Arranged marriage
One must choose one pleasing to oneself and then obtain parental consent; the parents do not have any right to interfere before one makes one's choice[edit]
"As for the question regarding marriage under the Law of God: first thou must choose one who is pleasing to thee, and then the matter is subject to the consent of father and mother. Before thou makest thy choice, they have no right to interfere."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, sec. 85, p. 118)
Individual has right to choose his future partner in marriage without duress (while parents have unconditional freedom of consent)[edit]
"In the Bahá'í Faith it is the right of each individual to choose without duress his future partner in marriage and the freedom of the parents in exercising their right to give or refuse consent is unconditional. While it is desirable to have a signed consent from each parent it is not a requirement under Bahá'í Law. The responsible Spiritual Assembly must satisfy itself that consents are freely given but it should not insist upon a signed document. Reliable evidence of oral consents is quite sufficient; some parents freely give their consents orally while refusing to write their consents."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Guyana, April 11, 1978, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1253)
