RNA – In an interview with Rasa News Agency, Ayatollah Sayyed Yousef Tabatabaeinejad, explained the position of chastity and veiling (hijab) in Islamic teachings, saying, “In Islamic teachings, [the term] ‘hijab’ means ‘to cover’ and is one of the essential elements of the religion [Islam], and if one denies it, he has denied the principles of the religion.”
The representative of the people of Esfahan in the Assembly of Experts stated that khums, a one-fifth tax which has been emphasized in Islam, is only mentioned in one verse of the Holy Quran, but seven verses in chapters al-Nour [“The Light”] andal-Ahzab [“The Confederates”] refers to the issue of veiling and covering.”
He stated that all Muslims, whether Shi’ah or Sunni, believe in hijab and added, “At the current time, the hijab is the symbol of Islam and for this reason, in some countries, women who wear the hijab are prevented from attending university classes and from working in government departments.”
Ayatollah Tabatabaeinejad noted that Reza Khan Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran from 1925 until 1941, by adhering to the methods of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, and with the goal of fighting against Islam, issued the ‘Kashf-e Hejab’ or ‘Unveiling’ law on January 8, 1936 which banning the wearing of all types of hijabs and chadors.
“Despite the strong opposition, the people and the clergy resisted the monarchy’s attempts to implement this law which was meant to overthrow Islam,” he said.
The Friday prayer leader of Esfahan stated, “Still, the imperialist powers’ continuation of their opposition to the issue of hijab has shown the importance of chastity and hijab, and as the hijab is the symbol of Islam, the enemies’ opposition to hijab is also a plan aimed at opposing Islam.”
He mentioned the abuse of women among other reasons for the support of some men for hijab and added, “In our narrations, we consider the look for a man who isn’t related to be a poisonous arrow from Satan, and so the more women wear fewer clothes, further grounds for pleasure are provided for lustful men.”
Ayatollah Tabatabaeinejad referred to a narration of Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir, wherein the fifth infallible Imam said, “Modesty and faith are connected to one another just like two things fastened by a rope. If one of them is gone, the other is also lost,” and noted, “For this reason, hijab is an indication of the firmness of human intellectual and religious foundations.”
The representative of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Khamenei] in Esfahan province dismissed some allegations by protesters about Islam’s supposed opposition to the social activities of women, saying that Lady Khadijah, the great lady of Islam and the wife of the Prophet Muhammad, was one of the most active women in her age in economic activities, which is itself a reason for the absurdity of such claims.
Ayatollah Tabatabaeinejad said hijab is a part of human nature and added, “The innateness of the hijab and modesty means that men who don't believe in hijab and modesty also seek chaste spouses.”
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