In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
On Sunday, April 22 [Ordibehesht 2 AHS], a large gathering of women from southern Tehran came to see me as well as to help in house building in the provincial city of Qum for which I thank them. And because, prior to them, other groups had also come and I had gotten tired after my meeting with them, and the large gathering had also resulted in my inability to talk with the respected ladies; therefore, I apologize to them.
I humbly respect all strata of the people and especially the women who had and have an important role in this sacred struggle. I regard the women to be at the vanguard of this movement, and I have repeatedly said that women have a greater claim over Islam- especially the women of southern Tehran. They are the inspiration for the Islamic uprising and the leader of the rest of the strata. I pray to the Almighty God for the health and happiness of all. I hope that Almighty God and the Leader of the nation, the Imam of the Time- may Allah expedite his advent- will note the outstanding contributions you have made towards house-building. I express my salutations to the great people of Iran and the great women.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini