Baha'i view on Faith and Marriage for a Banyule Interfaith Network forum on the subject of Faith and Marriage, 14 April 2013.

1. Faith and Marriage
Bahá’í Perspectives

2. Topics
 Quick Bahá’í Intro
 Marriage Laws and Guidance
 Weddings
 The Family
 Equality of Women and Men
 Mixed Marriages
 Divorce
 The Station of Marriage

3. Quick Bahá’í Intro
 Bahá’ís are followers of Bahá’u’lláh
 Bahá’u’lláh was born in Iran in 1817 and
died in exile in Palestine in 1892
 He appointed His son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as
His successor and authorised interpreter
 The Faith is now guided by scripture, the
Guardianship, and the Universal House
of Justice
 The Bahá’í Faith has no clergy
 Bahá’ís come from nearly every nation,
ethnic group, culture, profession, and
social or economic background

4. Bahá’í Marriage Defined
 “Bahá'í marriage is the commitment of
the two parties one to the other, and
their mutual attachment of mind and
heart. Each must, however, exercise
the utmost care to become thoroughly
acquainted with the character of the
other, that the binding covenant
between them may be a tie that will
endure forever.”
~‘Abdu’l-Bahá

5. True Marriage
 “The true marriage of Bahá'ís is this,
that husband and wife should be
united both physically and spiritually,
that they may ever improve the
spiritual life of each other, and may
enjoy everlasting unity throughout all
the worlds of God. This is Bahá'í
marriage.”
~‘Abdu’l-Bahá

6. “To foster harmony”
 “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.”
~‘Abdu’l-Bahá

7. Purpose of Marriage
 “…when He desired to manifest grace
and beneficence to men, and to set
the world in order…He established the
law of marriage, made it as a fortress
for well-being and salvation…He saith
, great is His glory: ‘Marry, O people,
that from you may appear he who will
remember Me amongst My
servants...’”
~Bahá’u’lláh

8. Consent of Parents
 “…marriage is dependent upon the
consent of both parties. Desiring to
establish love, unity and harmony
amidst Our servants, We have
conditioned it, once the couple's wish
is known, upon the permission of their
parents, lest enmity and rancour
should arise amongst them.”
~Bahá’u’lláh

9. Wedding Ceremony
 Requirements
◦ Bride and Groom each recite marriage
verse separately in presence of two
witnesses
◦ Overseen by the Local Spiritual Assembly
 Variations
◦ Determined by personal tastes, family
resources, and cultural traditions, from
small to large, including all manner of
music, dance, dress, food, and festivity

10. Wedding Verse
“We will all, verily,
abide by the Will of
God.”

11. Bahá’í Weddings

12. Weddings at Temples
 Currently, seven Bahá’í Houses of
Worship in the world (one near
Sydney)
 For meditation and the Word of God
 Weddings are permitted in the
gardens
 Only Bahá’í weddings are permitted
(although anyone can have one)

13. Family is Fundamental
 “Bahá'u'lláh came to bring unity to the
world, and a fundamental unity is that
of the family. Therefore, we must
believe that the Faith is intended to
strengthen the family, not weaken it.
For example, service to the Cause
should not produce neglect of the
family.”
~Universal House of
Justice

14. Within the Family
 “Just as the son has certain
obligations to his father, the father,
likewise, has certain obligations to his
son. The mother, the sister and other
members of the household have their
certain prerogatives. All these rights
and prerogatives must be conserved,
yet the unity of the family must be
sustained.”
~‘Abdu’l-Bahá

15. Equality of Women and Men
 “Women and men have been and will
always be equal in the sight of God.
The Dawning-Place of the Light of
God sheddeth its radiance upon all
with the same effulgence. Verily God
created women for men, and men for
women.”
~‘Abdu’l-Bahá

16. Equality within Marriage
 “There are…times when a wife should
defer to her husband, and times when
a husband should defer to his wife, but
neither should ever unjustly dominate
the other…. ‘Verily they are married in
obedience to Thy command. Cause
them to become the signs of harmony
and unity until the end of time.’”
~Universal House of
Justice

17. Interracial Marriage
 “For both Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá
never disapproved of the idea of
interracial marriage, nor discouraged
it. The Bahá'í Teachings, indeed, by
their very nature transcend all
limitations imposed by race…”
~Shoghi Effendi

18. Interreligious Marriage
“QUESTION: Is it permissible for a
believer to marry an unbeliever?
ANSWER: Both taking and giving in
marriage are permissible; thus did the
Lord decree when He ascended the
throne of bounteousness and grace.”
~Bahá’u’lláh

19. Divorce
 “Truly, the Lord loveth union and
harmony and abhorreth separation
and divorce. Live ye one with another,
O people, in radiance and joy.”
~Bahá’u’lláh

20. Year of Waiting
 “Should resentment or antipathy arise
between husband and wife…[they
must] bide in patience throughout the
course of one whole year, that
perchance the fragrance of affection
may be renewed between them. If,
upon the completion of this period,
their love hath not returned, it is
permissible for divorce to take place.”
~Bahá’u’lláh

21. The Station of Marriage
 “In Thine almighty wisdom Thou hast
enjoined marriage upon the peoples,
that the generations of men may
succeed one another in this contingent
world, and that ever, so long as the
world shall last, they may busy
themselves at the Threshold of Thy
oneness with servitude and worship,
with salutation, adoration and praise.”
~‘Abdu’l-Bahá