In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The women shoulder to shoulder with men in the Revolution
Endless praise be upon you, the women of Iran! Salutations to you, the respectable women! God's blessings be upon you, the lion-hearted women, whose lofty endeavors emancipated Islam from foreign captivity! The peace of the Exalted and Blessed God be upon the Iranian nation and its women and men! You, the brave women of Iran, shoulder to shoulder with men, have insured victory for Islam. I thank all the women of Iran, all the ladies of Iran and Qum. May God be pleased with you. May the Imam of the Time be delighted with you. Together with your little children, you took to the streets and supported Islam. I used to listen to news about Qum and other cities. I heard the news about Chaharmardan. »1« I take pride in these instances of bravery. The women of Iran, Qum and other cities are in the vanguard of this victory. They inspired the men. Our men are indebted to your bravery; you lion-hearted women. I am indebted to both the respectable men and women.
Islam's favor upon women
Islam holds you, the women, in high esteem. At the advent of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula, the women had lost their dignity before the men. Islam elevated their position and ascribed them honor; Islam made them equal with men. The favors that Islam confers upon the women are more than it does upon men. Men have a right over the nation, but women have more. Women raise brave men in their laps. The glorious Qur'an builds up human beings and the women do likewise. The women's duty is to build human. If the nations are divested of these human-building women, they will be defeated and plunged into decadence; they will be defeated and deteriorate. The women strengthen and make men brave. Women fought in wars alongside the men in the early days of Islam. The status of women is lofty, supreme and towering. We witnessed, and are witnessing, that, not only were the respectable women shoulder to shoulder with the men, but they also stood with them in the battlegrounds. They lost their children and youth and they resisted bravely. We want the women to remain in their sublime status of humanity, not to become a plaything in the hands of contemptible men.
Women's right to be involved in all matters from the Islamic point of view
The woman should have a hand in determining her destiny. Women in an Islamic republic should vote. In the same way that men have the right to vote, women, too, have that right. They (regime) debased women in these recent times. One of the greatest treacheries committed against the nation was the depletion of our human resources, arresting the growth of youthful and feminine power and making our women decadent. They betrayed our nation. They reduced our women into mere playthings and transformed them into dolls. Our women were combatants, but they wanted them to become ill-famed; God willed otherwise! They subjected the women's status to effrontery. They wanted women to be tossed from hand to hand like an object or a commodity. Islam wants women to get involved in all affairs as men do. Women should guard against corruption in the same way as men do. Women should not be playthings in the hands of degenerate youth. Women should not allow their status to be sullied, and God forbid, come out into the society all made up as to look degenerate to people. Women should be human and pious. They are generous and have free will just like the men.
Women, the trainers of human beings
God created you generous and free. Just as God ordained the laws that limit men's actions so that they do not transgress the bounds that would open the door to corruption, He did it in the case of the women. Everything is for you own good. All Islamic laws are for the good of the society. Those who want women to be playthings in the hands of depraved men and youth are traitors. Women should not fall victim to deception. They should not think that a woman's status dictates that she should come out (into the society) all made up, naked and without a head cover! This does not conform to a woman's station. This is like coming out as made-up dolls, which is unbecoming of women. A woman should be brave and be involved in the country's major affairs. Women build and train human beings.
Necessity of the participation of women and men in reconstruction
May God protect you, the women of Iran and Qum from the perils posed by unscrupulous human beings who are actually beasts. Just as you had been involved and had a share in the movements, particularly this movement, and in this victory, now also you must get involved (in affairs) and if the need arises, start a movement and stage an uprising. God willing, the country is yours. Hands severed the foreign powers, bribe-takers and plunderers fled and the country is now yours (to run). You must reconstruct the country. The entire Iranian nation, both men and women, must rebuild the devastation left with us. Men cannot do all this alone; men and women together should rebuild these ruins.
Women's right to procure agency for divorce
Women who want to get married can have discretionary rights from the day of marriage, as long as they are not contrary to religious law or their dignity. Islam grants women the right to set conditions and obtain a divorce if the man (she marries) turns out to be morally corrupt and treats her badly, or is ill tempered. If Islam has set certain limitations for men and women, it is for their own good. All Islamic laws, whether for man's development or limitation, are all for you and your own good. In the same way that the right to divorce has been given to men, it has also granted women the right to procure agency and set the conditions for divorce, that is, if the man maltreats them, to be stipulated at the time of marriage. And if the woman has stipulated this condition, it cannot be overruled. If the condition is stipulated at the time of marriage, the man cannot limit the woman or treat her harshly. If a man maltreats his wife, the Islamic government can debar him and if he does not abide (by its ruling), he will be chastised and flogged. And still, if he does not concede, a religious mujtahid can order a divorce.
May God confer upon you honor, health, prosperity, absolute faith, correct upbringing and a proper culture. May God give you all these blessings. Peace be upon you, women and dear, respectable ladies!
Sahifeh, vol6, Page: 262 & 263 & 264
Date: March 4, 1979 / Esfand 31, 1357 AHS/ Rabi` ath-Thani 5, 1399 AH
Place: Faydiyyah Theology School, Qum
Audience: Thousands of women from Qum