Hawzah News Agency - One of the topics related to the rise and rule of Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his rise) is the status of women and how they play their role in the process of the Imam’s rise and his governance.
To enter this discussion, we present a glimpse of the Quranic perspective of the martyred Imam, Ayatollah Khamenei, regarding the political and social role of women:
“In Islam, woman’s pledge of allegiance (bay’ah), woman’s ownership, and woman’s presence in these fundamental political and social spheres are validated: «إِذَا جَائَکَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتُ یُبَایِعْنَکَ عَلَی أَنْ لَا یُشْرِکْنَ بِاللَّه.» ( When the believing women come to you pledging allegiance to you that they will not associate anything with Allah /Al-Mumtahanah:12). Women would come and pledge allegiance to the Prophet. The Prophet of Islam did not say that men should come and pledge allegiance, and consequently, whatever they voted for, whatever they accepted, women would also be forced to accept; no. It was said that women also pledge allegiance; they too participate in accepting this government, in accepting this social and political order.” (Speech during a meeting with a large gathering of women - 2000/09/20)
“When Islam says: «وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِیَاءُ بَعْضٍ یَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَیَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْکَرِ.» (The believing men and believing women are allies and protectors of one another. They enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong... /At-Tawbah:71), it means that faithful men and faithful women all share and participate in preserving the overall social system and enjoining good and forbidding wrong; it does not exclude women. Neither can we exclude women. The responsibility of running the Islamic society and the progress of the Islamic society rests on the shoulders of everyone; on the shoulders of women, on the shoulders of men; each in a different way regarding their capabilities.” (Speech during a meeting with a large group of elite women on the eve of the birth anniversary of Lady Fatima a.s - 2007/07/04)
It is also worth emphasizing that the Holy Qur’an outlines ten foundational spiritual qualities in which men and women share equal standing and accountability. Without cultivating these core values, the ideal monotheistic community cannot be built.
إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِینَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِینَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِینَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِینَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِینَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِینَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِینَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِینَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِینَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاکِرِینَ اللَّهَ کَثِیرًا وَالذَّاکِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِیمًا.
Indeed, Muslim men and Muslim women, faithful men and faithful women, obedient men and obedient women, truthful men and truthful women, patient men and patient women, humble men and humble women, charitable men and charitable women, fasting men and fasting women, men who guard their chastity and women who do so, and men who remember Allah much and women who remember Allah much; Allah has prepared for all of them forgiveness and a great reward (Al-Ahzab / 35).
Therefore, how can one not consider a role for women on the path toward the rise of the savior and his governance? How can the role of women in divine missions be ignored?
Much like the men of society, women too must exert their utmost effort in fulfilling their role toward the realization of divine objectives, as the fulfillment of divine promises will certainly not be possible without their active participation. It is for this very reason that Almighty Allah commands both men and women to adorn themselves with spiritual values, for it is only righteous individuals and a righteous society that can become the inheritors of the earth:
وَلَقَدْ کَتَبْنَا فِی الزَّبُورِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الذِّکْرِ أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ یَرِثُهَا عِبَادِیَ الصَّالِحُونَ.
And We have already written in the Psalms after the Message (Torah) that: “My righteous servants shall inherit the (governance of the) earth.” (Al-Anbiya / 105)
In short, women and men share the same core responsibility when it comes to fulfilling God’s purpose in society. It’s a mission we all need to focus on. Beyond that, women also have unique roles of their own, which we’ll cover in the next issue.
This discussion is to be continued…
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