Statements in Meeting with a Group of Women Researchers of the Quran

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

Welcome! Honorable women, dear sisters! Truly, today, seeing this dense and wise gathering, all devoted to the Quran, feels like a festive day for me, and I consider it a favor from the noble lady of the Ahl al-Bayt - Lady Fatimah al-Masumah (peace be upon her). We thank God that in our country, a day has come when this vast assembly of women, with deep, logical, and scholarly motivation, seeks the Quran, understands the Quran, promotes the Quran, and researches the Quran, thereby enhancing the Quranic atmosphere of the country. Certainly, this is a great blessing from the Lord for our country.

All the suggestions made by the honorable women here are noteworthy. God willing, we will take these into account, they will be reviewed, and if there are officials responsible for these matters, they will be referred to them. We hope that some of these suggestions, which are practical, logical, and acceptable, will be implemented, God willing.

I will present two points: the first point is the essence of this remarkable and glorious women's movement in our country and in the Islamic Republic. The second point concerns issues related to the Quran. It seems to me that the attention of our women to the Quran and their presence in the Quranic arena is a phenomenon that should be regarded as a significant success of the Islamic Republic in the eyes of viewers, seekers, critics, supporters, and opponents; everyone should see it.

Firstly, the very entry of women into research and scientific matters - which is not limited to Quranic discussions - is noteworthy. I usually look at the journals published in the country - scientific journals; scientific, research; scientific, promotional - and in all the fields that our journals - which contain new content - cover, one can see that the number of female authors and researchers is significantly prominent. In religious sciences, jurisprudence, philosophy, academic issues, human sciences, and natural sciences, the presence of women in our country is a prominent and remarkable presence in all scientific sectors. Our universities are filled with female students; the scientific environments are remarkably clear and evident due to the presence of women. What is this? What phenomenon is this? What truth is this? When have we had so many research-oriented, scholarly, and educated women in our country? In our historical past, such a thing has never existed. Yes, there have been a few outstanding female scholars, but not in the sense of a noticeable and dominant presence in the entire society. This is specific to the era of the Islamic Republic; it is due to the blessing of Islamic governance in this country that women are showing themselves in the field of scientific presence and achieving such prominence. This is among the honors of the Islamic Republic system. This is why I have repeatedly said in student gatherings and among the youth that in the matter of women, we do not defend against Western claims; we attack, and the West must defend itself in the matter of women, not Islam.

Islam, contrary to how women have always been viewed in tyrannical systems, gives women dignity. In Islam, when they want to specify an example for believers, they designate a female example. "And God has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh"; (1) this is the first person, "and Mary, the daughter of Imran"; (2) the second person; examples for those who believe are two women. The example for those who disbelieve is also two women: "The wife of Noah and the wife of Lot were under two of Our righteous servants... but they betrayed them." (3) This means that women are not only a focal point and a lesson for women but for the entire society. They could have chosen a man. No, this is in opposition to the distorted and incorrect view that has existed regarding women. This view has not always been derogatory; however, it has always been wrong.

Women have always been viewed incorrectly in tyrannical systems; today, it is the same in the West. Now, some women - like many men - may emerge as prominent and respectable figures in these Western systems, but the general view of women that has been institutionalized in Western culture is a wrong view; it is an instrumental view, a derogatory view. From the perspective of the West, the reason you should not be in a chador, you should not have a hijab, is not that you are free. You are saying that you have freedom even with a hijab. They have something else in mind; they want women to appear in a specific way in society for the pleasure of men's eyes, for the illicit benefit of men. This is the greatest insult to women; even if they cover it with many flattering wraps and give it other names.

Respecting women means giving them the opportunity to manifest the remarkable and immense potentials that God has entrusted within every human being - including women and the talents that exist only within women - at various levels; at the family level, at the community level, at the international level, for knowledge, for understanding and research, for education and construction. Respecting women is this. I see that this is being fully manifested in our society, thanks to God's grace. Well, this relates to the essence of the work that today, thanks be to God, our women are doing, which is very valuable as they are present in all scientific fields, especially in the Quranic collective and Quranic work, which is very valuable.

I do not think that in any part of the Islamic world, such a large quantity with this motivation and enthusiasm is active in Quranic works. Of course, I do not have precise information; I have not researched it; but as one hears from general information - "If it were there, we would know it"; if it existed, we would understand it - such a thing does not exist, and I do not think it exists in the Islamic world. This is solely your art. All these women researchers of the Quran in various Quranic issues; from purely scientific matters to promotional issues, to educational matters, to artistic work; all of this seems very valuable to me. Of course, if it is as proposed - now it should be reviewed, its aspects should be assessed - if this issue of international competitions is practical and action is taken, then the value of Iranian women’s work in the field of the Quran will become clear and evident. And this is an honor; both for Iranian women and for the Islamic Republic that it can have such a remarkable activity in the matter of the Quran.

Regarding the Quran, we must admit that for many years, our society distanced itself from the Quran. We are reducing this distance in the Islamic Republic; we are compensating for the backwardness, but this backwardness has been very significant. During the reign of tyrannies, the Quran did not have an official presence in society; in corners, some people might have been familiar with the Quran - the devout would read the Quran at home - but this was only the recitation of the Quran; contemplation of the Quran, especially at the societal level and in the public eye, was very rare; it was very little. The result was that our intellectual and academic groups were completely distanced from the Quran; I mean, truly among the educated of that time, someone who had a connection with the Quran, a familiarity - not a very broad and deep familiarity, but a limited familiarity - was not seen; except for those who had a background in religious studies and had memorized verses from their time in religious studies; but in other Islamic countries, especially Arab countries, due to conditions, the situation was not like this, and it is still the same. When one meets their intellectuals, their university-educated individuals who are also in various governmental positions, one sees that they use verses of the Quran as examples, as witnesses, as confirmations in their words; something that did not exist among our old intellectuals, but it does exist among our young generation. This is due to the same distance from the Quran that we had. Now, how the quality of education and upbringing was in those countries is another discussion. In Arab countries, especially, this was common; it still is. We encountered this phenomenon from the very beginning of the revolution. These politicians and statesmen of Arab countries, whom we have always objected to for their distance from Quranic principles in practice, and we have justly objected, but the Quran was present in the minds and tongues of these individuals. We always lamented why we are not like this. It is as if now, if I want to make a comparison, individuals with Iranian taste might bring up sentences from the Golestan of Saadi, from the poetry of Hafez, sentences from a famous writer during their conversation; they used to use the Quran in the same way; however, in our country, there was no such thing. We had distanced ourselves from the Quran due to the type of education that existed before the revolution.

Now we want to compensate for this, and for this, truly and fairly, a lot has been done since the beginning of the revolution, and we are observing its results; however, this is just the beginning; the beginning of the path. We must be intertwined with the Quran; Quranic concepts are concepts for life; they are not just information. Sometimes a person may have good Quranic knowledge, but there is no effect of the Quran in their life! Some women here also pointed out, saying that we must strive for the Quran to be embodied in our lives. Just as one of the honorable wives of the Prophet Muhammad was asked about the Prophet's ethics, she replied that: "His character was the Quran"; (4) his ethics were the Quran; that is, the Quran was embodied. This must be realized in our society.

Now, there is a very obvious truth that, due to its abundance of clarity, often remains hidden. Let us state this truth; let us bring it up. That truth is the very essence of the realization of the Islamic Republic; this is the embodiment of the Quran. The Islamic Republic system, a religious-based system, is one of the greatest manifestations of acting upon the Quran that this revolution has provided for us. Let us not forget this. Yes, within this large framework, there are many tables that need to be filled, many tasks that need to be accomplished, but the main work, the fundamental work, was to establish this system. Creating a system based on religion, where the identity, goals, characteristics, and performance of its officials, their relationship with the people, and their performance for the people are based on religion - based on religious and Islamic directives - this is the greatest manifestation of acting upon the Quran; that is, the same work that the Prophet Muhammad did upon arriving in Medina and migrating to Medina. As long as there is no society, no system, no concentration of authority that can overshadow all social activities, the work has no guarantee. Before the revolution, there were a few well-wishers and advisors; they were pained, they were eager, they constantly advised the people - now in public or more limited media - they preached; preaching is not without effect; it has an impact on the heart; however, it is not practically achievable; why? Because the system is a wrong system; because the orientation of society is against justice, against fairness, against kindness, against ethics. Now, in such an orientation, you insist on someone to be just, to show mercy, to be fair; can it be done? The orientation is important. The essence of orientation is established by forming a system; a system with a correct and religious orientation. This work was done by the revolution, and this system was established. I want to say that our Quran researchers, our enthusiastic and interested youth should not forget this truth; this is a very clear and evident truth, but it is often overlooked! This is a very important truth.

Within this framework, Quranic construction must be entered, and fundamental works must be done so that the contents become truly Quranic; our individual behavior, our managerial behavior, our organizational behaviors, our behavior in education - that is, our education system, including universities, research institutes, religious seminaries, and everywhere - our behavior within our families, our political behaviors, our international behaviors, all must be based on Islam; when will this happen? It will happen when we are truly familiar with Quranic concepts. This is the work that will be realized with this great Quranic research movement - both its female and male sections. The direction must be this; research must move in this direction.

An important point in Quranic research is that an individual who wants to move in the path of Quranic work must prepare their heart to face the pure truth of the Quran; that is, the purity of the heart. If the heart is not pure, if it is not ready to accept the truth from the words of the Quran, if it is attached to non-Islamic and non-divine foundations, when faced with the Quran, they will not benefit from it. This is what the Quran says: "He leads many astray and guides many"; (5) well, why does it lead astray? Now, guidance from the Quran is clear, but why does it lead astray? This is because: "And as for those in whose hearts is a disease, it has increased them in impurity"; (6) those whose hearts are diseased, when they read the Quran, it will increase their inner impurity. What is this impurity? What is this "in their hearts is a disease"? This disease means the moral ailments. When we are afflicted with envy, when we are afflicted with malice, when we are afflicted with greed, when we are consumed by worldly desires, when power-seeking dominates us, when injustice and blindness to the truth, hiding the truth dominates our spirit, we do not benefit from the Quran. We receive the opposite of what the Quran should give us. We must seek refuge in God. You see, sometimes some read a verse of the Quran to attack Islam! To attack the Islamic Republic! To destroy the virtues that the Islamic Republic has provided for us! We must face the Quran with purity so that the light of the Quran and Quranic reminders can take hold in our hearts, and we can, God willing, benefit from it.

Another point regarding Quranic research is that attention to foundational and principled scientific works is very necessary. It is not the case that anyone who knows Arabic can understand all the contents of the Quran and be a Quran researcher; no. Firstly, familiarity with the Quran itself is necessary; that is, a Quran researcher must be familiar with the entirety of the Quran; reciting the Quran, rereading the Quran, reflecting personally on the Quran helps us when we are searching for truths in a specific topic in the Quran, so we can find our way on that topic; thus, familiarity with the Quran itself is necessary.

Then, the quality of using the Quran; the method that our religious scholars, our jurists have in using verses and narrations is a well-tested method, a mature and thoroughly tested scientific method; these must be learned. I do not mean to say that anyone who wants to do Quranic research should go study for years in religious seminaries; that is not my intention, but Quranic research cannot be done without understanding the preliminaries and foundations of understanding the Quran, which among them is familiarity with the language, familiarity with the nuances and subtleties of the language, familiarity with some of the principles of jurisprudence - these are all necessary; and the use of narrations that are related to the Quran. All of these are effective in Quranic research.

One last point I want to mention is that I have expressed a complaint about the humanities from the academic institutions - repeatedly, even recently - our humanities are based on principles and foundations that contradict Quranic and Islamic foundations. Western humanities are based on a different worldview; based on a different understanding of the creation of the world and are often based on a materialistic view. Well, this view is a wrong view; this foundation is a wrong foundation. We bring these humanities in a translated form, without allowing any Islamic research thought to find its way into them, into our universities, and we teach them in various sections; while the roots and foundations of humanities should be found in the Quran. This is one of the important sections of Quranic research. We must pay attention to the nuances and subtleties of the Quran in various fields and seek and find the foundations of humanities in the Holy Quran. This is a very fundamental and important task. If this is done, then thinkers, researchers, and experts in various humanities can build lofty structures on this foundation. Of course, then they can also benefit from the advancements of others, the Westerners and those who have made progress in the humanities, but the foundation must be Quranic.

We hope that God Almighty grants you success. I sincerely thank all the honorable women, the esteemed ladies who are active in Quranic work in various parts of the country. Your presence in the field of Quranic work will inspire the women of the country and, God willing, will incline our women - that is, half of the population - towards the Quran. And if women become familiar with the Quran, many of the problems of society will be solved; because the next generation is nurtured in the arms of women, and a woman familiar with the Quran and at ease with the Quran and understanding the concepts of the Quran can have a significant impact on child-rearing, and we hope, God willing, that thanks to this great movement of yours, the future of our society will be much more Quranic than today.

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