According to the correspondent of Taqrib News Agency, the first session of the series of meetings of the “Compassionate Ummah” entitled as “Study of the Role and Position of Women in Achieving Unity and the Unified Islamic Ummah”, with the presence of Laleh Eftekhari head of the World Union of Muslim Women, Neda Maleki, TV host and expert in religious issues, and Eftekhar Daneshpour, Assistant Professor at the Department of Islamic Jurisprudence and Law, University of Islamic Denominations, was held on Tuesday, August 30 2021 at the World Forum for the Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought.
Fatimah Al-Zahra (SA) Is the Axis of the Unity of Women in the Islamic Society
At the beginning of the meeting, Laleh Eftekhari pointed out the importance of Muslims’ holding fast by the covenant of Allah and said:
“Especially women should be addressed by the holy verse “وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا”, because God Almighty has placed unity in their hearts. There are many unifying patterns in the Holy Qur’an, and it is the duty of us Muslims to consider the important role of unity in Islamic society by using the commands of the Holy Qur’an.”
She further considered Fatimah Al-Zahra (SA) as the axis of unity among women in the Islamic society and specified: “The greatness of this issue has been mentioned many times in the holy Hadith Qudsi; Thus, the central role and influence of women in Islamic societies becomes apparent.”
Eftekhari added: “It is stated in the words of Imam Khomeini (RA) that women, like the prophets, have an important role in Islamic societies and they have nity in goals, politics, etc.; During the Karbala incident, Hazrat Zainab (SA) is the flag bearer of Karbala and with her tolerance and patience, she has become the role model for women in the Islamic society today.”
The former member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly said: “Women, by the order of Fatimah Al-Zahra (SA) are always ready in mobilizing the masses, and willing to sacrifice their lives in this direction during the revolution in defense of Wilayah and they are inspiring for communities; Today, it is unavoidable for everyone to refrain from the feminist view and to develop a convergent view that is unifying. The world today is thirsty for new words and deeds, and such issues are well absorbed and modeled.”
The head of the World Union of Muslim Women stressed the need for women’s participation in Islamic unity, saying: “Unity does not mean oneness, but it means harmony and empathy; Therefore, in order to advance unity, every necessary step must be taken so that women can be as influential in society as possible. Today, we must use all the capacities of the Islamic world, both at the elite level and at the level of experts, to show the influence of women in the Islamic society. The role of women in the family in the field of unity and proximity of Islamic denominations should be examined.”
She considered the necessity of returning to the Islamic system, educating and preparing women for their rights and responsibilities, empowering women to be trained for a unifying role, and giving women a status in social, political, economic, etc. categories effective in improving the situation of women in Islamic societies.
We Cannot Ignore the Role of Women in the Issue of Proximity
Ignoring Women Inflicts a Damage on the Body of the Unified Islamic Ummah
“At every point in history, women have played an influential role in Islamic societies,” said Neda Maleki, a religious expert and TV host. “According to research, not only physical characteristics, but also mental and emotional characteristics are passed from mother to children; Therefore, if we consider the viewpoint of the Holy Quran about the woman and its status in Islamic societies, we cannot ignore the role of women in the issue of proximity and we should use their capacities to promote unity.”
The expert on religious issues considered the development of the culture of unity as an important principle in the fight against Takfiri groups and said: “We should promote the culture of unity among different denominations with patience and tolerance and we should use the capabilities of women who are the pioneers of society in difficult days, like Zainab (SA) who powerfully defended her army.
Maleki addressed the important role of women in Islamic unity, adding: “Any religion that can offer a special way of life based on human views can be effective in attracting the hearts of human beings. The Unified Islamic Ummah is a means for the New Islamic Civilization, which is supposed to make currents in societies, and women make up half of this Unified Islamic Ummah.”
Maleki said: “The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, as a large forum, can encourage the women of Islamic societies to unite the Islamic world and carry out designed plans for its development; If political problems and other difficulties emerge in our scientific community, it has no boundaries and all the elite Muslim women everywhere must spread unity all around the world.
So if our diplomacy does not have strong support, we will not be able to see a strong presence of women in the Islamic societies and cross borders.”
The religious expert considered the formation of a Unified Islamic Ummah as a means of promoting Islamic unity, adding: Ignoring women inflicts a damage on the body of the Unified Islamic Ummah and wastes the force that has been given to the Islamic Ummah.”
The “Compassionate Ummah” meeting was held:
The Arbaeen March Is an Example of the Formation of the Unified Islamic Ummah
Continuing the meeting, Eftekhar Daneshpour, Assistant Professor of Jurisprudence and Law at the University of Islamic Denominations, described the types of unity: They have to turn to procedural unity; Therefore, such unity cannot create a stable system in the Islamic world, and it must be said that reducing and increasing stressors can somehow affect the unity of Muslims, but in reasonable unity, Muslims are aware that the teachings of Islam have a single spirit and roots and relying on these commonalities can create lasting unity among Muslims.”
Daneshpour added: “Many scientists have acknowledged the formation of such a unity in the Islamic world; Therefore, Islamic societies must institutionalize their interactions on the basis of reasonable unity, and this is a fundamental principle.”
Assistant Professor of Jurisprudence and Law at the University of Islamic Denominations pointed to the role of women in Islamic unity and said: “The basis and essence of any movement in society, as well as the educational and acquired consistency of individuals, is the responsibility of women in that society; As a result, they can play an effective role in the political, social and other fields. Women can develop unifying elements both in society and at home and have a great impact. Women can be the driving force of an Islamic society, and in this regard, a systematic program must be formed.”
Daneshpour stated: “God says in the Holy Quran that we have created all of you on the basis of a single soul; Therefore, the end of human society must end in unity, and all denominations must take steps for lasting unity.”
He described the Islamic Revolution as a model used by neighboring countries in the fight against tyranny, adding: “This event made other countries self-confident and in the wave of Islamic awakening, women play a prominent and special role. All these issues show that women play a major role in the Islamic awakening by observing all Islamic customs. According to the orders of the late Imam Khomeini (RA), women go through two areas: self-awareness and self-purification, community building and humanization. As can be seen in the intellectual system of the late Imam Khomeini (RA), he introduces the level of humanization of women in the level of humanization of the Qur’an.”
Referring to the role of women in the history of Islam, the university professor said: “The power and the effective role of women of the beginning of Islam, has been started from Hazrat Fatimah Al-Zahra (SA) and was continued with the brevity of Hazrat Zainab (SA) in Ashura which shows the effective role of women in Islamic unity and awakening. Women in today’s Islamic societies should not be indifferent to each other; They can live a happy life with men in this world and the hereafter. An example of this is the glorious Arbaeen Hosseini March, in which women side by side with men in a certain period of time, manifest the unity in the gathering of several million people. This march is a clear example of the formation of a Unified Islamic Ummah; Muslims can add their wealth together and show their dignity in today’s world.”
It is due to mention that on the threshold of Unity Week and the 35th International Islamic Unity Conference, the World Forum for the Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought will hold a series of meetings entitled as “Compassionate Ummah”. In these meetings, professors, specialists, and experts from Hawzah and universities discuss the subjects of the 35th International Islamic Unity Conference and also review the work entitled as “The Unified Islamic Ummah and the Union of Islamic Countries”, which has been written by the Secretary General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Hujjat-ul-Islam wal-Muslimin Dr. Hamid Shahriari.
According to the schedule, these meetings will start every Tuesday at 17:30 and will be live broadcasted simultaneously from the conference website (www.iuc.taqrib.ir) and the Information Systems of the World Forum for the Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought.
