The sentences which...

The sentences which, either in this letter or sermons 13, 14 of Nahj al-Balaghah concerning the reproach of women or concerning Basrah and its people issued by Imam ‘Ali (as) are based on this basis.

Neither women are defective or mean, nor is Basrah a filthy environment, nor are its population away from God's benevolence. It was that bitter event of al-Jamal war which caused all this reproach. By passing that juncture, all these blames were forgotten since there were great women, like Khadijah, az-Zahra’, Zaynab and Sakinah bint al-Husayn and more than three thousand pious and God believing women whose names appear in the book "A'lam al-Nisa’’".

In our own time, too, history will never forget the martyr Bint al-Huda as-Sadr.[^3] Thus, Imam ‘Ali (as) does not wish to condemn consulting with women; neither does he want women to stay at home. He does not consider all women lacking in faith and wisdom. Rather, because of al-Jamal war, Imam ‘Ali (as) blames any woman who goes beyond her limits and becomes a puppet in the hands of the others for their dirty objectives.

Dignity, firmness, strength, pride and wisdom have prepared men for struggle against nature and for providing the family with their needs and their guidance. On the contrary, women's delicacy, and emotions have prepared them for being spouses for pregnancy, breast feeding, nurturing children and managing the house, and the like.