Baha'ism

Societal Law

Marriage Law

Baha’i sexual morality is similar to the teachings of Islam. There can be no sexual intimacy outside the bounds of marriage, although in practice Baha’i singles in western countries may “date”. The punishment for zina ‘fornication and adultery’ in the sense of two unmarried persons is a fine of nine mithqals of gold payable to the House of Justice. This is doubled for each subsequent offence. There is no punishment for zina committed by married persons; the legislation of a punishment is left up to a future House of Justice. Al-Kitab al-Aqdas does not specify regulations regarding evidence of adultery.

Marriage is highly recommended but not obligatory. Baha’ Allah permits a man to take up to two wives in al-Kitab al-Aqdas, however ‘Abd al-Baha’ abrogated this and now Baha’is are permitted monogamous marriages alone, unless polygynous marriages were contracted before conversion. The minimum age for marriage is fifteen for both parties, and formal consent must be obtained from both bride and groom as well as their natural parents. Failure to obtain consent of parents is a common reason for loss of administrative rights in Baha’i communities. The period of engagement must not exceed three months, however at the present this law is only applicable for Baha’is of Iranian ethnicity.

The Baha’i mahr paid by the groom to the bride (also only practiced by Iranian Baha’is), is fixed at a minimum of nineteen mithqals of gold for city-dwellers or silver for villagers. The maximum mahr is ninety-five mithqals but brides are encouraged to take the lower amount. Al-Kitab al-Aqdas also deals with provisions for stipulating virginity before marriage and dealing with husbands who have abandoned their wives.88

The marriage ceremony for Baha’is consists of the pronouncement of a verse from al-Kitab al-Aqdas in front of two witnesses acceptable to the local Spiritual Assembly. The translation of the verse for both men and women is “we will all, verily, abide by the will of God”. Baha’is can also design other aspects of a wedding ceremony according to their personal choice although they are encouraged not to have elaborate and exorbitant rituals. After the wedding, the marriage should be consummated within twenty-four hours.89

Next > Baha'ism: Societal Law: Divorce Law

References

88Smith, “Marriage”, A Concise Encyclopedia of the Bahá’í Faith 232-234.

89Bahá’u’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas 105.

Next > Baha'ism: Societal Law: Divorce Law