The following is the full text of the speech delivered on October 20, 2009 by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a meeting with woman researchers of the Holy Quran.
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
I would like to welcome you honorable ladies and dear sisters. Today is an Eid for me because of seeing this large gathering of knowledgeable personalities, all of whom are attached to the Holy Quran. I consider this to be a blessing from the generous member of the Holy Prophet's (s.w.a.) household, Hazrat Fatimah Masumeh (God's greetings be upon here). I thank God that a day has arrived in our country when a great group of the ladies of the country are pursuing the Holy Quran and after understanding and promoting it with deep, reasonable and scholarly motivations. I thank God that they have improved the Quranic environment in a considerable way. This is certainly a great blessing that God has bestowed on our country.
All the suggestions that the honorable ladies in this meeting have put forward are noteworthy. By Allah's favor, we will collect these suggestions and then, we will consider and pay attention to them. If there are certain officials in charge of such tasks, we will deliver these suggestions to them. I hope that, by Allah's favor, part of these suggestions - which are practical, reasonable and acceptable - will be implemented.
I would like to discuss two issues. One issue is the essence of this outstanding and glorious movement which has been launched by women in our country and in the Islamic Republic. The second issue is about Quranic matters. I believe that the very essence of women's attention to the Holy Quran in our country and their presence on Quranic scenes is a phenomenon which should be presented to all viewers, researchers, critics, friends and opponents as the great achievement of the Islamic Republic. Everyone should witness this achievement.
Primarily, women's entrance into issues related to knowledge and research - this is not particular to Quranic discussions - is noteworthy. I usually read and study the journals - scholarly, research and scholarly-promotional journals - which are published in the country. One can see that the number of woman writers and researchers in these journals is very noteworthy. These woman writers and researchers write about all the issues which our journals - they publish new and innovative ideas - are interested in.
The participation of our ladies in seminarian studies, fiqh, philosophy, academic areas, humanities and natural sciences is outstanding and prominent and this participation can be witnessed in all fields of knowledge. Female students have filled our universities. The presence of women has astonishingly influenced scholarly environments. What is this? What phenomenon is this? What truth is this? When did our country have such a large number of woman researchers who are knowledgeable and well-educated and who are interested in promoting values and principles? Such a thing never existed in our history.
During the time of taghuti regimes, there were only a few outstanding female scholars. But women did not have an outstanding and dominant presence in society. This large number of woman researchers is particular to the Islamic Republican era. This has been achieved in the shade of the rule of Islam in the country. It is because of the rule of Islam that women are showing themselves in the arena of knowledge and that they are achieving such prominence. This is one of the glories of the Islamic Republic. This is the reason why I have repeatedly said in my meetings with students and youth that we do not engage in defense when it comes to western claims on the issue of women. Rather, we launch an attack. It is the West, not Islam that should engage in defense.
Contrary to what existed in taghuti regimes - which used to adopt a different outlook towards women - Islam gives women an identity. Islam mentions the name of a woman when it wants to give an example of a true believer: "And Allah sets forth, as an example to those who believe the wife of Pharaoh" [The Holy Quran, 66: 11]. This is the first example. "And Maryam, the daughter of Imran" [The Holy Quran, 66: 12]. This is the second example.
The Holy Quran mentions two women as examples of "those who believe". It also mentions two women as examples of "those who disbelieve": "The wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut. They were both under two of Our righteous servants, but they acted treacherously towards them so they availed them naught against Allah" [The Holy Quran, 66: 10]. This means that Islam makes women a pivot, a lesson and a mirror not only for women themselves but also for the entire society. It could have chosen a man to enjoy this position. This position was bestowed on women in order to confront the deviant and wrong outlook towards women. This outlook has not always been derogatory, but it has always been wrong.
There has always been a wrong outlook towards women. Today, the same wrong outlook exists in the west. Of course, a number of women may become outstanding, honorable and modest personalities in western systems. This holds true for men too. But the general outlook towards women, which has become firmly established in western culture, is an objectifying and insulting outlook.
From the western viewpoint, the reason why women should not wear a chador and why they should not wear hijab is not that it wants them to be free. You say that you can have freedom with hijab as well. The West has a different opinion. It wants women to entertain men's eyes and it wants to use them in an illegitimate way. It wants women to a have a special appearance in society. This is the greatest insult to women. Of course, they cover it up with certain beautiful words and they give it different names.
Respecting women means giving them the opportunity to develop, at different levels, those capabilities and those outstanding and great talents which Allah the Exalted has bestowed on all individuals - including women and the talents which are particular to them. Respecting women means allowing them to develop these talents inside the family, in society and in international arenas and for the sake of knowledge, understanding, research, education and construction.
I see that, by Allah's favor and grace, this is showing itself in our society in a perfect way. Well, this is related to the basis of the work that the women of our country have thankfully carried out. The fact that they are present in all scholarly areas is very valuable. They have an active and praiseworthy presence, particularly in Quranic groups and in Quranic activities. This is very valuable.
I do not think that women in any part of the world of Islam pursue Quranic activities in such an active way, in such large numbers and with such motivations and enthusiasm. Of course, I do not have detailed information in this regard and I have not researched into this issue, but according to my general information, such a thing does not exist in any part of the world of Islam because "if there was, we would know" [Speaking in Arabic]. This is only your achievement.
In my opinion, the existence of such a large number of woman researchers in different Quranic areas - ranging from purely scholarly areas to promotional, educational and artistic areas - is very valuable. If the issue of international Quranic competitions is put into practice the way it was suggested - this matter should be pursued and its different dimensions should be evaluated - then the value of Iranian women's work in Quranic areas will become clear. It will be an honor for both Iranian women and for the Islamic Republic to witness such an outstanding activity in Quranic areas.
On the issue of the Holy Quran, we should admit that our society witnessed a large gap between the people and the Holy Quran for many years. In the Islamic Republic, we are bridging this gap and we are making up for this backwardness, but this backwardness has been enormous.
During taghuti regimes, the Holy Quran was not present in society in a formal way. A number of people were familiar with the Holy Quran in some corners of the country. There were a number of pious people who used to recite the Holy Quran at home, but this was confined to recitation. Few efforts were made to help people think about the Holy Quran in a deep way, particularly in society and in public. The result was that our intellectual and academic groups completely drifted away from the Holy Quran. There was really no one among the graduates of those times who had familiarity - basic familiarity, let alone detailed and deep familiarity - with the Holy Quran except for those people who had seminarian backgrounds and who had been memorizing a number of ayahs since their childhood.
This was while such a situation did not exist in other Islamic countries - particularly Arab countries - because of certain reasons. Even in the present time, such a situation does not exist in these countries. When we meet with their intellectuals and their academic graduates - who have different governmental positions as well - we see that they quote Quranic ayahs to teach moral lessons and they use them as evidence and as clear reasons and proofs. This was something that was not common among our intellectuals in the past. But this is common among our today's youth.
In the past, this was not common among our intellectuals because we had drifted away from the Holy Quran. That at which level education was in these countries is a different issue. What is clear is that this was and still is common in Arab countries. From the beginning of the Revolution, we have been witnessing this phenomenon in these countries. Politicians and officials in Arab countries constantly cited the Holy Quran although we always criticized and continue to criticize them - which is a legitimate criticism - for their lack of attention to Quranic principles in practice.
We always regretted that we were not like them. If I want to draw an analogy, I should say that they cited the Holy Quran the way our talented Iranian personalities cite Saadi's Golestan, poetry of Hafiz and sentences from such and such a well-known writer. But in our country, such a thing was not common. We had drifted away from the Holy Quran because of the kind of education which was dominant before the Revolution.
Now, we want to make up for this backwardness and great measures have really been adopted from the beginning of the Revolution. We are witnessing the results of these measures. However, this is only the beginning. This is the beginning of the path. We should establish a close relationship with the Holy Quran. Quranic concepts are concepts for life. They are not only some pieces of information.
Some people have a good knowledge of the Holy Quran, but there is no trace of the Holy Quran in their lives. This was pointed out by a number of ladies in this meeting as well. We should try to make the Holy Quran the manifestation of our lives. When one of the Holy Prophet's (s.w.a.) honorable wives was asked about his behavior, she replied, "His behavior is imbued with the Holy Quran" [Fadhael al-Khamsa, Volume 1, page 117]. That is to say, the Holy Quran was the manifestation of his life. This should be achieved in our society as well.
There is a very clear truth which is often ignored because it is very clear. Let us say what this truth is. This truth is that the establishment of the Islamic Republic is the manifestation of the Holy Quran. The Islamic Republic is a religious system and it is one of the greatest examples of observing Quranic principles. It was the Revolution which provided this for us. We should not be negligent about this.
Of course, there are many pieces in this big puzzle which should be filled. There are many tasks which should be carried out, but the main task was creating this system. Creating a system which is based on religion and in which the identity, goals, characteristics, actions and interactions - with the people - of officials are based on religion is one of the greatest manifestations of acting on the Holy Quran. This is what the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) did when he immigrated to Madina. As long as there is not a society, system and power which can influence all social activities, there is no guarantee that tasks will be carried out.
Before the Revolution, there were a few sympathetic personalities. They had a feeling of pity for the country and they were upset. They constantly offered advice to the people either with different means of mass communication or with more limited means. Advice can be efficient and it can influence hearts, but it did not achieve practical results in those days. Why not? It was because the system was fake and because society's orientation was against justice, equality, kindness and morality.
Even if you constantly advise someone who has such an orientation to be just and to be merciful, will they listen? Therefore, orientation is important. The right orientation can only be achieved by establishing a system which has a proper and religious position. The Revolution did this and it created this system. What I am saying is that our Quranic researchers and our enthusiastic and zealous youth should not forget this truth. This is a very clear truth, but it is often ignored. This is a very important truth.
We should engage in Quranic construction and we should carry out the main tasks in this framework so that our build up will be Quranic in the real sense of the word and so that our individual, managerial, organizational, political and international behavior and our behavior in the educational system - including universities, research centers, Islamic seminaries and all other educational centers - and inside the family will be based on Islam. When will this be achieved? It will be achieved when we become familiar with Quranic concepts in a correct way. This is something that can be achieved with this great Quranic movement - whether launched by women or men. This is the direction which Quranic research should move in.
An important point about research activities on the Holy Quran is that the person who wants to work on Quranic research should prepare his heart for approaching pure Quranic truths. That is to say, he needs purity of heart. If your heart is not pure, if it is not prepared to accept the truth which is expressed in the Holy Quran, if it is attached to non-Islamic and non-divine principles and values, then you will not benefit from the Holy Quran when you approach it.
The Holy Quran says, "By it He causes many to stray, and many He leads into the right path" [The Holy Quran, 2: 26]. Well, why should the Holy Quran cause anyone to stray? It is clear why many people are guided by it, but what is the reason for this straying? This is because "And as for those in whose hearts is a disease, it adds uncleanness to their uncleanness" [The Holy Quran, 9: 125]. When those in whose hearts is a disease read the Holy Quran, the evil in their hearts and souls is strengthened. The ayahs and suras that they read strengthen the evil inside them.
What is this evil? What is this disease in their hearts? This disease is a moral disease. When we are jealous, when we bear a grudge against someone, when we become greedy, when we suffer from materialism, when lust and hunger for power dominate us, when violating and denying other people's rights dominate our hearts and souls, then we will not be able to benefit from the Holy Quran. In such conditions, we take the opposite of what the Holy Quran should give us.
We should seek refuge in God. As you see, some people recite the Holy Quran in order to deliver a blow to Islam and to the Islamic Republic. They recite the Holy Quran with the purpose of destroying the virtues which the Islamic Republic has provided for us. We should read the Holy Quran with purity so that our hearts are enlightened with the light of the Holy Quran and Quranic advice and so that, by Allah's favor, we can benefit from it.
Another point about research activities on the Holy Quran is that it is necessary to pay attention to important, fundamental and scholarly tasks when we engage in Quranic research. It is not the case that anyone who knows Arabic can understand all the issues about the Holy Quran and that they can become a Quranic researcher. This is not the case. First, it is necessary to establish a close relationship with the Holy Quran. That is to say, Quranic researchers should get close to the entire Holy Quran. Reading and re-reading the Holy Quran for the second and third time and thinking deeply about it helps us to achieve results when we are searching for truths in the Holy Quran. Therefore, establishing a close relationship with the Holy Quran is necessary.
Second, we should pay attention to the way we benefit from the Holy Quran. The method that our religious scholars and faqihs have adopted for benefiting from ayahs and narrations is a completely tried and tested and ripe method. Such methods should be adopted.
I am not saying that anyone who wants to carry out Quranic research should go and study seminarian teachings for many years. This is not what I am saying. However, it is not possible to carry out Quranic research without familiarity with the requirements and principles that are necessary for understanding the Holy Quran such as familiarity with the Arabic language and its rules, with a number of principles of usul-e fiqh with the narrations which are in reference to matters in the Holy Quran. These are among necessary tools and one should learn how to use them. All of these tools play an efficient role in carrying out Quranic research.
Another point which I would like to discuss and which is the last point is that I have made a complaint to universities about humanities. I have expressed this complaint many times and I have done this recently as well. Our humanities are based on principles which are not compatible with Quranic and Islamic principles. Western humanities are based on a world view which is different from ours. They are based on a different reading of universe and on a materialistic outlook.
Well, this outlook is wrong. These principles are wrong. We translate their works in the area of humanities and we promote and teach them in our universities without allowing Islamic researchers to research into them. This is while the root, basis and essence of humanities should be sought in the Holy Quran. This is a very important and fundamental task. If this is done, then intellectuals, researchers and experts in different fields of humanities can put up lofty buildings on the basis of this thought. Of course, when this is done, they can benefit from the achievements of other people - including westerners and those who have made certain achievements in the area of humanities - as well. However, the basis should be the Holy Quran.
I hope that Allah the Exalted bestows success on you. I express my sincere gratitude to all the honorable and respectable ladies who are active in different Quranic areas in the country. Your presence in the arena of Quranic work will inspire the community of women in our country. By Allah's favor, your presence in Quranic arenas will draw the women of the country - that is to say, half the population - to the Holy Quran.
If women establish a close relationship with the Holy Quran, many problems of society will be solved because future generations will be raised by women and because those women who are intimately familiar with the Holy Quran and Quranic concepts can play a very effective role in educating children. I hope that, by Allah's favor, the future of our society will be more Quranic than today in the shade of your great movement.
Greetings be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings