Statements of the Supreme Leader on the Occasion of the Blessed Birth of Lady Fatimah and Women's Day

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

I extend my congratulations on the birth of the Lady of the Two Worlds and the Mistress of all women in history, the Pure and Immaculate Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her), to you, my sisters and brothers, and to all truth-seeking men and women across the world. I also welcome all of you, brothers and sisters, who have gathered from various centers—academic, cultural, political, and the honorable families of martyrs—to commemorate this noble figure and organize this gathering.

The more one reflects on the life of the Pure Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her), the more one is astonished. It is not only surprising how a young person could attain such a level of spiritual and material perfection—an astonishing truth in itself—but even more so, how Islam, with its extraordinary power, could cultivate such a high level of education that a young woman, in those difficult circumstances, could achieve this exalted status! Both the greatness of this noble being and the greatness of the school of thought that produced such a magnificent and esteemed being are astonishing and remarkable.

The birth of this great daughter of the Prophet, according to popular belief, was in the fifth year of the Prophethood; thus, at the time of her martyrdom, Fatimah Zahra was eighteen years old. Some say her birth was in the second or first year of the Prophethood, which would make her maximum age at that time twenty-two or twenty-three years. Consider a woman with all the limitations that might exist for her from various aspects—especially in those times—and then see what greatness this noble lady demonstrated in those conditions throughout her short life.

Of course, I cannot speak of the spiritual, divine, and heavenly aspects of that noble lady. I am too small to comprehend those aspects. Even if someone could comprehend them, they could not describe and express them as they truly are. Those spiritual aspects belong to a separate realm.

It is narrated from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) that he said: 'Indeed, Fatimah was a Muhaddathah (one spoken to by angels).' This noble lady was a 'Muhaddathah,' meaning angels descended upon her, became familiar with her, and spoke to her. This is a characteristic mentioned in numerous narrations. Being a 'Muhaddathah' is not exclusive to the Shia. Both Shia and Sunni believe that in the era of Islam, there were or could have been individuals with whom angels spoke. In our narrations, Fatimah Zahra is the example of this. In the narration from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him), it is stated that the divine angels came to Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her); they spoke to her and recited divine verses to her; the same expressions used in relation to Mary (peace be upon her) in the Quran: 'Indeed, Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.' These phrases were addressed to Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her) by the angels, saying: 'O Fatimah, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you; and chosen you above the women of the worlds.' Then Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) continues in the same narration: One night, while the angels were conversing with her and using these expressions, Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her) said to them: 'Is not the one preferred over the women of the worlds Mary?' Meaning, is it not Mary whom Allah has said, 'and chosen you above the women of the worlds'? The angels replied to Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her): 'Mary was chosen over the women of her time, and you are chosen over the women of all times—from the first to the last.' What a high spiritual status this is! An ordinary person—like us—cannot correctly even imagine this greatness and rank in their mind. Or in a narration from Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him), it is reported that Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her) said to him: 'The angels come and tell me things.' Amir al-Mu'minin said to her: 'When you hear the voice of the angel, tell me so that I may write down what you hear.' And Amir al-Mu'minin wrote what the angels dictated to Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her), and this became a book that is with our Imams (peace be upon them) and is called 'Mushaf Fatimah' or 'Sahifah Fatimah.'

In numerous narrations, it is stated that the Imams (peace be upon them) referred to 'Mushaf Fatimah' for various matters. Then the Imam says: 'There is no halal and haram in it'; in this book, there are no rulings of halal and haram. But 'it contains knowledge of what will be'; rather, all the ongoing human events of future times are in this book. What a high knowledge this is! What unparalleled knowledge and wisdom God Almighty granted to a woman in her youth! This pertains to spiritual matters.

These spiritual matters are largely related to practical virtues. That is, to what results from the efforts of Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her). They do not give it for free and do not grant it without reason. Human action—at a high level—affects the attainment of virtues and merits. A girl born in the fiery furnace of the Prophet's difficult struggles in Mecca and was a companion and comforter to her father in the Valley of Abu Talib. A girl about seven or eight years old or two or three years old—according to different narrations, more or less—endured those difficult conditions when Khadijah and Abu Talib passed away. The Prophet was alone, without a comforter, everyone sought refuge in him; but who would wipe the dust of sorrow from his face? Once there was Khadijah, who is no longer there. Abu Talib was there, who is no longer there. In such difficult conditions, amidst the hunger, thirst, cold, and heat of the three-year period in the Valley of Abu Talib, which was one of the difficult periods of the Prophet's life, and he lived in a valley with all the few Muslims, in forced exile; this girl was like an angel of salvation for the Prophet; like a mother to her father; like a great nurse to that great man, she endured the hardships. She became the comforter of the Prophet, took on the burdens, worshipped God, strengthened her faith, built herself, and opened the path of divine knowledge and light to her heart. These are the characteristics that lead a person to perfection. Then, in the period after the migration, at the beginning of the age of responsibility, when Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her) married Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), that was her dowry and trousseau; which perhaps you all know with what simplicity and poverty, the daughter of the foremost person in the Islamic world, conducted her marriage.

The life of Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her) from all dimensions was a life accompanied by work, effort, and spiritual growth and elevation of a human being. Her young husband was constantly on the front lines and battlefields; but despite the environmental and life difficulties, Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her) was like a center for the people's and Muslims' consultations. She was the problem-solving daughter of the Prophet and, in these conditions, led her life with complete dignity: she raised children like Hasan, Husayn, and Zaynab; she maintained a husband like Ali and gained the satisfaction of a father like the Prophet! When the path of conquests and spoils opened, the daughter of the Prophet did not allow a bit of worldly pleasures, ceremonies, and decorations, which attract the attention of young girls and women, to enter her life. The worship of Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her) was exemplary.

'Hassan Basri,' one of the well-known worshippers and ascetics of the Islamic world, says about Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her): The daughter of the Prophet worshipped so much and stood in the prayer niche that 'her feet swelled.' Her feet swelled from standing in the prayer niche! Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (peace be upon him) says: One night—on a Friday night—my mother stood in worship and worshipped until morning. 'Until the dawn broke.' My mother was engaged in worship from the beginning of the night until morning, praying and supplicating. Imam Hasan (peace be upon him) says—according to the narration—I heard that she constantly prayed for the believers and the believing women; she prayed for the general issues of the Islamic world. In the morning, I said: 'O mother!' 'Why do you not pray for yourself as you pray for others?' In response, she said: 'O my son, the neighbor before the house.' 'First others, then ourselves!' This is that high spirit.

The struggle of that noble lady in various fields is an exemplary struggle. In defense of Islam; in defense of Imamate and Guardianship; in support of the Prophet; in maintaining the greatest commander of Islam, that is, Amir al-Mu'minin, who was her husband.

Amir al-Mu'minin said about Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her): 'She never angered me, nor did she ever disobey my command.' Not once did this woman, throughout the marital period, anger me, and not once did she disobey my command. Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her), with all her greatness and majesty, in the home environment, was a wife and a woman as Islam says. In the realm of knowledge, she was also a high-ranking scholar. That sermon which Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her) delivered in the mosque of Medina after the Prophet's demise is a sermon that, according to Allama Majlisi, 'the great eloquent and learned people must sit and interpret its words and phrases!' It is so profound! In terms of artistic beauty, it is like the most beautiful and highest words of Nahj al-Balagha. Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her) goes to the mosque of Medina, stands in front of the people, and speaks extemporaneously! Perhaps for an hour, she spoke with the best and most beautiful expressions and the most refined and selected meanings.

Her worship; her eloquence and rhetoric; her wisdom and knowledge; her struggle and combat; her behavior as a daughter; her behavior as a wife; her behavior as a mother; her kindness to the needy, when the Prophet sent an old needy man to the house of Amir al-Mu'minin saying 'Go and ask them for your need,' Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her) gave the piece of leather that Hasan and Husayn slept on, which she had as a mat for her children at home and had nothing else, to the beggar and said 'Take it, sell it, and use the money!' This is the comprehensive personality of Fatimah Zahra. This is the model. The model of a Muslim woman is this. A Muslim woman must strive for wisdom and knowledge; strive for spiritual and moral self-building; be at the forefront in the field of jihad and struggle—of any kind of jihad and struggle; be indifferent to the low-value worldly adornments and decorations; her chastity and purity should be such that it naturally repels the lustful gaze of strangers; in the home environment, she should be the comfort of her husband and children; be the source of peace and comfort in the family environment; in her loving and affectionate lap and with her insightful and loving words, she should raise healthy children psychologically; people without complexes, people with good spirits, people healthy in terms of spirit and nerves should be nurtured in her lap and she should create the men and women and personalities of society. A mother is more constructive and valuable than any builder. The greatest scientists may, for example, create a very complex electronic tool, build intercontinental missiles, invent means to conquer space; but none of these have the importance of someone creating a noble human being. And she is the mother. This is the model of the Islamic woman.

The arrogant world, full of ignorance, is mistaken in thinking that the value and dignity of a woman lie in adorning herself in the eyes of men so that lustful eyes look at her and enjoy her and praise her. The foundation of what is today spread as 'women's freedom' in the world and by the decadent Western culture is based on putting women in the view of men so that they can enjoy sexual pleasures from her. Men enjoy them, and women become a means of men's pleasure. Is this women's freedom? Those who claim to be supporters of human rights in the ignorant, oblivious, and misguided Western civilization are, in fact, oppressors of women. Look at women as noble human beings, so that it becomes clear what her perfection, her right, and her freedom are. Look at women as beings who can be a source of societal good by nurturing noble human beings, so that it becomes clear what a woman's right is and how her freedom is. Consider women as the main element of family formation; although the family is formed by both men and women and both are effective in forming the family and its existence, the comfort of the family space, the peace and tranquility in the home environment, is due to the blessing of women and the feminine nature. Look at women with this perspective to see how she achieves perfection and what her rights are.

Since the day Europeans created new industries—in the early nineteenth century when Western capitalists invented large factories—and needed cheap, undemanding, and trouble-free labor, they raised the slogan of 'women's freedom'; to draw women out of families into factories; to use her as a cheap laborer, fill their pockets, and strip women of their dignity and status. Today, what is presented as 'women's freedom' in the West is a continuation of that story and that saga. Therefore, the oppression that has been done to women in Western culture and the wrong perception of women in the cultural and literary works of the West is unprecedented in all of history. In the past, women were oppressed everywhere, but this general, pervasive, and all-encompassing oppression is specific to recent times and stems from Western civilization. They introduced women as a means of men's pleasure and called it 'women's freedom'! While in reality, it was the freedom of lustful men to enjoy women and not the freedom of women. Not only in the field of work and industrial activity and the like, but also in the field of art and literature, they oppressed women. Today, look at stories, novels, paintings, and various artistic works, see how women are viewed? Are the positive aspects and high values that exist in women considered? Are those tender emotions, that kindness and affectionate nature that God Almighty has placed in women—the maternal nature, the spirit of caring for and raising children—considered, or are the lustful aspects and what they call love? (which is a wrong and incorrect expression. This is lust, not love!) They wanted to raise and accustom women in this way: as a consumer being. A generous consumer and a cheap, undemanding, and low-demand worker.

Islam does not consider these as values for women. Islam agrees with women working. Not only agrees but perhaps considers it necessary as long as it does not interfere with her main and most important job, which is raising children and maintaining the family. A country cannot do without women's labor in various fields! But this work should not conflict with the dignity and spiritual and human value of women. Women should not be humiliated and forced to humility and submission. Arrogance is condemned for all humans, except for women in front of non-mahram men! A woman should be arrogant in front of a non-mahram man. '(So do not be soft in speech)' (Quran 33:32); in speaking to a man, she should not have a submissive tone. This is to preserve the dignity of women. Islam wants this, and this is the model of a Muslim woman.

See when a Muslim woman returns to her nature and origin, what a great miracle she creates! As seen in our revolution and in our Islamic system, thanks be to God, and it is still seen today. Where had we seen that power and greatness from women that we see today from the mothers of martyrs? Where had we seen those sacrifices from young women, who, by sending their beloved husbands to the battlefields, allowed them to be at ease in these fields? This is the greatness of Islam that is evident in the revolutionary women of our time, during the revolution and today, thanks be to God. Do not propagate that with maintaining hijab, with maintaining chastity, with housewifery, and with raising children, one cannot acquire knowledge. Today, thanks be to God, how many learned and scholarly women do we have in various fields in our society: diligent and valuable students, high-level graduates, excellent and top-tier doctors! Today, in the Islamic Republic, various scientific fields are available to women; women who have preserved their chastity and purity, maintained their feminine purity, preserved their hijab—in its complete form, reach Islamic child-rearing, manage their households as Islam has said, and engage in scientific and political activities. Now among you—the group of women present here—there are many who have political and social activities; those too are excellent and outstanding activities; whether single women or those who are married, and their husbands are proud and should be proud that their wives are pioneers in various fields. With an Islamic spirit and in an Islamic environment, a woman can reach her true perfection; away from those frivolities, away from that consumerism, and away from being degraded and humiliated in front of consumption.

I say to Muslim women, to young women, and to housewives: Do not go towards this consumerism that the West has spread like a plague in the societies of the world, including the societies of developing countries and countries on the path of progress, including our country. Consumption should be to the necessary extent, not to the extent of extravagance. The wives of those whose husbands or themselves have responsibilities in various sectors of the country should be role models for others in terms of avoiding extravagance. They should be a lesson for others and show that the dignity of a Muslim woman is higher than being captivated by gold, jewelry, and such things. We do not want to say these are forbidden; we want to say the dignity of a Muslim woman is higher than this, that in a time when many people in our society need help, some go and spend money to buy gold, buy ornaments, buy colorful household items, and indulge in various lifestyles and behaviors. Extravagance is not the model of a Muslim woman.

This is one of those fields where we claim against the arrogant world. I have repeatedly told the speakers and promoters of the issue of women: It is not us who should defend our position; it is the decadent Western culture that should defend itself. What we offer for women is something that no thoughtful and fair-minded person can deny is 'good for women.' We invite women to chastity, to purity, to hijab, to not having unrestricted mixing and mingling between men and women, to preserving human dignity, to not adorning themselves in front of strange men—for them not to enjoy looking at her. Is this bad? This is the dignity of a Muslim woman. This is the dignity of a woman. Those who encourage women to adorn themselves in such a way that men in the street and market look at them and satisfy their lustful instincts should defend themselves as to why they bring women down to this level and humiliate them?! They should answer. Our culture is a culture that even noble and thoughtful Western individuals approve of and behave in this way. There, too, chaste, dignified, and respectable women who value themselves are not willing to make themselves a means for satisfying the lustful instincts of strangers and lustful eyes. The decadent Western culture has many of these.

One of the things they say is the issue of 'human rights.' Is what the West defends truly human rights? Where the rights of over a billion Muslims are violated with insults to their sanctities, the leaders of human rights remain silent and even encourage! You see today all the arrogant apparatuses and their pen-wielding and paid mercenaries have lined up in defense of the worthless person who exposed 'The Satanic Verses' to the public; that apostate infidel, Salman Rushdie. Is this a defense of human rights!? Why do they not speak of human rights when the rights of two hundred million Indian Muslims are violated and their place of worship is destroyed by a group of ignorant fanatics with the instigation of the enemies of Islam and Muslims? Why do they not defend human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where millions of people are subjected to the harshest unjust punishments, massacred, children die, women are destroyed, and the sick are killed, or at most suffice with a verbal expression? If they truly support human rights, why are they dead silent here?! Why in Palestine, where a nation is displaced from its home; its land is usurped, and even today, on any occasion, Palestinians and their supporters in Lebanon and Palestinian camps are not left alone and are bombed, do those who claim to support human rights sit silently? Are they supporters of human rights, or are they liars and deceivers!? Human rights in the Western cultural way is anti-human rights, and the rights of oppressors over individuals. This human rights is not human rights. We are supporters of human rights, and Islam supports human rights. No doctrine values and elevates human dignity as much as Islam. One of the Islamic principles that has always been discussed in defining and introducing Islam is the principle of 'human dignity.' We do not wait for Westerners to come and teach us human rights or recommend us to uphold human rights! We ourselves are the first supporters of human rights. However, human rights are defensible under the shadow of Islam and are considered human rights. Islam, with its rulings—all kinds of rulings: whether judicial and penal rulings, or civil and public rights and political issues—has defended human rights; not what is in their possession, not what they have deceitfully considered human rights and labeled.

We are supporters of human rights and will pursue human rights. We do not care about the statements of some UN commission or some international committee. We ourselves, because of the command of Islam, are supporters of human rights; because it is one of the principles of Islam. However, what they propose, we consider a deception and a lie. That is their support for women's rights, this is their support for human rights! The arrogant and tyrannical and plunderers of the world and the indifferent to the rights of nations and the destroyers of the interests of weak nations and the occupiers of the lands of weak countries, today have taken up the banner of so-called defense of human rights and women's rights! It is clear that Muslim nations cannot pay attention to them. The important thing is that you Muslim women; especially young women, female students, women engaged in scientific, social, and political activities, pursue this Islamic method with seriousness and complete attention. The Islamic and revolutionary upbringing of Muslim women is a source of pride and honor for the Islamic Republic. We are proud of our Muslim women. In these marches, when cameras focus on the faces of women who, with complete hijab, have also taken their children in their arms and have come to the march in difficult conditions, or to declare a political stance, or have participated in Friday prayers, or have gone to the ballot boxes for a religious, political act, it is a source of pride for us. When women who have achieved high ranks in the pursuit of knowledge in universities or have ranked first and second in various fields in national exams appear in our society, the Islamic Republic is proud and honored. This is an honor for the luminous rulings of Islam that in this era, it is engaged in such construction and in a world where all around there are waves of misleading and incorrect propaganda, the Muslim woman, with this courage and independence of opinion, can show herself. These are the blessings of Islam.

The university environment is very important. In the university environment, female students and professors must strive to promote the Islamic spirit and culture. Do not allow those—if, God forbid, they are in the country's universities—who disrespect Islamic hijab or Muslim female students. Do not allow them to spread corrupt ideas. The university environment must be Islamic; an environment for the growth of the Islamic standard human; a human whose model is Fatimah Zahra (peace be upon her). And this is extremely important for the future of the country. Especially some universities, like Tarbiat Modares University, which is essentially a revolutionary institution, should pay more attention. I have always said: The expectation we have from Tarbiat Modares University is even more than from our other universities. Although today, thanks be to God, all universities operate under the shadow of Islam; but Tarbiat Modares University, nurtured by Islam and born of Islam and the revolution and built with the aim of training high-ranking Islamic professors and teachers, is expected more than other universities. The attention of officials to such centers should also be their appropriate and deserving attention.

We hope that God Almighty will include you in His mercy and grace and that the holy existence of the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him and may God hasten his reappearance) will bestow His favors upon you and that the holy spirit of our great Imam will be pleased and happy with all of you.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings