Salaam dear young friends. How are you today? Hope you are all fine by the Grace of Almighty Allah. We once again convey our heartiest greetings to you on the very special occasion we had in the beginning of the week.
Yes, you are correct, we were celebrating Women’s Week in Iran and Sunday was the “Mother’s Day”.
Guess what was the occasion?
You are absolutely right.
For the information of the foreign readers of our weekly column, especially those living abroad and not fully acquainted with Islamic history, culture, and values, Saturday (23 of January this year) happened to be the blessed 20th of the month of Jamadi as-Sani.
It was the birthday of the Noblest Ever Lady that graced Planet Earth, and through her exemplary life, she set lasting precedents for all virtuous daughters of Eve on how to be the most devout daughter, the most loyal wife, the most affectionate mother, and the most perfect teacher.
She was all virtues rolled into one, which not even Holy Mary, the Mother of Prophet Jesus (peace upon them), could match.
She was none other than Fatema az-Zahra (SA), the Immaculate Daughter of the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger to all mankind, Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
So now we realize why we hold Women’s Week and Mother’s Day every year on her birth anniversary.
The significance of these celebrations are not confined to a day or a week, but continue for the whole year and throughout one’s life, in view of the dynamic personality of the Lady of Paradise, who was the Wife of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb, and the Mother of such Impeccable sons and daughters as Imam Hasan (AS), Imam Husain (AS), Hazrat Zainab (SA) and Hazrat Omm Kolthoum (SA) – each one of them a paragon of virtue in their own right.
Now we understand the brilliant progress achieved by Iranian women under the freedom of Hijab. Their firm adherence to the teachings of Islam, as demonstrated practically in all spheres by the Lady whom God Almighty has hailed in the Holy Qur’an as “Kowthar” or Spring of Perpetual Abundance in the Surah of the same name, has made the females of Iran and other Islamic societies the torchbearers of emancipation for women all over the world who are in quest of moral and spiritual values.
Today, Iran’s virtuous girls and women are active in all spheres of life. They participate in every aspect of society: motherhood, arts and sciences, high tech, film and cinema, research, business, administration, politics, sports, armed forces, bus and taxi drivers, fire-fighters, etc.
Good-bye and will meet you again on next week.