News ID: 228160
Publish Date: 14 November 2009 - 11:31

The Role of Women in Sacred defense War from the point of view of Religion and Religiosity

Let's take a tour to the land of love and religion, the land which is the symbol of generosity, the land which is all unity and unanimity. It is the land love and generosity as well as generosity. Lo ! Pencils do not come to this holy land without ablutions. Lo! Comrades the requirement to enter this land is having pure and spotless hearts. Those who are not cleansing their hearts are not permitted to enter this land. The grandeur and the value of this land are very high. This land belongs to all those women who have done epic deeds during the 8 years of the imposed war.
Let's take a tour to the land of love and religion, the land which is the symbol of generosity, the land which is all unity and unanimity. It is the land love and generosity as well as generosity. Lo ! Pencils do not come to this holy land without ablutions. Lo! Comrades the requirement to enter this land is having pure and spotless hearts. Those who are not cleansing their hearts are not permitted to enter this land. The grandeur and the value of this land are very high. This land belongs to all those women who have done epic deeds during the 8 years of the imposed war. They have relied on God and through the great saying of Prophet Mohammad (1) they have followed two great depositions of God in the world and they have made them their paradigms and symbols to follow. Let's travel to this holy land in order to understand many facts. The land which is filled with the light of God and one can easily see the grandeur of God. The land which the location of the real meanings of prayer, love, sense of prayer, praying, love, cooperation, purity, help, benevolence, and theology as well as thousands of other nice characteristics. It is a land from every corner of which one can learn a lot of social and ethical points. It is the land whose settlers are all seeking God's help and they are moving towards following God's decree and they are seeking the ways to be vanished in to the heavens and the world that God invites his servants to. These are people who are competing together to be martyred and in fighting with the enemies for they think that martyrdom is the best way to reach God (2); in a land which is all love and unity, people are all moving towards the same goal and that is the satisfaction of God and in this scene everybody is trying to be the winner over the others. They indeed exemplify this great ayah that: (it is) for the poor who fled their homes and their possessions, seeking grace of Allah and (his) pleasure, and assisting Allah and his messenger: these it is that are the truthful (8). Yes, we are talking about brave women who have entered the frontiers of war from the beginning of the time when the Iraqi regime trespassed the borders to attack our beloved country. These women entered the arena like their husbands and fought with the enemies as men did. Our Muslim women moved to the final destination (God's satisfaction) like wavy sea. A special and strange environment was dominating as if everywhere was like paradise and the heavenly perfumes were in the air. Is it possible to see these scenes while one is not surprised and shocked? It was a very strange environment full of spirituality. It is where one can feel the presence of God and certainly they have seen God with their heart's eyes; this is why they were trying in this way. God is the greatest, God is the greatest; what a unity! In what school of thought did these brave women were brought up? I am sure that they were brought up in the school of Zeinab and Zahra; Zahra was a woman who was a real lady; she was a paradigm and she was the first lady to be killed for the sake of God; Zeinab was a woman who passed all the obstacles with resistance and patience; she passed all the land of Karbala with all its difficulties. She made all the Yzid and the Yazidis ashamed. Yes they have found their way through following the innocent descendants of Prophet Mohammad. . . . . . . "One of the characteristics of creation that that God has instilled in the human nature, is finding a paradigm and following paradigms" (4). The role of women and the backgrounds for their presence in the imposed war have accompanied by some problems and difficulties but they tolerated in order to help Islam be victorious. Our women were always present during the imposed war and their presence can be investigated from two points of view:
1. Military presence 2. un – military presence. Both of these presences are divided into sub – categories.
Military Presence: 1. presence in the front lines 2. Presence in the borderlines that are bombarded
Un – military presence: 1. Cultural, promotional presence and propagating the culture of martyrdom and the spirit of martyrdom seeking. 2. Nursing, curing the patients, preparing the supplies, evacuating the martyrs, helping, giving cash and other sports to the fighters. It is with the military presence in this holy land that we can understand the real meaning of Jihad and the concepts of defending Vilayat and generosity as well as patience and resistance. It is possible to understand the presence of women in society; it is necessary not to negate the political and social duties for the sake of being just female. "Yes, Jihad in Islam is the beauty of life and it is the message of resistance and bravery. It is the strength of the society and the immunity of the society. It was the signs of life and liveliness that invited friends to resistance and faithfulness and thereby they promise the poor to justice and immunity. When the enemy attacked the country and did not understand any language except the language of threat and force it was these great warriors that have negated their lives and went to the fore fronts of the war to keep the strength of Islam in the light of the holy defense. Yes, the defense Jihad is a traditional custom and it is very essential for the Muslims. The new life has a new fame in the city of the prophets under the aegis of Jihad and generosity. . . . . ." (5). Therefore our women were taking part in the war ridden areas in order not to be bereaved of the Jihad for the sake of God. Our women were volunteers to go to the frontlines of the war in whatever positions they were such as physician, nurse and . . . . . . . . in order to do their duties for their religions. The sudden attacks of the enemy to the borders of the country and the bombardment of the cities made it necessary for the women to take part in the war directly. They not only did assistant jobs and they evacuated the martyrs and . . . . . . they also were effective in encouraging the men. Mr. Saleh Mosavi, members of the army at those times says about those days: ". . . . .In Khorram Shahr the resisting women who are the symbols of Unitarianism, purity and generosity as well as following her holiness Fatima (A. S.). I am a witness about how these women were collecting the corpse of the martyrs from the corners and streets of this city while the town was under bullets and cannon balls. They took these corpses with vans to the cemetery while they were under the fire of the enemy (6). One of these brave women who was present in these scenes was the brave women from Khorram Shahr named "Shahnaz haji Shah". She was on patrol in the entrenchments that she herself had made by her hands in the beginning days of the war. She was helping the injured people in the hours that she was not on patrol. She died because a cannon ball exploded near her and she became a martyr and her mother buried her by her hands. "Kheir Al Nessa Maleki" is a 70 % injured warriors say: "I was in Khozestan since my childhood and with the start of the war my husband, my son and my daughter as well as I remained in the city. We used to cooperate with the helping Organization. We used to give foods the fighters. My daughter and I used to cook and sew the soldiers' clothes. Almost a gang was under our support. We used to load ammunition and send them to the warriors. We also used to transfer the injured people to the Taleghani hospital. My daughter is 22 years old now and was injured at the war time, but I really thank God with all my being”? (7). My dear Mother! Thank you for your patience! You have your injuries hung on your neck as an honorary medal. We should not expect less than this from the school of Zahra and Zeinab. We have a lot of such examples in the history of the defense war the description of which needs an independent book and it is out of the access of this paper to cover these issues. Un – Military presence: 1. Cultural and promotional support and propagation of the bravery as well as the spirit of seeking martyrdom. Self abnegation is too obvious in this country. In this country even it is possible seek women who are happy at the time when the children are martyred. In this situation one can see the grandeur and generosity from these great teachers. These are great teachers who have reared great men whom they had sent to the war fronts and they have seen their departure; they were happy about these; yes they have reared such great men. “Women have always had a very special role due to the positive process that they have on the men’s war; in a way that if men have not been benefited by the spiritual and encouragement as well as accompaniment of women, they would have never been able to take part in the war and in the jihad for the sake of God”? (8). Our faithful and courteous women in the Islamic society have always tolerated the difficulties and problems by having faith in God and the world to come; they have always been talking to their beloved God. In the Sacred defense war we have quite a lot of such mothers who have encouraged their children to take part in the Jihad to encounter the enemies. There was a mother who has brought up five children without the care of their fathers; after the martyrdom of her first son, while she also had sent her two other children to the war fronts, she says: “. . . . . . I hope my other two sons aged 14 and 16 would also go to the war fronts so that I pay my debts to Islam. . . . . .”?
(9). The mother to Shahid Hemmat had kissed the corpse of his son and said: “. . . . Please convey greetings to Imam Hussein and say to him that I have sent him the deposit that he had with me back. . . . . . “ (10). The brave women who have sent their children to the war wished that their children come back while they are victorious or if not they wish they would martyr. You shall believe in Allah and his messenger, and struggle hard in Allah's way with your property and your lives; that are better for you, did you but know! (11). When men were fighting in the war scenes they needed immunity and peace and these have been done by women. When men were in the war scenes women were rearing their children at home. The wife of the martyr says: “Because I had encouraged my husband to take part in the war fronts I was tolerating the difficulties of his absence”? (11). The wife to martyr “ Gholam Reza Sadigh Zade”? writes a letter to her husbands before his death in which he says: “Thank God that you have finally reached your goal (i. e. going to the war fronts). You and your comrades are praying God in your entrenchment while you are breathing. In fact I don’t know what to say, but please take care of your time because you are few steps far from God”? (12). “Many women . . . . . have sent their husbands to the war fronts at the price of losing their usual pleasures. They defended, their thoughts, methods and ideals”? (13). There are a lot of families who has thanked God after the martyrdom of their sons for the worth and gift that God has offered them. They remained strong and kept their morale; they were sympathizing with the others and even they were spreading perfumes over the corpse of their beloved sons and husbands. Women have proved during the war period that they were one of the factors to strengthen the spirit of the warriors and to support them culturally. Women were present in different social arenas at the time of the imposed war and this participation had very positive effects in promotional activities. Women and the sisters of the martyrs have completed their religious missions and by acting on their will; they have to re - state the memories of their beloved brothers and husbands to let the world know about their performances. Our women have obliged themselves to follow he orders of God and as a result they have rejected their hearts and they have sent them to the war arena and they know that there are many benefits and values hidden behind the difficulties and boredoms. Because his holiness Prophet Mohammad (S. A.) has said that: “. . . . . The heaven is surrounded by difficulties and the hell is surrounded by passions and lust. . . . . .”? (14).
2. Nursing, curing the injured, supporting and helping: In this holy land one can understand the criteria for accompanying the others and define presence in the social relationships. Let’s wash our eyes and see the beauties of the world and enjoy the pleasures of the other world, the world which belongs to the lovers and theologians. It is a world which is void of the hatred and untruths. How beautiful the worlds of the theologians who have negated their lives are. Those who are willing to forsake their lives for the sake of God are great men. In the beginning days of the war, the Iranian women have left their homes and houses; they have gone to the war scenes; they have started to do things in different methods. “They were busy tailing sacks for the entrenchments and safe keeping of the cities; they have been present to prepare materials and clothes for the injured warriors in the hospitals; they were present actively in the mosques of the cities; they were also busy tailing warm clothes for the soldiers who are fighting for the sake of God; at the times of the operations they were busy setting up temporary hospitals; they were busy taking care of the injured warriors”?(15). A sister who was 18 years old and left her house and life and went to the war fronts, what goal she might have had except for the god’s sake and the preservation of Islam? With what reason has she rejected all her wishes and natural wishes only to take care of the injured warriors from night to the morning? She says in her memories that: “we had not slept regularly at night and we were serving as helpers in Abadan and at the Taleghani Hospital; we have not slept for about 20 nights; there were many injured people every night and we did our best take care of them and we did this very enthusiastically and with interest. When we saw injured people in that situation we forgot everything (16). How did you look at the world, my sister, that nothing in this world has been valuable for you? You have even sold your shelter and paid the money to prepare ambulance for the injured warriors; you dedicated all your belongings for the sake of the war fronts. You have not only dedicated your belongings but also you dedicated your being as well. You have dedicated all your life to support the warriors and event your spent your life in the war fronts; you are included among the injured people of the Sacred defense war”? (17). At those times there was special ambience in the Islamic countries. At this time not only mothers were trying a lot rather the students were also studying their lessons; furthermore they were busy preparing the requirements of the warriors and there were a lot of schools that have been bombarded because of their involvement in the war. One of these examples if the female high school of Zeinabieh in Mianeh; it was bombarded and many female high school students were killed and achieved the degree of martyrdom. “Lo! our dear God please give wage and remuneration to the Muslim who takes care of the house affairs of those warriors who are busy defending the country in the war or a border soldier who is keeping the borders the same as each other; please do the same for the person who shares their properties with them or those who prepare food and clothes for these soldiers. Please do the same with regard to those who encourage them to fight with enemies or those who prays for their success or those who keep their respects in their absences (18).
Conclusion:
With regard to the extensive role and the special position of women during the history of Islam and especially in the advent of the Islamic Revolution as well during the 8 years of the Sacred defense war and afterwards, it was not possible to talk about all these achievements in this essay but we can simply say that: If there were not a person like Fatima Al Zahra (S. A.), the Vilayat in Suadi Arabia would come to an end a. s. a. p. If there were not a person like Great Zainab (S. A.), Karbala in Karbala would come to an end a. s. a. p. If there were not brave Iranian women during the 8 years of the imposed war, the out come of the Iranian Revolution would have been something else. If there were mothers, wives and sisters as well as the female children of the martyrs among us and we could not see their honor about their beloved’s martyrdom, there would have been no such things as the culture of generosity and the spirit of seeking martyrdom among men, boys and the youths as well as the nation in general. Therefore dear sisters! Take care because your duty these days are heavier than they used to be. If we were facing the military threats on the part of the enemy we are now facing the cultural attacks of these enemies and this is a sharper sword against Iranian than ever. Therefore we have to have it on ourselves to disheartens and discourage the enemies of Islam and the Islamic Revolution by relying on God and with the sword of faith, science, purity, virtue, generosity, bravery and daring as well as by setting paradigms such as her holiness Fatima (A. S.) as well as her holiness Zeinab (A. S.) and contemporary brave women, as well as by following the decrees of our supreme leader without questioning; we have to defeat the enemies of Islam who are seeking to overthrow our Islamic country and government. We have to try hard and effectively to extend and develop Islam and the Islamic Revolution all over the world and prepare the situation so as the world rescuer, his holiness Imam Mehdi (A. T. F. S.).
Footnotes:
1. I will leave you with the book of God, my tradition as well as . . . .
2. Being Familiarized with the Husseini Movement, p. 69.
3. Hashr Surah, Ayah . . . . . .
4. God in his holy Qur’an refers to the principle of setting a paradigm . . . . . . .
5. Take me to the house of Zahra. P. 102.
6. Unfamiliar Friends, Farzane Ma Fi (quoted from the epic of Khoram Shar). P. 10. . . . . .
7. The broken winged lovers.
8. The congress of women about the role and position of women in defense and immunity.
9. The supportive and . . . . . role of women. P. 29
10. Stars without signs. . . . .
11. Women of the day Magazine Mehr. 1366 (Sep. 1987).
12. Melancholic Letters. P. 25.
13. Our Supreme Leader. International Conference of Women and World Revolution of Islam. 1987 (1366).
14. Nahj – Al – Balagha. Sermon No. 176. P. 333.
15. Unfamiliar Friends . . . .
16. Stars without signs vol. 1. . . . .
17. Of Blue Flowers (Late Ms. Naz Beigem Hussein Mirzaei)
18.
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