Speaking at the ‘First International Conference on Human Dignity and the Family Challenges in the Contemporary World’ at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad on November 12, Ayat. Ahmad Marvi emphasized that the family is the focal point of human dignity.
He considered the Western animalistic interpretation of humans as harmful to the family unit, stating: "If we start educating people from the perspective of human dignity and address anomalies from this viewpoint, many problems will be resolved".
He noted, "One of the mistakes of the West regarding human dignity was that, following the animalistic interpretation of humans, they reduced the family environment to the level of satisfying animalistic desires. The West fell into the illusion that the function of the family institution is only reproduction and meeting sexual needs, and this wrong approach to the family brought about the collapse of the foundation of the family in the West".
"The family is the main center of human upbringing, bestowing dignity to its members. Humans are a combination of body and soul, and the family is also a place to meet the physical and spiritual needs of humans. Many superior spiritual qualities of humans can only grow in the family environment. It is in the family environment that humans overcome their selfishness and prefer others over themselves. The family is a space for the growth of self-sacrifice, altruism, patience, and other human virtues", Ayat, Marvi added.
He expressed: "Ignoring or misinterpreting dignity can lead to very bitter and unfortunate results. The Islamic Ummah is on the path of building a new Islamic civilization, and building this civilization will not be achieved except on the basis of human dignity. Of course, Western civilization also emerged with this claim, but their wrong interpretation of human dignity has created the current situation for humanity".
"The big mistake of the West was that they fell into an epistemological contradiction. On the one hand, they reduced humans and their needs and desires to the level of animals, and on the other hand, they talked about human dignity. It is not possible to focus only on the material aspect of humans and talk about human dignity", asserted the custodian.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayat. Marvi drew attention to the importance of safeguarding women's dignity as a guarantee for their effective social presence in Islam, noting, "From the perspective of Islam, both women and men can achieve all human perfections and progress in all intellectual, spiritual, moral, cultural, and political fields".
"The noble religion of Islam emphasizes that the dignity of girls and women must be preserved so that they can progress in various scientific, spiritual, moral, political, social, and economic fields based on this dignity and achieve a pure life. Preserving the dignity of women and girls means that society should not view them through a gendered and instrumental lens, rather it should recognize them as effective social members with different capabilities from men", stressed the official.
Ayat. Marvi reiterated that any real role of women in society depends on preserving their dignity. "We invite women to chastity, purity, Hijab, and preserving human dignity. This is not only the dignity of Muslim women but the dignity of all women. Those who encourage women to adorn themselves in a way that attracts lustful and impure eyes must answer why they have degraded women to this extent and trampled on their dignity".
"Western civilization destroys the dignity of women on one hand, and talks about women's rights, on the other. This is one of the greatest lies and deceptions of Western civilization. That is why we say that Hijab for our women is not only a restriction and threat but a great opportunity for progress, advancement, and effective social presence", continued the head of Astan Quds Razavi, the body in charge of managing Imam Reza shrine.
Pointing to one of the slogans of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ayat. Marvi said, “Women must be able to achieve progress and excellence in various aspects of human life while preserving their identity and dignity".
Referring to the crimes of the Israeli regime in Gaza and Lebanon, he expressed: "What is happening today in Gaza and Lebanon at the hands of the Zionist regime is not just the killing of people but the killing of human dignity and family structure. In most of the repeated bombings by the fake regime, not only men, but also the entire family members are killed; everyone must feel responsible in this situation".
He referred to the Quranic verse "For that reason, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain the entire mankind. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved the entire mankind."
Ayat. Marvi stated: "According to this noble verse, whoever does not refrain from killing a group of people for worldly desires and satanic whims will not refrain from killing all people to satisfy these animalistic desires; this is the interpretation of the Quran".
The custodian added: "In conventional wars, the killing of families, children, women, and defenseless civilians is not common; only military forces are killed. However, this savage civilization has disrespected the family institution for years and, in the name of human rights and defending women's rights, has destroyed the foundation of the family. Today, it is also committing crimes against families in Gaza and Lebanon".
He referred to the steadfastness and bravery of the people of Palestine and Lebanon, pointing out that "The dark and black scene of war in Gaza and Lebanon is accompanied by a beautiful scene, which is the patience, endurance, and high spirit of the families. The families and people of Gaza and Lebanon, who speak of resistance and continuing the path of their loved ones despite the martyrdom of their dear ones and their own sacrifices, have created beautiful manifestations of freedom and humanity".
Ayat. Marvi noted that if human dignity exists, people will not be enslaved by their desires. He said: "All the values that religion seeks in the perfection of the individual and society are based on this human dignity. If we talk about ethics, justice, freedom, and other human values, all of these are based on human dignity. If dignity does not exist in the individual and society, achieving these values will be impossible".
He stated, "If people in society have dignity, they will not submit to the enslavement of Pharaohs and Nimrods of modern times. The oppressors destroy the dignity of a nation to enslave them. The Quran introduces Pharaoh's method of dominating people as taking away their human dignity, and this is the method all oppressors and tyrants practice. When they take away people's dignity, it is as if they have taken away their identity, and a person without identity will be influenced by any ugliness and impurity".
Marvi, referring to the Quranic verse "And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference," noted, "Dignity means greatness, honor, generosity, and magnanimity for something or someone who possesses all these commendable qualities. Dignity is a God-given blessing and a valuable gem that God the Almighty has bestowed upon all humans and is not exclusive to a specific group. God the Almighty, by sending divine messengers and religion, has sought to preserve this dignity in humans."