Statements in Meeting with Thousands of Women and Girls

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 Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen progeny, especially the Remaining One of God on earth.

Welcome to all the esteemed women, especially the families of the dear martyrs, particularly the families of the recent martyrs who were manifestations of the country's power and the power of the Islamic Republic. I also thank the women who have expressed their thoughts here; what was said was both profound and meaningful — whether it was the wife of the martyr Rashid, the mother of martyr [Amin-Abbas] Rashid, or the daughter of martyr Salami — both in terms of content and meaning, it reflects a bright mind and lofty thoughts in these women and in the group of devoted women of the country, and it was also very beautiful and heartrending in its text; I am very grateful to all the women, especially to these women.

These days are related to Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her); I will say a brief sentence about that great lady, and then I will speak a few words about the issue of women and the issue of women — which is a prominent issue in the world today.

Regarding Lady Zahra (peace be upon her), if we want to enumerate her virtues, they are limitless. If we want to introduce this great lady in one sentence, we must say she is a celestial human being, a complete human being, like the other infallibles; they are human, but they belong to the celestial realm. We, the earthly ones, are unable to see or even gaze upon their rank, status, and luminosity; just as a human cannot look directly at the sun. The limit of Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) is this limit. In all dimensions of life, she is a celestial being, a celestial human being; whether in worship and humility before the Lord — you have heard of her worship, her supplications at night, her prayers for others — or in selflessness and sacrifice for the people; that is, one who is immersed in divine and spiritual knowledge and attention to God is not oblivious to the earth, nor to humanity. On the night of her wedding, she gives her wedding dress to a beggar, to a poor person; she does not eat for three days and gives her iftar to a beggar; she takes care of the people.

In enduring hardships and calamities; who can endure and withstand the tribulations of Lady Zahra (peace be upon her)? In this regard, she is also a heavenly human being, a celestial human being. In the brave defense of the oppressed right; in elucidating truths and enlightening; in political understanding and action. See, these are all the characteristics of Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her). As a woman and possessing feminine gender, in managing the household, in being a wife, in nurturing children; she raises someone like Zainab and brings forth someone like Imam Hussein and Imam Hasan in her embrace. Her presence in unforgettable positions in history; her presence in the Shi'b of Abu Talib, her presence in the migration to Medina, her active presence in some of the battles of the Prophet, her presence in the event of Mubahala. These are lists that are endless; Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) is adorned with these characteristics and they are limitless. In summary, if we want to say, it is as the Prophet himself said: "The Mistress of the Women of the Worlds"; the leader of the women of the world. According to the narration, it was asked of the Prophet that this phrase was said about Lady Maryam, who is "The Mistress of the Women of the Worlds"; he said: "Maryam was the mistress of the women of her world"; but Fatimah is the mistress of all the women of the world in all periods of history. This is Fatimah al-Zahra. You take your lessons from such a personality, you move towards such a personality, you derive your goals from such a personality and pursue them; these are the points that the women of our society, the women of our country, thanks be to God, pay attention to and should pay attention to. This is regarding Lady Zahra (peace be upon her).

However, regarding the topics related to women, which are also raised in the world today and the reason is the injustices that have occurred and are currently occurring. My perception is that among the topics that should be raised regarding the gender "woman", two topics are more important than all: one is "the dignity of women" and the other is "the rights of women"; these must be raised.

The dignity of women in Islam is very high and exalted. Perhaps the most advanced and best expressions and words about women and the best concepts regarding the identity and personality of women can be found in the Quran; for example, I have noted here:

Firstly, the role of the emergence of human life and the history of humanity from men and women: the equality of men and women. "Indeed, We created you from a male and a female"; that is, in the creation of this human series — which has several thousand years of history and God knows how many thousands of years it will continue — the founders of this structure are a man and a woman; that is, according to the expression of the Quran, a woman has dedicated half of the impact of human life to herself.

Secondly, regarding general duty; God Almighty has created humans for a purpose, to reach a rank; in this regard, men and women are equal in the logic of Islam, without any difference. "And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer"; the impact of righteous deeds and faith in men and women is the same and can save them, as mentioned in several verses of the Quran; now this verse that I read is from Surah An-Nisa, but the same meaning is mentioned in several other verses.

Thirdly, in attaining spiritual perfections and the means to achieve them. When a woman, like a man, possesses faith and righteous deeds, her access to spiritual perfections and the highest ranks will be easy and the path will be open for her. See! All these points and these words are in contrast to misunderstandings, both from those who are religious but do not understand religion, and also from those who have no belief in the essence of religion. In Surah Al-Ahzab [it states]: "Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, and the believing men and believing women, and the obedient men and obedient women, and the truthful men and truthful women, and the patient men and patient women, and the humble men and humble women, and the charitable men and charitable women, and the fasting men and fasting women, and the chaste men and chaste women, and the men and women who remember Allah much..."

Everywhere, men and women are mentioned together; ten titles of equal rank for men and women as servants of God, believing servants. Those who possess these characteristics are the recipients of God's grace, the recipients of God's forgiveness, the recipients of divine attention, and worthy of attaining celestial and spiritual ranks.

In the rights corresponding to men, it is mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah: "And for them is like that which is upon them"; this is the logic of the Quran. See how and in what way equality is established between women and men as believers, as humans, as elevated individuals! From the perspective of Islam, a woman can be active in social activities, in business, in political activities, in most governmental positions, in all areas of life. What the corrupt, degenerate, and wrong Western culture presents about women — which I will refer to later — is absolutely rejected in Islam; [in Islam] a woman is like this; with these lofty meanings, with these high ranks, she lives in the material world and moves in the spiritual realm.

Among the points that exist in Islam regarding women is the issue of limitations in relation to men. These equalities [that were mentioned] exist, but there are also limitations in the relationship between women and men, which is one of the characteristics of Islam. This has not been taken into account at all in the degenerate Western culture; the reason is clear. The reason is that the pull of sexual requests and desires is a very strong pull; it must be controlled, and Islam has been able to control it with its laws. If these laws are not followed, this lack of control will do what it has done today in the West, which you hear about and are aware of the corrupt gangs and organizations in America and Europe and in most Western countries. The dress of women and men is among these; it is one of the limitations that exist, both [for] men and women. The issue of dress is not only related to women. The hijab of women is among these; the physical distances between women and men are among these; encouragement of marriage is among these; these are the things that control that dangerous and perilous factor.

Well, the dignity of women in Islamic culture is logical; firstly, it is a very high dignity that I have only made a reference to; secondly, it is completely logical; that is, it is in accordance with the nature of women and in accordance with the needs of society and in accordance with the interests of society.

In the view of Islam, women and men are two balanced human elements; completely balanced, with many commonalities and some different characteristics that differ according to physical structure; these two elements must play a role in managing life and continuing the human race and civilizational advancements and spiritual needs — and spiritual needs! — that is, women and men manage the world, they also manage their inner humanity. One of the most important tasks they perform is forming a family, which unfortunately has been forgotten in the wrong logic of capitalist culture and Western culture. Now I will make a reference that there are rights in the family; rights for women, rights for men, rights for children; mutual rights between these three elements: men, women, and children.

Well, from here let us discuss the issue of women's rights [a few points]. We have discussed the dignity of women.

Regarding women's rights, the first right that must be considered for women is the issue of justice in social behavior and family behavior. Justice in society, justice in the home; this is the first right of women; this must be secured; everyone is obliged to secure this; governments and authorities are also obliged to secure this, and individuals must do the same.

The preservation of security, dignity, and respect for women is among the rights of women. The dignity of women must be preserved. This wicked capitalist logic destroys and tramples the dignity of women. In Islam, the dignity of women and respect for women is one of the main elements. The Prophet, according to the narration, said: "A woman is a flower and not a laborer." I have read this hadith many times; I deliberately want this to be said. "Laborer" refers to someone who is the worker of a task; suppose someone has a garden, a farm, a business, the one who organizes the work and bears the burdens is called "laborer" in Arabic. The Prophet says: "A woman is a flower." A flower is something that must be cared for, must be preserved; it will also give you its color, its scent, and its properties. See! Islam looks at women this way.

In one place, to show the importance of the actions of women and the thoughts of women and the path that women tread, the Quran gives a strange example: "And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh"; that is, God Almighty sets forth a sample, an example, a standard for believers, which is not only for women; "Allah has set forth an example for those who believe"; it sets forth a standard for all believers; who is that standard? One is the wife of Pharaoh, and one is "and Mary, the daughter of Imran"; that is, all the men of the world, all the believers of the world should look at these two women to see how they acted, what they did; that [path] is the way of salvation for them. This is Islam's view of women.

Women's rights in society must be preserved; there should be no discrimination — today there is discrimination — today in many Western countries, women's wages for the same job are less than men's; today it is like this. This is sheer injustice. The issue of equal valuation with men for the work they perform — wages — equal governmental privileges with men, such as insurance rights for working women, insurance for women heads of households, special leave for women, and dozens of other issues; these must be observed. This is in society.

In the home, the most important right that a housewife and a woman has is "love". The most important need she has and the most important right she has is love. It has been narrated that men should tell their wives, "I love you"; that is, they should state it explicitly; [even though] she knows it. This is the first [right].

Another important and significant right in the home for women is "the absence of violence". Now the degenerate Western culture is full of instances of violence by men against women; it is full! The killing of women by their husbands, the beating of women by their husbands exists in the West; this is one of the most significant deviations. In a story — of course, it is a story, but it reflects a reality related to America — a man comes home and beats his wife severely; this is how it is. See, when a culture becomes prevalent, [the result is] this. It does things, engages in stubbornness, does things that may provoke her husband to come and hit her [but] it does not work, he does not hit. When this culture becomes prevalent, it turns out this way; the negation of violence in any form.

Management of household duties. The head of the household, the manager of the household, are the women and ladies of the house. The husband's assistance in the burdens arising from childbirth. The imposition of household tasks on women should not occur. Appreciation for the fact that despite insufficient incomes, women manage the household; we pay less attention to this point. You observe, a man has a fixed administrative income, goods become expensive, but the household runs; lunch is ready at noon; who does this work? What artist is it that manages the household? Another right is to open the means of advancement and progress, such as education and some female professions and the like. These are a summary of Islam's view of women. It is a summary; that is, if someone wants to elaborate on Islam's view of women, it would take more than a half-hour or an hour session; it is much longer than that. This is a summary, a few words that I [have presented] on this matter.

The opposite point is the Western view, the view of Western capitalism; it is truly the opposite. In Islam, women have independence in movement and progress, they have capability, they have title, they have identity; there, no, the identity of women is subordinate to the identity of their husbands; you have a family name, when you get married, that family name goes aside, the family name of your husband comes upon you! This is a sign, a symbol; it is absorption into becoming a man, being dominated by the identity of a man. Differences in wages; the lack of respect and dignity for women; looking at women as a material tool. Women are viewed as a means of material use — perhaps a certain aristocrat respects his wife; the discussion is not about him, the discussion is about the general view — looking at women as a means of pleasure. These criminal gangs — which have recently made a lot of noise in America — mean this; that is, the view of women is a view of a means of enjoyment; a tool, a means. When this culture becomes dominant, the woman herself does not even realize that she has become a tool; she takes pride in it. She takes pride in it!

The destruction of the family structure. One of the most significant sins that Western capitalist civilization and culture has created is that it has destroyed the family structure; the family, as a connected and cohesive group with affection, exists less. I read in a foreign book that a man and woman agree that, for example, at four o'clock in the afternoon, they will both come home for tea, and the children know that their parents are home at that hour; this is family gathering, that is, at four o'clock in the afternoon, that lady comes home from work, that gentleman comes home from work, that child — son, daughter — also comes, then each goes to pursue their own work; either they have jobs, or they have work, or they have social meetings or clubs; they constantly check to see if five o'clock, when the meeting should end, has arrived or not. This is the state of family there! Children without fathers, a decrease in familial relationships, the destruction of the family structure, gangs hunting young girls, the ever-increasing promotion of sexual promiscuity in the name of freedom! Perhaps one of the greatest sins of the logic and culture of Western capitalism is that it commits all these wrongdoings and calls it "freedom"! It deceives, it misleads, it calls it freedom. Here too, when they want to spread the same culture, they say we are liberating! In reality, they are binding, they are enslaving, but they call it freedom. This major problem regarding the dignity of women and the status of women in the community and also in the family environment has become a culture; a wrong and misguided culture.

And of course, in the past and in previous centuries in Europe, it was not like this; this has intensified more in the last century and around the recent century and unfortunately, they insist on exporting this culture to the whole world; the insistence of the Westerners and capitalists is that this culture must be exported. Then they also create reasoning for it; they say: if a woman has hijab and sets these limitations for herself, she will be deprived of progress! The Islamic Republic has invalidated this wrong logic, crushed it; in the Islamic Republic, it has been shown that a Muslim and committed woman, a woman with hijab and committed to Islamic dress, can advance in all areas more than others. She can play a role; both in society and in the home. In the shadow of this view in the Islamic Republic after the victory of the revolution, in many areas, our ladies, our women, our young girls have progressed; in educational statistics, in health and treatment matters, in life expectancy, in scientific and sports fields, in jihadist support. This lady said correctly; those dear martyrs of ours, without having such wives, could not have engaged in that field of struggle to such an extent that they would reach this glorious end; martyrdom. These women endured the hardships; they were the ones who could support their jihadist husbands in such a way that they could reach the peak of jihad.

What our ladies, our women have been able to achieve in intellectual and research centers in these areas is unprecedented in the history of Iran; undoubtedly. We have never had this many female scholars, female thinkers in Iran; we have not had this many individuals who can present dynamic thoughts, provide solutions; we have never had this; not that we did not have this amount, [but] we did not even have one-tenth of this; I can say we did not even have one-hundredth of this. Thanks be to God, the Islamic Republic has elevated women in the world with the advancement of science in the country; in the fields of science, social, political, and sports, our women are among the pioneers.

My last word is: my advice to the media is to be careful not to be a factor in promoting the wrong thoughts of the Westerners. Our media should be careful not to become tools for promoting the false and wrong Western and capitalist thoughts regarding women. When the discussion of hijab arises, when the discussion of women's dress arises, when the discussion of cooperation between women and men arises, it should not be that the internal media of the Islamic Republic repeats their words, amplifies and exaggerates their words. Promote Islam, express the view of Islam. The view of Islam is a proud view. If we present this thought, this perspective, this great and effective theory among ourselves and in global forums, certainly many people in the world will be inclined towards Islam; especially women will be inclined. This is the best promotion of Islam, and we hope that, God willing, all of you will succeed in this work.

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