The Birth of Sayyida Fatima (peace be upon her) and Women’s Day
In the words of Imam Khomeini
All dimensions that one can imagine exist for a woman and a human being were personified in Fatima Zahra, upon whom be peace. She was not an ordinary woman; she was a spiritual woman, a heavenly woman, a human being in the true sense of the word…She personified all the very best human and female traits that one can imagine.
Tomorrow is Women’s Day. It is the day when (the birth of) a woman is commemorated of whom the world is proud. It is the day commemorating a woman whose daughter stood against tyrannical governments, who recited that sermon and uttered those words, of which you all aware.
If a day is to be designated “Women’s Day”, what day is more deserving, is prouder, than the day commemorating the joyous birth of Fatima Zahra, upon whom be peace, a woman who is the pride of the family of divine revelation, and who like a sun shines brightly in the crown of beloved Islam.
This joyous birthday occurred in a place and time when women were not considered to be human beings and their very existence was seen as a source of shame for families among the different tribes of the pre-Islamic times. In such a corrupt and barbarous environment, the great Prophet of Islam took woman’s hand and delivered her from the slough of pagan customs. The history of Islam testifies to the limitless respect the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him and his descendants, showed this noble infant, so as to demonstrate that woman has a special greatness in society, and if she is not superior to man, she is certainly no less than him. So this day is the day of woman’s revivification, and the day to establish her honor and the great role she plays in society.
And even more blessed and precious is the most felicitous selection of the 20th day of Jumada the 2nd (as Women’s Day), the proud day of the birth of a woman who is one of history’s miracles and who is a source of pride for the women of creation.
I congratulate all you ladies and women in all Islamic countries on this joyous holiday marking the glorious birth of Hadrat Fatima Zahra, upon whom be peace. I asked God, the Blessed and Exalted, to guide all the respected women along the path that he has laid down so that they can achieve lofty Islamic goals.
Strive to purify your character and to make your friends do likewise. Strive so that you react to the outrages committed against you. In your attempts to uphold all the qualities that make up the great character of woman, be as that unique woman, Hadrat Fatima-upon whom be peace- was. All of us should take our exemplar from Islam by looking at her and her children, and being as she was.
Likewise, if you women here, indeed all our women all over the country, have accepted today as Women’s Day, that is, have accepted the day which marks the birthday of Hadrat Fatima Zahra, with all the perfection it represents and the position it enjoys, as Women’s Day, then you have a great task to perform, one which include struggle , just as she struggled to the best of her ability during the short span of her life, addressing the governments of the time and passing judgment on them.
*Derived from: The Position of Women from the Viewpoint of Imam Khomeini
(Published by: The Institute for Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini’s Works)
Source: Al-Maaref
