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Fatemeh is Fatemeh Dr. Ali Shariati |
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To the Reader The words you are about to read are from a lecture I gave at the
Husayniyah Ershad. To begin with, I had wanted to comment upon the
research of Professor Louis Massignon concerning the personality and
complicated life of Fatima. I had wished to refer to the deep and
revolutionary influence her memory evokes in Muslim societies and the
role she has played in the breadth of Islamic transformations. These
remarks were intended particularly for my university students
participating in 'History and Knowledge of Religions', 'The Sociology of
Religions', and 'Islamology'. Introduction On this sacred night, it was not planned that such an
unsacred person as myself speak. I have gained much from my contact with
the work of Professor Louis Massignon. He was a great man and well-known
Islamic scholar who had written about Fatima. Chapter One Who am I? In our society, women change rapidly. The tyranny of our times
and the influence of institutions take women away from 'what she is'.
All her traditional characteristics and values are taken away from her
until she is made into a creature 'they want', 'they build'. We see
that 'they have built'! This is why the most important and relevant
question for the awakened woman at this time is, 'Who am I?' She knows
full well that she cannot remain what she is. Actually, she does not
want to accept modern masks to replace the traditional ones. She wants
to decide for herself. Her contemporaries choose for themselves. They
consciously adorn their personalities with awareness and independence.
They dress themselves. They manifest an essence. They reflect a sketch.
But they do not know how. They do not know the design of the real human
aspect of their personality which is neither a reflection of their
ethnic heritage nor an artificially imposed imitative mask. With which
of these do they identify?? Wisdom and Love Each religion, school of thought, movement or revolution
is made up of two elements: wisdom and love. One is light and the other
is motion. One gives common sense and understanding, the other,
strength, enthusiasm and movement. In the words of Alexis Carrel,
'Wisdom is like the lights of a car which show the way. Love is like the
motor which makes it move.' Each is nothing without the other. A
motor, without lights, is blind love dangerous, tragic and potentially
fatal. Chapter Two Who is Responsible? Religious scholars! It is they who do
not perform their responsibilities in respect to the people. They should
give awareness, consciousness and direction to the people. They do not. Chapter Three Intellectuals vs. People Islam Islam is the last historical, religious school of thought possessing the most perfect Prophet, the Koran, the Companions and their
histories as models of life, chastity and civilization. Islam brings
law, progress, strength and culture to society. Islam has had a history
full of struggle in God's Way. Its believers show perseverance. They
are inspired by freedom and justice. They are an avenging fire for
despots and for the prejudiced. They have submitted to the way. Linked
to the wrath of Truth, its followers are enemies of anything which
conceals the Truth. They are enemies of a politics which reduces one to
slavery. They are enemies of economic exploitation and spiritual
despotism.
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