The Sweet Command: A Mosaic of Strength and Affection
On the blessed birth anniversary of Sayyeda Fatimah Zahra, a gathering of thousands finds joy, dignity, and a fatherly reminder of the power of love.
Based on accounts by Zainab Nadaali and Roya Pour Bagher
The Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah is often a place of serious political discourse, but on this day, the atmosphere was transformed. The space belonged entirely to women, gathered to celebrate a day that defines the very essence of womanhood in Islam: the birth anniversary of Sayyeda Fatimah Zahra, the beloved daughter of the Prophet.
The hall felt less like a formal auditorium and more like a welcoming home prepared by a host who had poured immense care into every detail. The scent of tenderness was palpable; pillars were wrapped in fresh flowers, and high above, a banner set the spiritual tone with a profound narration from the Prophet (pbuh): “The best of you is the one who behaves best toward his wife.”
A Mosaic of Strength The blue carpets of the Hussainiyah became a map of the world—a true “mosaic of strength.” Women from different cities, ethnicities, and nations sat shoulder to shoulder, united not by politics, but by their love for the Ahlulbayt and a shared spirit of sacrifice.
The diversity was striking. There were women from Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad in their colorful traditional attire, having traveled over ten hours to convey a simple message: “We are with you... we will not allow the enemy to touch a single hair on your head.” Beside them sat Golamek, a nomad from the winter pastures of Golestan, smiling with the joy of a daughter returning home.
Sanctuary in a Tense World The gathering was also a testament to peace. Zainab, a student from England, and Latifa from Indonesia, marveled at the contrast. While the region outside braced for “dark days” and threats of war, inside there was only laughter and security.
Zainab shared how her friends back in the UK longed to be in this atmosphere, where women are treated with such high regard. It was a sweet rebuttal to the world’s noise: here, under the banner of the Prophet’s daughter, there was no fear, only the shared warmth of a global sisterhood.
The Jihad of Motherhood The spirit of Sayyeda Fatimah—the perfect mother—was alive in women like Niloufar. A mother of five, she watched her children play freely among the guests. For her, raising children in difficult economic times was a “jihad of childbirth,” a sacred struggle to raise a generation of soldiers for the Imam of the Age.
“I Saw Nothing But Beauty” The gathering was not just about celebration; it was about the profound resilience of women who, like Lady Zaynab, look at hardship and say, “I saw nothing but beauty.”
Among the crowd was Fahimeh Hashmitabar, a 23-year-old in a wheelchair. She had woken from a coma to the devastating news that she had lost her parents in the war. Yet, she arrived with no trace of defeat on her face. Holding her mother’s chador and her father’s poetry, she recited the Quranic verse about martyrs being alive, carrying a message of strength rather than sorrow.
Nearby sat Fereshteh Hassanzadeh, the first Iranian woman to win a gold medal in Muay Thai. She introduced herself not just as an athlete, but as a “soldier for this nation.” She shared a touching story of having dedicated a silver medal to the Leader, who had responded that her resolve and faith were “more valuable than a gold medal.”
The Celestial Human and the “Sweet Command” When the Leader spoke, he honored this vast spectrum of women—from the homemakers to the quantum experts present in the hall. He described Sayyeda Fatimah not merely as a historical figure, but as a “Celestial Human”—a woman of deep political insight, a defender of the oppressed, and a beacon of truth.
He dismantled Western critiques, noting that the Islamic Republic has elevated women to heights never seen before in Iranian history. But the moment that truly captured the spirit of the celebration was his focus on the domestic sphere.
He described the woman as a Rayhana—a delicate, fragrant flower. He reminded the men of the faithful that justice begins at home, and that a wife is not a servant to cook and clean, but the “manager” of the household. Reviving a sweet, often overlooked instruction from the narrations, he issued a command for men to verbally tell their wives, “I love you.”
A Lingering Sweetness As the ceremony concluded, the feeling of peace lingered. In a world often devoid of genuine tenderness—where outside the region faces “dark days”—the Hussainiyah had become a sanctuary.
We left carrying the sweetness of that command and the dignity of Sayyeda Fatimah in our hearts. From the nurse in Semnan to the student from England, we were reminded that we are part of a global sisterhood, a mosaic of strength that history will not easily forget.