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Marriage
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Pages 176-177
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Marriage
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1 |
The Bahá'í teachings enjoin monogamy, and Bahá'u'lláh
makes marriage conditional on the consent of both parties and
of their parents. He says in the Book of Aqdas: --
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2 |
Verily in the Book of Bayán (the Báb's Revelation)
the matter is restricted to the consent of both (bride and
bridegroom). As We desired to bring about love and
friendship and the unity of the people, therefore We made
it conditional upon the consent of the parents also, that
enmity and ill-feeling might be avoided. -- Kitáb-i-Aqdas.
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3 |
On this point `Abdu'l-Bahá wrote to an inquirer: -- "As to
the question of marriage, according to the law of God: First
you must select one, and then it depends on the consent of the
father and mother. Before your selection they have no right of
interference."
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4 |
`Abdu'l-Bahá says that as a result of this precaution of
Bahá'u'lláh's the strained relations between relatives-in-law
which have become proverbial in Christian and Muhammadan
countries are almost unknown among the Bahá'ís, and divorce
is also of very rare occurrence. He writes on the subject of
matrimony: --
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5 |
Bahá'í marriage is union and cordial affection between
the two parties. They must, however, exercise the utmost
care and become acquainted with each other's character.
This eternal bond should be made secure by a firm covenant,
and the intention should be to foster harmony, fellowship
and unity and to attain everlasting life. ...
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6 |
In a true Bahá'í marriage the two parties must become
fully united both spiritually and physically, so that they
may attain eternal union throughout all the worlds of
God, and improve the spiritual life of each other. This is
Bahá'í matrimony.
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7 |
The Bahá'í marriage ceremony is very simple, the only requirement
being that the groom and the bride, in the presence
of at least two witnesses, each say: "We will all, verily,
abide by the Will of God."
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