Islam wants to save you...

Islam wants to save you; it wants to save you from becoming this plaything they want to turn you into. Islam wants to train you to become a perfect human being. (47) 8 March 1979 (17 Isfand 1357 AHS) Unfortunately, women have suffered from victimisation in the past, notably in two periods. The first was during the Age of Ignorance, the period before the advent of Islam. During this time, women were oppressed; they were treated like animals, even worse than animals.

Then Islam came and bestowed its blessings on mankind, it dragged women out of that state of oppression, [and] it pulled her from that slough of ignorance. (48) 16 May 1979 (26 Urdibihisht 1358 AHS) . . . Women are human beings, great human beings. Women are the educators of society. It is from the laps of women that true human beings originate. The first stage in the development of sound men and women begins in the lap of a woman. Women are the educators of human beings.

A country’s success or its misfortune depends on women. If they impart sound teachings, they create (sound) human beings and a flourishing country. Good fortune originates from the laps of women; they should be the source of every success and happiness . . . (49) 16 May 1979 (26 Urdibihisht 1358 AHS) Mothers are the source of all blessings, but if, God forbid, they bring their children up badly, they become the source of all evil.

(50) 17 July 1979 (26 Tir 1358 AHS) The realisation of mankind’s hopes lies in the hands of women. She is the educator of great men and women. It is from the laps of women that man begins his ascent. It is in the laps of women that great men and great women are nurtured. (51) 17 May 1979 (27 Urdibihisht 1358 AHS) Women raise brave men in their care. Like the Noble Qur’an itself, women have the function of rearing and training true human beings. Indeed, it is their duty to do so.

If nations were deprived of women to rear true human beings, they would decline and collapse. (52) 1 February 1980 (12 Bahman 1358 AHS) The position of women is a high one. Women in Islam enjoy a high rank. (53) 1 February 1980 (12 Bahman 1358 AHS) We want women to enjoy the high rank of true humanity, which is theirs, not to be a plaything in the hands of men, in the hands of depraved men.

(54) 1 February 1980 (12 Bahman 1358 AHS) Islam grants woman a say in all affairs, just as it grants man a say. Just as men should avoid corruption, so too should women.