This is what the enemy...

This is what the enemy, the destroyer of the inner essence of womanhood wants, for root‑less forms follow the course of events without ever again taking roots, without any concern for their society, without commitment, alienated and completely capable of being molded into whatever framework is provided. This is what the Prophet brought when Islam, 'the real sense of submission' was revealed to him.

Submit to that which gave you roots, the One God and not the multiple forms which attract one away from one's roots. Strengthen your roots and your earth so that when there is a 'mighty shaking' as the Qur’an so firmly announces, which at one level can be interpreted as an 'awakening of consciousness', your roots will hold, you will prevail, the outer winds, storms, lightening and thunder can not pull you away. This takes us to another stage. We have a method but now we need a direction.

Will it be that of a realist or that of an idealist? Shariati tells us, "Neither. Both." Islam admits to all realities ‑ hunger, ignorance, drug addiction, the need for divorce, the weakening of the weak by the strong, oppression and suppression (realities according to realists, must be translated into real forms so they have no problem with imagination, ideology and ideas which they ignore).

"But as opposed to realism, Islam does not accept the status quo but changes the realities." Shariati continues, "It changes their essence in a revolutionary way. It carries realities along with its ideals. It uses realities as a means to reach its idealistic goals, its real desires, which are nonexistent by them­selves. Unlike realists, Islam does not submit to realities, but rather, it causes the realities to submit to it. Islam does not turn away from realities as idealists do.

It seeks them out. It tames them. Through this means, Islam uses that which hinders the idealists as a composite for its own ideals." With this approach, an independence of thinking develops which, in order to succeed as an answer and not to cause deviation, must branch out from that so­ciety's historical roots. Face up to your realities. Tame them. Work through them to reach your ideals. Which mould does the Iranian woman of 1971 fill? Traditional or absurd?

Women of the tradition or women of the new imported mould? The question, "Who am I?" does not concern them.