President al-Assad to female teachers of the Qur’an and Sharia education: It is not possible to reform society without enhancing  the role of women 

Damascus (ST): President Bashar al-Assad, during his speech to female teachers of  Qur’an and Sharia education in Sharia schools, (after the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday in the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus ended) said that there is no such thing as religious reform, because religion is what reforms a person and not the other way around.

President al-Assad stressed that it is not possible to reform society without strengthening the role of women in it as equal to  men, and that partnership does not mean similarity and equivalence, but rather a means of exchanging and complementing roles.

 President al-Assad said at the beginning of his speech: “Happy New Year. We are very happy with the participation of the ladies and preachers with us in this ceremony. In fact, I want to talk about two points. The first is the love that I see in the eyes of a person who works honestly in the religious field  and understands religion  at all its levels -this person is a true believer “

President al-Assad added: “The second point – it is said that women are half of society, but I do not know what they mean by this half? Is it merely a number, or is it  because the foundation of society is built on men, women and children.Society is not measured by numbers, and is not measured by proportions, but is measured by integration and homogeneity.

President al-Assad continued: “The scholars and I were talking in the month of Ramadan about the subject of the so-called religious reform, and I said at that time we cannot reform religion because religion is what reforms man and not the other way around, but this reform cannot be completed without reforming society,  and society cannot be reformed without the role of women in it as a primary partner with men, and partnership does not only mean similarity and conformity, partnership means exchanging roles and integration .Men have strengths, women have strengths, men have weaknesses, and women have weaknesses.

President al-Assad pointed out that some might say that women are emotional, but in some places women are more decisive and firm than men and more cruel, and they are more soft and emotional. This is the exchange of roles.

Concluding his speech, President al-Assad stressed that the role of women is essential: “When a woman is present with us in this ceremony, this is the natural thing. Do your roles to the fullest, and you are all strong  and active women, but for those who only understand appearances, even this appearance is very necessary for us in order to complete the message of faith, and Islam is not only in content but also in form.”

K.Q.