Uncover the pivotal role of women in the family according to Islamic teachings. Discover how Islam elevated women’s status and granted them significant rights within the family unit. Learn more about the unique perspective of supreme leader on women’s contributions.
The Status of Women Before and After Islam
Historically, it is clear that women faced significant deprivation and lacked a proper social standing before the advent of Islam. However, Islam brought about a profound transformation with its divine message.
Firstly, it established the equality of women and men in terms of personality, respecting their faith, beliefs, and thoughts. Secondly, it granted numerous social rights to women that did not exist before Islam.
Any differences in treatment between men and women were based on their distinct physical and emotional characteristics. Consequently, under these teachings, women gained a suitable social position among Muslims.
Women’s role from the Supreme Leader
The perspective of Islam—and by extension, Ayatollah Khamenei— on women is comprehensive, encompassing both divine values and human logic. In the sacred system of the Islamic Revolution, women’s status is so esteemed that a day has been dedicated to honor them.
The Supreme Leader has frequently addressed the role of women in the family and delivered significant remarks on this subject. Below are beautiful excerpts from his statements:
“A woman is like the air that fills the space of a family; just as you breathe in the air, and without it, breathing is impossible, a woman is like this. The woman in a family is akin to breathing in this space. This is what the narration means when it says: ‘A woman is a “Rayhana” and not a “Ghahramana”.’ This applies to the family context. “Rayhana”‘ means flower, something beautiful, fragrant, and pleasant; like the air that fills the space. The term ‘Ghahramana’ in Arabic — as used in ‘not a hero’ — differs from its meaning in Persian. In Arabic, ‘Ghahramana’ means an agent or servant, like a foreman; a woman is not a ‘Ghahramana.’ In the family, it’s not that you think now that you have married a woman, you can dump all tasks on her; no, no. If she voluntarily wants to do something, [there’s no problem]; it’s her own home, she wants to do something out of her own will, she does it; otherwise, no one has the right — neither man nor anyone else — to force or compel her to do any task. So this way.”