1.4.1
Marriage & Family – The law of marriage
And when
He desired to manifest grace and beneficence to men, and to set the world in
order, He revealed observances and created laws; among them He established the
law of marriage, made it as a fortress for well-being and salvation, and
enjoined it upon us in that which was sent down out of the heaven of sanctity in
His Most Holy Book. He saith, great is His glory: "Marry, O people, that from
you may appear he who will remember Me amongst My servants; this is one of My
commandments unto you; obey it as an assistance to yourselves."
(Bahá'u'lláh,
Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 104)
1.4.2
Marriage & Family – Consent of parents
Marriage
is conditioned on the consent of both parties and their parents, whether the
woman be a maiden or not.
(Baha'u'llah, Synopsis and Codification of the Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 39)
1.4.3
Marriage & Family – Spiritual union
When,
therefore, the people of Baha undertake to marry, the union must be a true
relationship, a spiritual coming together as well as a physical one, so that
throughout every phase of life, and in all the worlds of God, their union will
endure; for this real oneness is a gleaming out of the love of God.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 117)
1.4.4 Marriage & Family – Family as the bedrock of society
The Bahá'í teachings on sexual morality centre on marriage and the family as the bedrock of the whole structure of human society and are designed to protect and strengthen that divine institution.
(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 223)
1.4.5 Marriage & Family – The world of humanity
The world of humanity has been expressed by Him as a unit -- as one family.
(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 36)
1.4.6 Marriage & Family – Love and agreement
If love and agreement are manifest in a single family, that family will advance, become illumined and spiritual; but if enmity and hatred exist within it destruction and dispersion are inevitable.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 229)
1.4.7
Marriage & Family - Home
My home is
the home of peace. My home is the home of joy and delight. My home is the home
of laughter and exultation. Whosoever enters through the portals of this home,
must go out with gladsome heart. This is the home of light; whosoever enters
here must become illumined....
(Abdu'l-Baha, From a
Tablet, published in "Star of the West", vol. 9, no. 3, p. 40) (28 April
1918)
(Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. 397)