Khamenei.ir

Western culture generally objectifies, disrespects women

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.

It is the West that needs to defend its views on women, not Muslims

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.

The true meaning of respecting women

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.

Leader Meets with Female Quranic Researchers

The woman is generally viewed in the Western culture from a humiliating and objectifying perspective

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.

By baring women, Western civilization does not seek to give freedom to women

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.

Leader's Speech in Meeting with Woman Researchers of the Holy Quran

Leader's Message on Sistan and Baluchestan Terrorist Attack

Leader Meets with President of Senegal

Leader: Foresight Most Important Way to Confront Sedition

Enhance your acumen in today’s complicated social life

In today's complex societies. The youth must think and increase their insight. Clergymen and the committed members of our society - including those involved in educational and cultural issues, academics, and seminarians - must pay attention to the issue of insight when setting goals, determining the necessary means, identifying the enemy, detecting the obstacles, and determining the methods to remove the obstacles. These are different types of insight that are necessary. When there is insight, you will know who you should deal with and you will equip yourself with the necessary means. Sometimes you decide to take a walk in the street. You may put on ordinary clothes and a pair of slippers for the walk. But when you decide to go climbing, you need special equipment. Insight is the knowledge of what you need and what you should take along.

Leader's Address to People of Chalous and Noshahr

Leader’s Speech to Cadets in Noshahr

Leader: Iran Not a Threat to Other Countries

Private Ownership in Islam

Leader Meets with Members of the Assembly of Experts

Unity in all arenas

The issue of forming unity - religious, ethnic, and political unity - is extremely important. We should try our best. Fomenting discord is one of the courses of action that the enemy is following. They try to foment discord - among different groups of people, including government officials, ordinary citizens, clergymen, academics, and other groups of people - wherever they can. You can see many of the instances in our society today

Leader's Speech to Members of the Assembly of Experts

Leader's Sermons during Eid ul-Fitr Prayers

Leader Urges Domestic Media to Stop Making Allegations

One of the great achievements during Ramadan is repentance

One of the great achievements of the month of Ramadan is repentance and returning to Allah the Exalted. In the holy dua of Abu Hamza Thumali, we read, "Let us gather around Mustafa and achieve the position of returning to you". We ask God to help us achieve the position of repentance so that we can return to Him and return from deviant, bad and indecent actions, thoughts and conducts. In the farewell dua of the auspicious month of Ramadan, Imam Sajjad (a.s.) says to the God of the world, "You are One Who opened a door for Your servants so that they can return to You and You named this door repentance" [Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, Dua 45]. He says to God that He opened this door for us so that we rush towards His forgiveness and benefit from the blessing of His forgiveness and mercy.This door is the door of repentance. It is a window to the pure view of divine forgiveness.

Eid ul-Fitr prayers show our appreciation for divine blessings during Ramadan

In a sense, Eid ul-Fitr prayers are our appreciation of divine blessings in the month of Ramadan. It is an appreciation of this new birth. During Eid ul-Fitr prayers, we repeatedly say to God, "Make us benefit from all the goods which Muhammad and his household benefitted from". We say to God, "Let us enter the pure paradise of faith, morality and action which you allowed these chosen ones enter". Then we say, "And get us out of all the evils which you helped Muhammad and his household (Your greetings be upon him and them all) get out of". During Eid ul-Fitr prayers, we ask God to help us get out of the hell of immoral actions, conduct and beliefs from which He protected these great and dear Imams. We illustrate this great goal for ourselves on the day of Eid ul-Fitr and we ask God to help us reach this goal. Of course, we ourselves have a responsibility to make efforts to stay on this straight path. This is what piety is.

The month of Ramadan enlightens, and cleanses hearts and souls

Muslims finish the month of Ramadan with enlightenment. The month of Ramadan enlightens and cleanses hearts and souls by fasting, engaging in dhikr, dua and divine prayers, by reciting the Holy Quran and by engaging in many other virtues which religious people benefit from. In fact, from the Night of Qadr onwards, the religious people who engage in fasting begin a new year. During the Night of Qadr, their fate for the whole year is recorded by the divine angels who record our actions. During the Night of Qadr, one enters a new year, a new stage and in fact, a new life and birth. From this night onwards, one begins to take a path with his provisions of piety.

Leader Rejects Nuclear Allegations

Leader’s Message of Condolence on Kurdistan Terrorist Attacks

Artists Call on Leader

A group of artists, directors, screenwriters, poets, and writers met this evening with Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and discussed their views with him.

Managing the 8-year war was the manifestation of realizing potentialities

Fighting a war is a complex issue. Managing and leading a war is very difficult and complicated, but our youth used to do these things. Their acumen was incredible - it was the manifestation of realizing potentialities. Many of our youth went to the battlefields and managed to make great achievements there. Some of them were martyred, and some became assets for the Revolution and benefited the country later on. In fact that was how the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps turned into a center for providing different parts of the country with manpower during the past 27-28 years. That was because war helped the newly established Islamic Revolution Guards Corps become an efficient and capable force. The war that was waged on us helped the young members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps realize their talents. The Sacred Defense is the embodiment of these values. These are not things that a nation can dispense with.

Leader’s Speech to Sacred Defense Artists

The Leader's View of Quds Day

The International Quds Day reminds the brave Muslims living across the world of their duty to persistently support the defenseless Palestinian nation.

Imam Ali did not treat opponents and rebels the same way

Another characteristic of that great Imam (a.s.) was that he did not behave in the same way towards all of his opponents and enemies. He did not use the same method for all of them. He differentiated between different individuals and orientations. Ali (a.s.) stood firm against the faithless Khawarij. Of course, he stood up against their deviation, wrongdoings and reliance on the outward aspects of religion. He stood against Muawiyah as well. When they put the Holy Quran on their spears, the Commander of the Faithful said, "By Allah, this is a trick and deception. They do not believe in the Holy Quran". And when Khawarij confronted him with their reliance on the outward aspects of religion - they recited the Holy Quran in a plaintive and sad tone in front of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) - Hazrat stood up against them. That is to say, the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) stood up against those people who wanted to move forward on the basis of the outward aspects of religion and it did not matter to him whether he was confronting Muawiyah or Khawarij. Nonetheless, he did not behave towards them in the same way. He showed resistance, but in general, his method was to offer advice. This was the reason why he said, "Do not fight Khawarij after me because one who seeks right but does not find it, is not like one who seeks wrong and finds it". Those who are after truth, but who make a mistake on this path - such people are after the truth, but they make a mistake because of their ignorance and reliance on superficial things - are not like those who are after evil and who find it. Such people are not the same.