Adultery

Adultery forbidden

"Ye have been forbidden to commit murder or adultery, or to engage in backbiting or calumny; shun ye, then, what hath been prohibited in the holy Books and Tablets."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 19)

Sexual Intercourse Permissible Only Between Man and Wife

"The Bahá'í teaching on sexual intercourse is very clear. It is permissible only between a man and the woman who is his wife...."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies, February 6, 1973; excerpt from a letter in response to questions from an individual believer: Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, p. 107, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1158)

Faith Recognizes Sex Impulse But Condemns Its Illegitimate Expression

"The Bahá'í Faith recognizes the value of the sex impulse, but condemns its illegitimate and improper expressions such as free love, companionate marriage and others, all of which it considers positively harmful to man and to the society in which he lives. The proper use of the sex instinct is the natural right of every individual, and it is precisely for this purpose that the institution of marriage has been established. The Bahá'ís do not believe in the suppression of the sex impulse but in its regulation and control."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, September 5, 1938: Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, p. 108, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1156)

Chastity Implies Before Marriage Absolutely Chaste, After Marriage Absolutely Faithful to One's Chosen Companion

"The question you raise as to the place in one's life that a deep bond of love with someone we meet other than our husband or wife can have is easily defined in view of the teachings. Chastity implies both before and after marriage an unsullied, chaste sex life. Before marriage absolutely chaste, after marriage absolutely faithful to one's chosen companion. Faithful in all sexual acts, faithful in word and in deed."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, September 28, 1941: Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, pp. 108-109, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1212)

Refraining from sexual relationships outside of marriage is only way for happy and successful marital life

"With reference to the question you have asked concerning the Bahá'í attitude towards the problem of sex and its relation to marriage.

"The Bahá'í Teachings on this matter, which is of such vital concern and about which there is such a wide divergency of views, are very clear and emphatic. Briefly stated the Bahá'í conception of sex is based on the belief that chastity should be strictly practised by both sexes, not only because it is in itself highly commendable ethically, but also due to its being the only way to a happy and successful marital life. Sex relationships of any form outside marriage are not permissible therefore..."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, September 5, 1938: Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, p. 107, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1157)

Violator will incur punishment from society

"With reference to the question you have asked concerning the Bahá'í attitude towards the problem of sex and its relation to marriage.

"The Bahá'í Teachings on this matter, which is of such vital concern and about which there is such a wide divergency of views, are very clear and emphatic. Briefly stated the Bahá'í conception of sex is based on the belief that chastity should be strictly practised by both sexes, not only because it is in itself highly commendable ethically, but also due to its being the only way to a happy and successful marital life. Sex relationships of any form outside marriage are not permissible therefore, and whoso violates this rule will not only be responsible to God, but will incur the necessary punishment from society."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, September 5, 1938: Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, p. 107, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1157)

Though forbidden, punishment for adultery in the Aqdas is for a future state of society; such a matter is usually covered by the civil laws of each country

"IV.D.1.y, Arson, adultery, murder and theft are all forbidden to IV.D.1.y.xiv, IV.D.1.y.xv, Bahá'ís, but the punishments prescribed for them in the IV.D.1.y.xvi & IV.D.1.y.xvii Kitab-i-Aqdas are designed for a future state of society. Such matters are usually covered by the civil laws of each country."

(On behalf of? the Universal House of Justice, at https://bahai-library.com/uhj_laws_not_binding )

Determination of penalties in future for believers violating law

The determination of the penalty to be with the House of Justice

"QUESTION: Concerning the penalties for adultery, sodomy, and theft, and the degrees thereof.

"ANSWER: The determination of the degrees of these penalties rests with the House of Justice."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Question no. 49)

The penalty for adultery rests with the House of Justice, though the term in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas refers to fornication as well

"The Arabic word "ziná", here translated as "adultery", signifies both fornication and adultery. It applies not only to sexual relations between a married person and someone who is not his or her spouse, but also to extramarital sexual intercourse in general. One form of "ziná" is rape. The only penalty prescribed by Bahá'u'lláh is for those who commit fornication (see note 77); penalties for other kinds of sexual offence are left to the Universal House of Justice to determine."

(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Notes no. 36)

The various degrees of sexual offenses and punishments therefore to be decided by the House of Justice

"You express surprise at the Guardian's reference to 'the necessary punishment from society'. In the Kitab-i-Aqdas Bahá'u'lláh prohibits sexual immorality and in the Annex to that Book states that the various degrees of sexual offences and the punishments for them are to be decided by the Universal House of Justice. In this connection it should be realised that there is distinction drawn in the Faith between the attitudes which should characterize individuals in their relationship to other people, namely, loving forgiveness, forbearance, and concern with one's own sins not the sins of others, and those attitudes which should be shown by the Spiritual Assemblies, whose duty is to administer the law of God with justice."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; excerpts to all National Spiritual Assemblies, February 6, 1973: Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, p. 110, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1148)

Punishment in next world

Adultery retards progress of the soul

"...Every other word of Bahá'u'lláh's and Abdu'l-Bahá's Writings is a preachment on moral and ethical conduct; all else is the form, the chalice, into which the pure spirit must be poured; without the spirit and the action which must demonstrate it, it is a lifeless form.

"When we realize that Bahá'u'lláh says adultery retards the progress of the soul in the afterlife--so grievous is it--and that drinking destroys the mind, and not to so much as approach it, we see how clear are our teachings on these subjects."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, September 30, 1949: Living the Life, pp. 15-16, World Centre, November 1972, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1159; also in Messages to Canada, p. 121)

Violator will be responsible to God

"With reference to the question you have asked concerning the Bahá'í attitude towards the problem of sex and its relation to marriage.

"The Bahá'í Teachings on this matter, which is of such vital concern and about which there is such a wide divergency of views, are very clear and emphatic. Briefly stated the Bahá'í conception of sex is based on the belief that chastity should be strictly practised by both sexes, not only because it is in itself highly commendable ethically, but also due to its being the only way to a happy and successful marital life. Sex relationships of any form outside marriage are not permissible therefore, and whoso violates this rule will not only be responsible to God, but will incur the necessary punishment from society."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, September 5, 1938: Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, p. 107, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1157)

See also

• Pre-marital sex