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Marriage

From Bahai9

Writings/Talks on marriage[edit]

Command of marriage is eternal and will never be altered[edit]

"Regarding the question of matrimony: Know thou that the command of marriage is eternal. It will never be changed nor altered. This is divine creation and there is not the slightest possibility that change or alteration affect this divine creation (marriage)."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 474)

Encouraged[edit]

Strongly encouraged for most but not obligatory[edit]

Encouraged to marry while still young[edit]

"The Bahá'í youth should, on the one hand, be taught the lesson of self-control which, when exercised, undoubtedly has a salutary effect on the development, of character and of personality in general, and on the other should be advised, nay even encouraged, to contract marriage while still young and in full possession of their physical vigor. Economic factors, no doubt, are often a serious hindrance to early marriage, but in most cases are only an excuse, and as such should not be overstressed."

(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, from a letter dated 13 December 1940, to an individual believer, in Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-86, sec. 126.7c, p. 234)

See also[edit]

Requirements[edit]

Pre-conditions[edit]

Marriage ceremony[edit]

Specific conditions of marriage ceremony and afterward[edit]

Types[edit]

Marriage types (by protagonist)[edit]

Prohibited types (unless entered into before becoming Bahá'í)[edit]

Within marriage[edit]

From Lights of Guidance (to categorize or add to subpages)[edit]

"In the case of any Bahá'í wedding, delayed or otherwise, the date on the certificate must be the date the ceremony is performed."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly, January 20, 1966, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1292)

Also add mutual links of Sex and Bahá'í law and Marriage and Bahá'í law for quotes on law below

Legalizing Existing Situation Does Not Require Bahá'í Marriage[edit]

"The matter of regularising a situation in civil law is quite separate and largely depends upon the requirements of the law. If a couple whose union is recognized by the Faith but is not valid in civil law wish to have a civil marriage, they may most certainly do so. This is purely a rectification of the civil position and does not require the holding of a Bahá'í marriage ceremony."

(Ibid., in Lights of Guidance, no. 1273)

Violation of Marriage Law, Ascertain if Bahá'í Informed of Requirements[edit]

"...For the present, your Assembly should follow the guidance already given by the beloved Guardian, keeping in mind that suspension of voting rights is not an automatic procedure.

"In all marriage cases, including those you list, your Assembly must first ascertain if the Bahá'í in question was informed of the requirements for Bahá'í marriage, and of his own responsibilities in connection therewith. In cases involving disregard of Bahá'í laws other than that of marriage, you should be slow to impose this severe sanction."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, April 14, 1965, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1276)

Incorrect Information Given by Assembly[edit]

"Similarly, you should take into account a believer's good intention if he acted in accordance with incorrect advice or instruction given to him by his Local Spiritual Assembly or another Bahá'í institution."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, October 11, 1965, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1277)

Bahá'ís Ignorant of Law in a Different Category Altogether[edit]

"At the present stage in the development of the Bahá'í Community, Bahá'ís who failed to have a Bahá'í marriage through ignorance of the law are in a different category altogether from those who wittingly broke the law. The latter must have a Bahá'í ceremony in order to regain their voting rights; but the former should be treated in the same manner as those Bahá'ís who married before they entered the Faith and those Bahá'ís who married without a Bahá'í ceremony before the law was applied: they should be considered married and not be required to have a Bahá'í ceremony."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, January 20, 1966, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1278)

Be Patient and Forbearing in Application of Laws to Indigenous People: Must Not Pry into People's Personal Lives[edit]

"There are, however, as you will see from the 21 November letter to Paraguay, situations which are not accepted by the Bahá'í Faith, and when people who are living in such immoral situations become Bahá'ís they must rectify their condition or be subject to loss of their voting rights. We wish to emphasize, however, that although all immorality is condemned in the Teachings, it is only flagrant immorality that is now sanctionable. You should not pry into people's affairs, and only in cases of flagrant immorality should you consider imposing sanctions, and then only after you have patiently explained to the believers concerned the Bahá'í laws involved and given them ample time to comply. Particularly in the application of these laws to indigenous people should you be patient and forbearing. The emphasis should be on education rather than on rigid enforcement of the law immediately.

"When someone who is already a Bahá'í knowingly violates Bahá'í marriage law he is subject to loss of his voting rights. Apart from the cases mentioned in paragraph four above, believers wishing to be married must have a Bahá'í ceremony, and this is true even if only one of the parties is a Bahá'í...."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Peru, June 23, 1969, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1279)

Believers Should Not Attend Weddings of Bahá'ís Marrying Contrary to Bahá'í Law[edit]

"Further to your letter of 5 September 1974, the Universal House of Justice has now had an opportunity to consider your question about believers attending weddings of Bahá'ís who are marrying contrary to Bahá'í law, and we have been asked to convey to you the following.

"If it is known beforehand that a believer is violating such laws, it would be inappropriate for the friends to attend the ceremony. This is out of respect for Bahá'í law. However, if without realizing the situation believers find themselves in attendance at a ceremony in the course of which it is apparent that such a violation is occurring, they should not make an issue of it."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of New Zealand, November 11, 1974: Australian Bahá'í Bulletin, No. 243, September 1975, p. 4, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1293)

Reporting Bahá'í Marriage: Individual Only Acts for Assembly[edit]

"...In reporting Bahá'í marriages it is much better to mention that the ceremony was performed by the Assembly, as this is the proper thing to do, and an individual only acts for the Assembly on this occasion. As a funeral is not a legal ceremony more latitude can be allowed, especially as the family of the deceased may want some particular Bahá'í friend to officiate."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, July 20, 1946: Bahá'í News, No. 188, p. 3, October 1946, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1301)

Todos[edit]

  • Add quotes from the Kitab-i-Aqdas, etc.

See also[edit]

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