A faculty member of the Institute for Women and Family Studies, referring to the results of a study, stated: This research examines why the hijab is important for Muslim women living in the West. The findings indicate that for these women, the hijab is not merely a form of dress or a religious injunction; rather, it is a symbol of their identity. An identity that signifies the conscious choice of a path different from the mainstream of society; a choice in which Muslim women, by preserving their beliefs, resist the wave of cultural pressures.
At the 31st “Shobheh-Pajouhi” (Doubt/Ambiguity Research) School on the topic of the “Iranian Woman,” Hojjat al-Islam wal-Muslimin Majid Dehghan, a faculty member of the Institute for Women and Family Studies, emphasized the necessity of presenting up-to-date models for women and spoke about “the model of the Iranian woman as a blend of tradition and innovation.”
He clarified: The concept of a model is dynamic and must be redefined according to changes in time and the needs of the audience; while at the same time, it must remain based on constant norms and values derived from authentic religious and cultural sources.
Referring to the historical experience of Iranian women, Dehghan explained: The women of our country, like European women, have desired effective social presence, but they did not want to relinquish their cultural values and identity; a path that, in his interpretation, Imam Khomeini (RA) paved for them. He considered Hazrat Zahra (SA) as the comprehensive model for a Muslim woman; a model that must be translated from the level of a “general image” into “practical and detailed models” in fields such as motherhood, spousal relations, and social engagement so that every woman can benefit from it according to her own conditions.
In another part of his speech, he referred to the results of a study on “why the hijab is important for Muslim women in the West” and said: In this study, for Western Muslim women, the hijab was not merely considered as dress or a religious injunction; rather, it was perceived as a sign of their identity; an identity that chooses a different path from the mainstream of society and stands against the “flood” of homogenization. Dehghan added: Unfortunately, this identity-based meaning has been less understood among a segment of our own girls, and social networks have been able to portray the hijab merely as a governmental imposition and a demand of the clergy, whereas such reductionism is far from reality.
Analyzing the involvement of some adolescents and youths in the recent unrest, this seminary and university professor emphasized: The distance between their perceptions and the reality of Iranian society is significant; many are unaware of or deny the achievements of the Islamic Revolution and feel hopeless about the future. According to him, this situation makes the responsibility of thinkers and cultural figures heavier.
Concluding by recalling the advice of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution regarding “Jihad of Explanation,” Dehghan said: We must not reduce this concept to a general slogan. It is necessary for each of us, just as the Leader of the Revolution is a source of tranquility and assurance for society, on the scale of family, neighborhood, and friend groups, through clear, documented, and hope-inspiring dialogue, to be pillars of tranquility and refuge during social incidents.
Hawzah News Agency