In presence of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Sayyed Ali Khamenei, hundreds of intellectuals, think tanks, seminary and varsity professors and scientific works' authors exchanged viewpoints women and family matters Wednesday night.
According to the internet website of the Supreme Leader's Office, the objective of the former two Strategic Thoughts of Islamic Republic of Iran Conferences, titled "Islamic Paradigm, Iranian Advancement" and "Justice", like the third one, has been establishment of a scientific, end expert level atmosphere for exchange of ideas and viewpoints leading to decision making over strategic and essential national level issues.
During the meeting that lasted four hours, ten thinkers presented their viewpoints in accordance with their presented research papers which were chosen from among 188 papers presented to the secretariat of the conference, and selected as the top works, each elaborating on their viewpoints and hypotheses.
After listening to the scientific comments by their authors, Ayatollah Khameneie addressed the distinguished audience elaborating on the objectives of Strategic Thoughts of Islamic Republic of Iran Conferences with the elites and the think tanks of the country.
Imam Khamenei emphasized, that the outcome of these meetings, which are held on major issues and would continue to be held, must be noble, deep, sustainable, presentable, and defendable.
His eminence reiterated that the issue of women and families is among the top priorities of the country, adding "Regarding women and families there are significant, and sure Islamic sources and teachings, which must initially be theorized and then presented to the public."
Ayatollah Khameneie considered the role of women unique and unmatched in the Islamic system, adding that "The first person who comprehended the women's outstanding status was the great Imam (Khomeini - P), just as that imam was the first person who realized the real status of the people and the effect of their presence."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution added, “The first person who comprehended the women’s outstanding status was the great Imam (Khomeini – P), just as that imam was the first person who realized the real status of the people and the effect of their presence.”
Ayatollah Khameneie emphasized, “Imam (P) appreciated the real worth of the people, realized their capabilities, and relying on that recognition, he trusted them, and the people, too, responded positively to the Imam’s call in various fields, and people from all walks of life were present at every needed field, wholeheartedly, and it was that conscientious presence that continues up to the present day alertly in all needed fields.”
His eminence emphasized that the country is always in need of the presence of women in the context of the nation’s comprehensive presence at the scenes, reinterpreting, “On this basis we must try to preserve the women’s presence for role playing in the society.”
The Leader of the Revolution said that the second major reason for heeding the women’s role is the significant and pivotal role of women in the families.
His eminence reiterated, “From the viewpoint of Islam, a family is the very significant foundation stone of the society, in a way that without being benefitted from sound, jubilant and vivacious families the possibility of social advancement, particularly in cultural field, is non-existent, and thus, the families, too cannot exist, or continue to be, devoid of the presence of pious and understanding women.”
The Leader of the Revolution said that focusing of the enemies on women’s issue is obvious within the contest of their political-propagation onslaught against the Islamic system, and the third reason why it is necessary to fully heed the women’s issue, adding, “We must illuminate the world public opinion and not permit the western policy makers and politicians to succeed in their invasion against the fundamentals of Islam regarding women.”
His eminence in the same respect referred to the west’s cunning escape from entering discussion on families, reiterating, “The westerners discuss the women’s issue seriously, but refrain from mentioning the family matter, because debates on families is among their obvious weak points.”
Ayatollah Khameneie referred to the bulk of unaccomplished tasks regarding women and families, emphasizing, “Theorizing and holding dialogues in this field is a dire need and the matter is in need of due consideration, and of course the media, too, have a significant role in providing the appropriate atmosphere respectively.”
Ayatollah Khameneie considered making research investments and refraining from passiveness in surveying the criticizing the prevailing theories in the world regarding women and families as two prerequisites in this field, adding, “We must rely on the immense bulk of our scientific wealth, and in the mid and long terms deduct dozens of advanced Islamic theories and patterns in this field and present them.”
His eminence said that the west’s viewpoints on women are deviations and deeply erroneous, while highly insulting and a severe blow on the prestige and real worth of the women, adding, “Even the most extremist feminists, too, despite their assumptions, are dealing sever blows against the entity of women, because by demolishing women, they have created an instrument of them to quench the sexual lust of the men, and unfortunately this issue has become a commonplace and accepted phenomenon in the public opinion of the west.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution aid that Islam’s viewpoint on women is extraordinarily exalted, emphasizing, “In Islam’s comprehensive viewpoints, women are not different from men in terms of being God’s creatures as human beings, and in accordance with the Qur’anic verses the women are full equals with men in their path or seeking proximity with Allah, and becoming His special friends.”
His eminence considered Islam’s viewpoints on family, too, quite exalted, reiterating, “Many of the problems of the women are related to the family issues, and in this respect we have amazing legal and traditional gaps, and if these issues would be solved, the women’s social problems, too, would be decreased and become tolerable.”
The leader of the revolution said that gender is a matter of secondary importance in Islam, adding, “The issue of gender finds meaning in life performances, and has no place in determining the status of women and men in Islam.”
His eminence said that the roles of wives and mothers are unique, reiterating, “A good wife can make a useful and effective element out of a man in the society.”
Ayatollah Khameneie said that women’s employment in the society, too, is OK, and yet emphasized, “In this respect there are two major conditions that need to be observed: firstly, the women’s employment in the society should not create an obstacle in the way of their performing their major tasks in their homes and within their families, and their significant roles as wives and mothers should not be overshadowed by their employment, and secondly, the insider and outsider issue regarding the opposite sex must be observed properly.”
His eminence advised the government to assist the working women, adding, “The government must plan in a way that the working women would be able to heed their major tasks, which is none, but their homes and their families.”
The leader of the Islamic Revolution considered marriage as a sanctified issue in various religions, particularly in Islam, reiterating, “The sanctity of marriage should not be ruined in the society by such ugly deeds as asking for outrageously high dowries, or very ceremonial and costly marriage ceremonies.”
Ayatollah Khameneie emphasized that promoting simple marriages with minimum financial costs and with dowries as they are the Islamic tradition, is in need of culture building and holding dialogue sin the society, adding, “The influential individuals in the society, the university and seminary professors, and the media, particularly the national radio-TV network, play an important role in shaping up this dialogue.”
His eminence meanwhile considered the men’s role of effective importance in safeguarding the entity of the families, reiterating, “One of the important tasks of the men is constant appreciating of the women’s roles and services at home, particularly that of the women who have great opportunities for having a presence outside their homes, but in order to play their roles as mothers effectively, have chosen not to be employed outside their homes.”
The Leader of the Revolution stressed the need for appreciating such women, and particularly ensuring their financial security and insurance.
Ayatollah Khameneie at the end referred to the role of the children in the families, considering one of their most important tasks respecting their fathers and their mothers.
