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Bahá'í World Faith (`Abdu'l-Bahá's Section Only)
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Pages 372-373
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BAHÁ'Í MARRIAGE
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1 |
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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2 |
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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3 |
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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4 |
Among the majority of the people marriage consists of physical
relationship and this union and relationship is temporary for at
the end physical separation is destined and ordained. But the
marriage of the people of Bahá must consist of both physical and
spiritual relationship for both of them are intoxicated with the
wine of one cup, are attracted by one Peerless Countenance, are
quickened with one Life and are illumined with one Light. This is
the spiritual relationship and everlasting union. Likewise in the
physical world they are bound together with strong and unbreakable
ties.
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5 |
When relationship, union and concord exist between the two
from a physical and spiritual standpoint, that is the real union,
therefore everlasting. But if the union is merely from the physical
point of view, unquestionably it is temporal and at the end separation
is inevitable.
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6 |
Consequently when the people of Bahá desire to enter the sacred
union of marriage, eternal connection and ideal relationship, spiritual
and physical association of thoughts and conceptions of life
must exist between them, so that in all the grades of existence and
all the worlds of God this union may continue forever and ever
for this real union is a splendor of the light of the love of God.
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7 |
Likewise if the souls become real believers they will find themselves
ushered into this exalted state of relationship, becoming the
manifestors of the love of the Merciful and exhilarated with the
cup of the love of God. Undoubtedly that union and relationship
is eternal.
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8 |
The souls who sacrifice self, become detached from the imperfections
of the realm of man and free from the shackles of this ephemeral
world, assuredly the splendors of the rays of divine union
shall shine in their hearts and in the eternal paradise they shall
find ideal relationship, union and happiness.
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