Pars Today

For sure, you know that this series of programs is mainly concentrated on the views of the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on various issues. The theme of this episode will be about women and their status in Islam.

With the advent of Islam and revelation of the Final Divine Scripture to the Last Messenger the view on women totally changed. The pagan Arabs of the age of Jahiliya or ignorance used to kill their female children. God severely censured the practice of pagan Arabs saying, “They are certainly losers who slay their children foolishly without knowledge, and forbid what Allah has provided them, fabricating a lie against Allah. Certainly they have gone astray and are not guided.”

Throughout history various statements have been said about women. No doubt, decadent cultures and wrong customs and traditions have caused different kinds of oppressions against woman. Some called her inferior to man or second gender and considered man as the superior gender. Some other cultures described woman as the offspring of devil; hence deprived her of any respect or right. They deemed the reason of her creation to be the man’s servant and means of his pleasure.

In the ancient Rome a woman had no status. They considered her as the symbol of devil with vicious spirits. They believed that a woman has no human spirit. In the ancient Chinese culture the birth of a girl was the sign of frustration and the family of the newborn would be condoled.

The Arabs of pre-Islamic era used to oppress women. They deemed shameful to have daughters and buried female newborns. If a daughter were not buried at her childhood she would be put on auction at her adulthood as a slave. But God lambasted this sordid act. For instance, in ayah 137 of surah An’am, He said, “That is how to most of the polytheists is presented as decorous the slaying of their children by those whom they ascribe as partners to God, that they may ruin them and confound their religion for them.”

According to the holy Qur’an killing daughters was originated in the superstitious beliefs of the pagan Arabs and the idolatry of the people of Hejaz. God revealed surah al-Kowthar in honour of the immaculate character of the Prophet’s daughter, Hazrat Fatema Zahra (Peace upon her). The surah reads, “In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Indeed We have given you abundance. So pray to your Lord, and sacrifice. Indeed it is your enemy who is without offspring.”

There is a long surah (chapter) called Nisa’ (Women) in the holy Qur’an. The theme of the surah is mostly about the status, rights and responsibilities of women.

Ayatollah Khamenei has expressed numerous statements on women. He says that Islam considers woman as a flower. He elaborates that a woman is not a servant of her husband or keeper of her husband’s properties. The Leader says, “The meaning of housewifery is not servitude. It means that she makes the environment of family a safe, calm and kind place for her children and her husband; with her kindness and the dignity that is considered for her at home. The issue of respecting the woman’s labour at home and her non-compulsion [for working at home], not forcing her to do housework, and capability of being bought; this means that [her housework] can be exchanged by money. These are the things that exist in Islam and the Islamic jurisprudence.”

Ayatollah Khamenei explains that Islam has never forced woman to work out of home to make money. But the provision of family expenses and the woman herself is a duty of the husband. The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stresses that Islam has never prevented working out of home for women but it has emphasized on the jobs which comply with the flowerlike character of women.

In view of this, heavy works that require strong physique and the jobs that weary a woman’s spirit and psyche are not in conformity with the female nature. Ayatollah Khamenei continues, “Now, look, if a woman is considered such in a family and in a society, firstly, her dignity, safeguarding her respect, affectionate engagement with her and the ample ensuing issues; how much these will cause a woman feel secure and calm.”

The divine religion of Islam destroyed ethnic, racial, material and sexual superiority and placed all human beings – male and female, rich and poor, Arab and non-Arab, blond and non-blond, beautiful and ugly in one rank. The only criterion for superiority is piety or God-wariness. The Last Divine Scripture, holy Qur’an reads in ayah 13 of surah Hujurat, “O mankind! Indeed We created you from a male and a female, and made you nations and tribes that you may identify yourselves with one another. Indeed the noblest of you in the sight of Allah are the most Godwary among you.”

Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini, said on the dignity and character of women, “The status of woman is high. Women in Islam have an exalted and lofty status. We want woman reach her lofty human position; not to be a plaything, neither in the hands of men nor the scoundrels.”

In Islam woman is the axis of family and home. Thus, disintegration of a woman’s personality is tantamount to the collapse of family. In view of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution a safe and calm environment can help woman to achieve scientific, ethical, social and political growth. Hence, a fully preserved and safeguarded flower will spread the scent of love and affection to the entire family and beyond.

RM/ME