Tayebeh Rabbani, an expert in population studies with international experience, says the main reason people worldwide—especially women—are drawn to Islam is its strong family system and deep respect for women’s rights.
Islam’s Global Appeal to Women
At the “Media, Demographic Discourse, and a Bright Future” conference in Qom, Rabbani cited a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
“A child born to my community is dearer to me than anything the sun shines upon.”
This teaching highlights the importance of children and family life in Islam.
She also noted that Iran’s Supreme Leader emphasizes the power of media, saying that today, media influence hearts and minds far more than missiles or military technology. “The real battlefield today is a media battlefield,” she explained. Without media efforts focused on population and family issues, Iran would not have seen the recent positive trends in fertility.
Media Amplifies Justice and Awareness
Rabbani highlighted the crucial role of media in raising global awareness of the Gaza crisis. Journalists’ efforts have helped the world recognize injustice and oppression. What began as a Muslim-centered effort has grown into a global movement—drawing support from people of many faiths and even non-believers who respond to universal human values.
She praised Press TV for calling itself “the voice of the voiceless,” noting that journalists risk their lives to report stories that otherwise go unheard. Media have also spread the ideas of the Islamic Revolution. Imam Khomeini called it “an explosion of light,” and Iran’s Supreme Leader described it as “a fragrance spreading throughout the world.”
Four Decades of Islamic Outreach
Rabbani shared that she entered seminary as a young woman and has spent over forty years in international religious outreach, including 14 years in Latin America. She helped launch Masoumeh TV, producing religious and cultural programming for global audiences.
She emphasized that the discourse of the Islamic Revolution is highly engaging worldwide. When Iranian preachers, male or female, speak at international universities, they receive warm reception. She recalled the late Ayatollah Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, a prominent Iranian scholar, whose Latin American lectures drew hundreds of clergy and thousands of students.
Islam’s Principles vs. Failed Ideologies
Rabbani noted the failure of other world ideologies. Eastern philosophies now belong “in the museums of history,” she said, while Western civilization faces crises, including the demographic collapse and moral challenges exposed by events like the Gaza conflict.
Three Pillars of the Islamic Revolution’s Global Influence
Rabbani highlighted three factors shaping Islam’s global impact:
- External factor: The failure of Eastern and Western ideologies has pushed people to seek new paths, including the Iranian Revolution.
- Internal factor: Islam’s rationality, alignment with human nature, opposition to oppression, belief in a savior (Mahdism), and rejection of discrimination make it appealing worldwide.
- Practical model: The Islamic Republic of Iran serves as a working example of governance based on these principles.
She added that weekly, several intellectuals and university professors convert to Islam and the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (the family of the Prophet).
Family, Motherhood, and Women’s Status
Rabbani stressed that Islam’s family system and respect for women are major reasons for global interest. Despite misconceptions, Islam upholds women’s dignity and maternal importance.
She highlighted a unique teaching: a man may earn divine forgiveness through years of worship, but a woman can reach complete spiritual purity through a single childbirth. This principle has helped forge strong connections between Muslim and non-Muslim women in outreach work.
Rabbani shared a story of a Muslim American woman who visited Qom to organize a conference on the Prophet’s family life. Rabbani quoted the Prophet:
“Sitting with one’s spouse and family is superior to a year’s retreat in the Prophet’s Mosque.”
The visitor printed this hadith on banners and distributed them across the U.S., receiving widespread admiration—especially from Christian women.
Demographic Challenges and Cultural Responsibility
Rabbani warned that Western societies face aging populations and low birth rates, forcing them to rely on immigrants. She cautioned that some Western lifestyle trends, like treating pets as substitutes for children, are spreading to Muslim societies, including Iran.
She recalled Imam Khomeini’s advice to youth:
“O my son, flee Western civilization as you would flee a lion; for it is more harmful to humanity than cannibals.”
Rabbani concluded by emphasizing that Iranian preachers, journalists, and cultural activists bear great responsibility in today’s global media and cognitive battles. Following the Supreme Leader’s guidance, she urged efforts to keep Iranian society youthful, vibrant, and spiritually resilient.