“Women can play a big role in society. Throughout history, women have unfortunately been treated unkindly,” stated the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.
The video message of the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly to the “Labayk Ya Zahra (a.s.)” Institute was broadcast in London.
Appreciating the services and activities of “Labayk Ya Zahra (a.s.)” Institute and Ms. Umm Farweh Naqavi, Ayatollah Reza Ramazani said, “It is very important to schedule the activities based on needs, necessities and priorities in order to promote (pure) Islam of AhlulBayt (a.s.).”
“With our behavior, we should introduce the school of AhlulBayt (a.s.). Each of us can practically be a delegate for Islam and the school of AhlulBayt (a.s.). Some prominent Islamic figures state that we can take AhlulBayt (a.s.) as a role model, and this will happen with action. Because sometimes a person’s words are different from his action,” he added.
“According to a hadith from Imam Sadiq, the AhlulBayt (a.s.) expectation from their followers is ‘We expect our followers to be wise, intelligent, knowing, gentle with patience, fidelity, and tolerance.’ Such a request has been made from us, followers. Also, Imam Reza (a.s.) prays for those who revive what the AhlulBayt (a.s.) said: ‘رَحِمَ اللّهُ عَبْدا اَحْیا أمْرَنا’. One who learns the beautiful points of the words of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) will follow them. Today, the human world is thirsty for the pure knowledge from the clear source of the Infallible AhlulBayt (a.s.),” the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly emphasized.
“All respect for Hazrat Zahra (a.s.) was due to her existence and position. Therefore, when the Prophet (p.b.u.h) saw (her daughter) Hazrat Zahra (a.s.), he stood up and moved towards her. This shows the great respect of the Prophet for her. The Prophet (p.b.u.h) had a special respect for her. For example, he kissed the hands of Hazrat Zahra (p.b.u.h) and gave her his place. Her position was so high that the AhlulBayt (a.s.) resorted to Hazrat Zahra (a.s.) when they faced problems. Hazrat Zahra (a.s.) was like a mother to her father, the Prophet (p.b.u.h). The Prophet (p.b.u.h) came home after the verse that was revealed and commanded the people not to call the Prophet (p.b.u.h) by name. So Hazrat Zahra said, ‘Salute to You, the Messenger of Allah.’ The Prophet (p.b.u.h) replied his daughter, ‘This verse does not address you and you should call me my father as before,’” he said, following in the meeting, regarding the character of Hazrat Fatima Zahra (a.s.).
“The character of Hazrat Zahra (a.s.) was so high that Imam Ali (a.s.) said that he would calm down by Fatima’s greeting when he came back home. Fatima (a.s.) did not ask Imam Ali (a.s.) for things he could not provide. She said that she was ashamed to request Imam Ali (a.s.) for things. According to the narrations that mention her characteristics, Hazrat Zahra (a.s.) had a light nature in terms of creation. Verses and surahs such as the verse of Tat’hir (purification), the verse of Mubahila, the surah of Insan (The Man) and the surah of Kawthar, and the narrations of many words of Imam Ali (a.s.) and the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h), have been revealed in the honor of Hazrat Zahra (a.s.). The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, ‘Hazrat Zahra (a.s.) is a part of me, whoever annoys her has annoyed me and whoever annoys me has annoyed God.’ In another narration, he said, ‘Whenever Fatima is pleased, God will also be pleased, and whenever Fatima is angry, God will also be angry.’ Imams (a.s.) appealed to Hazrat Zahra (a.s.). God Almighty said, ‘Whoever appeals Fatima as a mediator towards me, I will accept.’ Hazrat Zahra (a.s.) is such a valuable figure that God has given her the status of Shafa'a (intercession),” Ayatollah Ramazani continued.
“Today, half of the world's population is made up of girls, women, and mothers, and this is a huge potential that needs to be addressed. Women can play a great role in society. Throughout history, women have unfortunately been treated unkindly,” he said, mentioning that the issue of women is one of the most important issues of the day.
“There is no place for women in The Spirit of Laws by Montesquieu. In many of their books, Western writers do not consider women to have a place. In the past, women were very unloved. They were beaten and the most severe violence was used against women. But 1,400 years ago, Islam defended women’s rights and strongly condemned those who mistreat women. The Prophet (p.b.u.h) was also a defender of women’s rights,” continued, the professor of the higher levels at the Qom Seminary.
“There is a surah in the Holy Quran called Nisa, meaning Women, and even some female figures like Mary (a.s.) are so valuable to God that there are surahs named after them in the Quran. Or Surah Kawthar has been revealed about the great personality of Hazrat Zahra (a.s.). There are also more than 300 verses about women in the Quran. In the Quran, some women, such as Asiya (Pharaoh’s wife), are introduced as role models. Women played an important role in educating men. Three women, his mother, his sister, and his wife, Asiya, were involved in raising Moses, who fought against the domination system,” said the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.
“Some say that women should be at home, while women should be socially active for education. They can give human emotions to society and pave the way towards a healthy society. Hence, we see that the health of society stems from the health of the family which the main pillar of the family is the woman. Family health can lead to community health, and if the two pillars of the family, men, and women, are together, they can create a healthy family,” he added, stating that the educational role of women is very important.
Pointing out “Unfortunately, women are used as a tool and are treated unkindly,” Ayatollah Ramazani continued, “Women can participate the society and by declaring an unfavorable situation, protest against poverty, discrimination, the killing of innocent women and children, the abnormal state of human society, the instrumental use of women, oppression, arrogance, domination, and authoritarianism; and play a role in improving these cases. Women can complain about modern slavery because today humanity is enslaved in a different way. Women can complain about slogans about women’s and children's rights that are not being implemented. In practice, many people are killed, including defenseless women and children, and no one has the right to protest! While complaining, we must regulate our behavior and ask God to determine the best for human society,”
Emphasizing self-purification, on the educational role of religious institutions in the West, such as the “Labayk Ya Zahra Institute”, he added “Institutions such as “Labayk Ya Zahra (a.s.)” can have an educational role. They can also teach others virtues such as honesty, trustworthiness, responsibility, love, and affection for others, and humanity in relation to other human beings and the environment.”
“In these institutes, teach recitation, concepts, and thinking in the verses of the Quran correctly and academically. Raise the children with Quranic culture. Today, the children of our society must be educated with the culture of the AhlulBayt (a.s.). Certainly, the narrations of the AhlulBayt (a.s.), which are interpretations of the verses of the Quran, are saving instructions. If we are looking for a saving instruction, it can be found in the enlightening words of the AhlulBayt (a.s.). Because the narrations of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) properly teach individual and social responsibilities. We have individual and social responsibilities together and we must have these two simultaneously and strive to improve the human affairs and the Muslims,” said the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, addressing the officials of the “Labayk Ya Zahra Institute”.
“We need to be concerned about the problems and affairs of the others because Islam places a lot of emphasis on helping others, even non-Muslims. In a narration, the Prophet (p.b.u.h) says, ‘مَن اَصبَحَ وَ لَم یَهتَمَّ بِاُمورِ المُسلِمینَ فَلَیسَ بِمُسلِم’ (If a person wakes up in the morning and does not care about the affairs of Muslims, he is not a Muslim). Or in another narration, the Prophet (p.b.u.h) says, ‘مَنْ سَمِعَ رجلا ینادی یا لَلْمُسْلِمینَ فَلَمْ یجِبْهُ فَلَیسَ بِمُسْلِمٍ’ (If a non-Muslim asks a Muslim for help, and he does not respond and does not try to solve the problem, he is not a Muslim). Therefore, Imam Ali (a.s.) said to Malik Ashtar, ‘People are of two classes: they are either your religious brother or a human being like you.’ So, people must have a sense of responsibility towards others,” he said.
At the end of the session, Ayatollah Ramazani concluded his speech, emphasizing on observing ethics and introducing pure Islam - that is comprehensive and pays attention to all human dimensions and areas.
The Ahl al-Bayt World Assembly is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) that was established by a group of Shiite elites under the supervision of the great Islamic authority of the Shiites in 1990 to identify, organize, educate and support the followers of Ahl al-Bayt.