Without women's participation, Islamic Revolution wouldn't achieve victory
Regarding the role of women in social developments - in revolutions, in the great wave of Islamic Awakening. I would say if women do not take part in the social movement of a nation, that movement will not reach any results. It will not succeed. If women take part in a movement with awareness and insight, that movement will continue at a fast speed. In this great wave of Islamic Awakening, women play an unparalleled role and it is necessary for them to continue this role. It is women who prepare and encourage their husbands and children to step into the most dangerous arenas. We have clearly witnessed the significance of the role women played during the time we were fighting taghut in Iran and after the victory of the Islamic Revolution. If our women had not fought in the battlefields during the eight-year war which was imposed on us, if they had not been present in different national arenas, we would not have achieved victory in that difficult test. Our women helped us achieve victory. The mothers and wives of our martyrs and war veterans created an atmosphere with their patience in which our youth and men were encouraged to have a determined presence. And this atmosphere spread to every part of the country. As a result, the general atmosphere of our country was filled with selflessness and self-sacrifice, and we achieved victory. This is the case today with the world of Islam - in Egypt, in Tunisia, in Libya, in Bahrain, in Yemen and in every other place. If women strengthen and continue their presence on the front lines, they achieve victories one after another. There is no doubt in this regard.
Statements made during an address to the International Conference on Women and Islamic Awakening; July 11, 2012.
Zeinab al-Kubra (s.a.), a role model for all great men and women in the world
Zeinab al-Kubra (s.a.) presented a deep analysis of her society's pathologies. She spoke firmly and eloquently in that difficult situation. It was not the case that she had an audience sitting in front of her and listening in silence. She was not speaking the way an orator would speak to his audience. She was surrounded by the enemies, holding spears in their hands. There were also some ordinary people there - the same people who gave up Moslem to Ibn Ziad, the same people who wrote letters to Imam Hussein and then broke their allegiance to him, the same people who hid in their homes exactly when they were supposed to stand up to Ibn Ziad. Among the people there were also some individuals who were not courageous enough to do what they should have done, and they were watching Imam Ali's daughter in tears on that day. Zeinab al-Kubra (s.a.) was faced with this motley and unreliable crowd, yet she spoke in a firm manner. She was an exemplary woman in history. Such women cannot be considered weak. This faithful feminine nature may reveal itself in difficult conditions. She is a role model for all great men and women in the world. She presented a deep analysis of the problems facing the revolution started by the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) and Imam Ali (a.s.). She said, "You could not distinguish between right and wrong in the fitna. You were unable to fulfill your duty. As a result, they severed the head of the Holy Prophet's (s.w.a.) grandson and put it on a spear." We can understand the greatness of her character when we consider such things.
This is a warning to our women to identify their role. They should understand the greatness of being a woman by combining feminine modesty and morality with pious dignity. That is how faithful Muslim women are.
Statements made during a meeting with Exemplary Nurses; April 21, 2010.
West seeks to capitalize off women's issues
Like all other issues, matters regarding women have also been used as tools--while in the hands of those who peddle human values for a price. Among the mass global media, over the years, those who do not appreciate women, humanity, nor human virtues, unless when earning some money--which sadly plays an important role on the stage of current events among western civilization—women and their conflicts have been twisted into a means of trade and property among different turfs. They discuss issues, forge cultures, launch propaganda, and expose the minds of men and women throughout the planet to dilemma, temptation and major deviation. Under such conditions, the Muslim woman should contemplate over Islamic concepts and values: ponder over the guidelines put forth by the Islamic system meant for improving the lives of men and women, in order to gain back her identity and display the impressive grandeur of reasoning; namely, against the fallacies and temptations set forth by Zionist and Capitalist agents as well as greedy wealth-accumulators.
December 14, 2004.
