddenly you see from the mouths of a group of individuals who are considered elites, the issue of "mandatory hijab" is raised; this means that a number of people, unknowingly - now I say unknowingly; God willing, it is unknowingly - are following the same line that the enemy, despite all its expenditure, has not been able to achieve in the country; they are pursuing the same line; among them are journalists, among them are pseudo-intellectuals, among them are clerics and religious figures. [They say] "The Imam said that women should wear hijab, but he did not say all women"! Nonsense! We were there at that time, we know; how is it like this? The Imam stood firmly against a clear vice that had been created by the Pahlavi regime and its followers in the country, and said that hijab must exist. In the face of all vices, the Imam stood firm. At that time, there was the issue of the trade of alcoholic beverages; we were in the Revolutionary Council, we had joint sessions with the government; at that time, there were those who believed that the trade of alcoholic beverages was beneficial for the country, how could we disregard this benefit; they wanted this trade to continue, to bring in alcohol from abroad. The Imam stood firm against the divine prohibition; the great Imam would stand and did stand against this divine prohibition. Now, someone comes from the other side [and says] "Sir! This sin is not greater than backbiting; why do you not pursue someone for backbiting, but you pursue this [act] of removing the headscarf or being without hijab?" See what [error]? Lack of discernment; what one suffers from is the lack of discernment. We did not say that if someone removes their headscarf in their own home in front of a non-mahram, we will pursue them; [no] we do not pursue them, they are in their own home, they are doing personal business.

What is done in public, in the street, is a public act, a social act, a public education; this [error] creates a duty for a government that has come to power in the name of Islam. There is no small or large sin; what is religiously prohibited must not be openly practiced in the country. Now, if someone makes a mistake for themselves, [that] is aside, that is between them and God; but what is in front of the eyes of the people, in the social environment, the Islamic government - like the government of Amir al-Mu'minin, like the government of the Prophet - has a duty to stand against it. This logic that says "Sir, you should let people choose for themselves," well, it applies to alcohol sales too; should we also allow alcohol in the country, anyone who wants can drink, anyone who does not want does not drink! Is this logic valid? This logic exists for all major social sins; is this logic valid? The sacred law has imposed a duty on the Islamic government to prevent the spread of divine prohibitions in society; the Islamic government is obliged to stand against prohibitions, to stand against sin. Today, we are proud of the hijab of our women; our women, with chador - which is an Iranian hijab; chador is an Iranian hijab - and with Islamic hijab, have reached the highest scientific ranks, have reached the highest artistic and cultural ranks, have become among the most distinguished, have had an impact in social matters; at the same time, they have also managed their households, raised their children, and taken care of their husbands. That we come and constantly circumvent the laws to create a kind of deviant Western cultural inclination in our country is a great error; a number of people make this error.

The issue of population growth, the increase of offspring in society has been raised; well, the officials have cooperated, they have agreed; I hear in corners that they are acting contrary to that. This is what the Westerners want; the Westerners oppose the increase in the number of Muslims, oppose the increase in the number of a nation whose youth can emerge in the arena and elevate the country to its peak, it is clear that they oppose it. We must not conduct affairs in such a way that their objectives are realized; we must move in a way that Islamic objectives are secured, this is our duty, this is the duty of our officials.

Our culture is a divine culture; this culture guarantees and secures our independence, it also secures our freedom. Those who promote lawlessness in society in the name of freedom are not free; they are prisoners of the Western culture; it is the Western culture that is guiding them; what kind of freedom is this? Freedom is that you have your own intention, your own faith, your own thought, your own Quran, your own Islamic model, and you pursue that; this is freedom, this is greatness, this is liberty; this must be secured.

In the field of education, we have mentioned the issue of 2030, a number of people have pursued it, well, good works have been done; now I receive reports from corners that some wrongful actions are being taken; this must be stopped. The officials of the country are obliged to prevent any deviation from what the Islamic policy of the country is, in the field of education, in the field of issues related to women.

This title of gender justice and similar matters are also mere words; these are words that others have said, the Westerners have said, and a number of people are copying them and writing them, becoming their loudspeakers. What justice? Is this justice? Now, the most sexual assaults with violence are occurring in the West - in America and Europe - much more than in other countries; while there, according to their appearance and in their own words, there is freedom for women. The most violence by men inside the home against women inside the home is occurring there; according to the statistics that exist. At the same time, in these statistics they mention, they say many of their women do not dare to come and file complaints; these statistics relate to places where they come to file complaints; and this is not all! There, they have problems; they have problems in life, they have cultural problems, they have problems in managing society. What justice? There is no justice! They mention the name of gender justice to be able to implement their own objectives. In Islam, gender justice means that women are respected, not subjected to aggression; men, because of their greater physical strength and larger stature, should not feel entitled to exert force on women or commit violence; this is justice.

Laws must be established in the country; of course, in these laws, [these matters must be] observed. I have heard that a bill is being prepared for these family matters and the implementation of violence against women; both government officials and parliament officials must be careful that they will not implement the same Western culture here, which for example, if the father intervenes in the marriage of his daughter, this is violence and interpret it as such; no. What constitutes "what is violence and what is not" must not be learned from the West; it must be understood and known from our own rational logic, from our own Islamic thought. Today, we are faced with such malicious enmities, we must be vigilant.

Now, in conclusion, I would like to address you, the community of eulogists, as I said, your work is important, you are a very important media outlet. The duty of the eulogist community is a heavy one. You go everywhere, you encounter all people, you have the field and opportunity to speak, and there are ears ready to hear your words; this makes your duty heavier. What I have noted here to convey to you [is this]: First, elevate the knowledge and faith of your audience. Choose poetry and expressions in such a way that the knowledge of the audience and the faith of the audience increases; both their knowledge - their religious rationality - and their heartfelt faith. Elevate knowledge and faith.

Political enlightenment; the various political issues of today require clear and convincing enlightenment; these must be learned and conveyed to the people.

Promote Islamic ethics and behavior; take Islamic ethics and behavior from the books of ethics and from the scholars of ethics and convey them to the people, using the art that is your work - poetry and singing, which is art - promote ethics, promote correct Islamic behavior, promote brotherhood among the people, promote love and kindness, promote national unity; remind your audiences of their connection with the Quran, their connection with prayer, their attention to God, and their avoidance of sin; these reminders are very valuable; they are valuable for your audience, and for yourselves; for ourselves, they are also valuable. When we advise someone, we have actually advised ourselves; it is valuable for ourselves too.

The enemies are constantly creating doubts today in political matters; regarding why Iran is present in the region. Now, who is claiming? America! Which finds a presence everywhere with sedition and corruption; wherever America is, there is corruption; wherever America is, there is sedition. The seditious and corrupt government of America tells us why you are present in the region! Well, if we are present in the region, do we need to ask your permission? Do we need to negotiate with regional governments to be present in the region? Why should we negotiate with you? Whenever we want to be present in America, do we have to negotiate with you? (laughter) Just like European countries; they say we want to negotiate with Iran regarding its presence in the region! What does it have to do with you? Why are you in the region? Is this our region or your region? If it is our region, what are you doing here? It is our region; we negotiate with the people of the region and with the governments of the region, we talk, we make agreements; thanks be to God, we have made agreements, thanks be to God, we have succeeded, thanks be to God, we have progressed, God willing, we will continue to progress. The political issues that I mention are not just factional and internal matters; these are [also] political issues; the people must know these.

We hope, God willing, that God Almighty grants you success, helps you, and enables you to fulfill the important duty of these days.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.