Chapter 9
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Conflicting writings regarding
polygamy as among "unwarranted practices" in past eras, causing
"incalculable harm to the Faith of God".
In passage 1, Shoghi
Effendi makes reference to "unwarranted practices" from past
dispensations, including polygamy, that have "been rigidly suppressed
by the Pen of Bahá’u’lláh"; which conflicts with the Holy Texts. In the era of Muhammad it was
permitted to have up four wives as part of the divine law (passage 2).
Baha'u'llah himself, coming from an Islamic background, had three
wives. As shown in passage 3, Baha'u'llah permitted polygamy (permitted having up to two
wives) in the early period of the Baha'i dispensation, but also states,
"Whoso contenteth himself with a single partner from among the
maidservants of God, both he and she shall live in tranquillity". This law was later changed by
Abdu'l-Bahá to monogamy,
according to the requirements of this day (passage 4).
1)
34.5
We should also bear in mind that
the distinguishing character of the Bahá’í Revelation does not solely
consist in the completeness and unquestionable validity of the
Dispensation which the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá have
established. Its excellence lies also in the fact that those elements
which in past Dispensations have, without the least authority from
their Founders, been a source of corruption and of incalculable harm to the Faith of God, have been strictly excluded by the clear text of Bahá’u’lláh’s writings. Those unwarranted practices,
in connection with the sacrament of baptism, of communion, of
confession of sins, of asceticism, of priestly domination, of elaborate
ceremonials, of holy war and of polygamy,
have one and all been rigidly suppressed by the Pen of Bahá’u’lláh;
whilst the rigidity and rigor of certain observances, such as fasting,
which are necessary to the devotional life of the individual, have been
considerably abated.
(From a letter dated 21 March 1930 written by Shoghi Effendi, in The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 19–22)
Full text at: https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/compilations/universal-house-of-justice-compilation/universal-house-of-justice-compilation.xhtml?795fc615
2)
4:3. If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the
orphans, marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye
fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only
one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess. That will be more
suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.
4:4. And give the women (on marriage) their dower as a free gift; but
if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, take
it and enjoy it with right good cheer.
-- The Qur'an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 4
4:3. And if ye fear that ye will not deal fairly by the orphans, marry of the women, who seem good to you, two or three or four;
and if ye fear that ye cannot do justice (to so many) then one (only)
or (the captives) that your right hands possess. Thus it is more likely
that ye will not do injustice.
4:4. And give unto the women (whom ye marry) free gift of their
marriage portions; but if they of their own accord remit unto you a
part thereof, then ye are welcome to absorb it (in your wealth).
-- The Qur'an (Pickthall tr), Sura 4 - Women.
3)
God hath prescribed matrimony unto you. Beware that ye take not unto yourselves more wives than two.
Whoso contenteth himself with a single partner from among the
maidservants of God, both he and she shall live in tranquillity. And he
who would take into his service a maid may do so with propriety. Such
is the ordinance which, in truth and justice, hath been recorded by the
Pen of Revelation.
-- Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 41
The Prophets of God should be regarded as physicians whose task is to
foster the well-being of the world and its peoples, that, through the
spirit of oneness, they may heal the sickness of a divided humanity. To none is given the right to question their words or disparage their conduct,
for they are the only ones who can claim to have understood the patient
and to have correctly diagnosed its ailments. No man, however acute his
perception, can ever hope to reach the heights which the wisdom and
understanding of the Divine Physician have attained. Little wonder,
then, if the treatment prescribed by the physician in this day should
not be found to be identical with that which he prescribed before.
-- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 80
4)
And now concerning thy question regarding the nature of religion. Know
thou that they who are truly wise have likened the world unto the human
temple. As the body of man needeth a garment to clothe it, so the body
of mankind must needs be adorned with the mantle of justice and wisdom.
Its robe is the Revelation vouchsafed unto it by God. Whenever this
robe hath fulfilled its purpose, the Almighty will assuredly renew it.
For every age requireth a fresh measure of the light of God. Every
Divine Revelation hath been sent down in a manner that befitted the
circumstances of the age in which it hath appeared.
-- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 79
While the text of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas appears to permit bigamy,
Bahá'u'lláh counsels that tranquillity and contentment derive from
monogamy. In another Tablet, He underlines the importance of the
individual's acting in such a way as to "bring comfort to himself and
to his partner".
Abdu'l-Bahá,
the authorized Interpreter of the Bahá'í Writings, states that in the
text of the Aqdas monogamy is in effect enjoined. He elaborates this
theme in a number of Tablets, including the following:
Know thou that polygamy is not permitted under the law of God, for contentment with one wife hath been clearly stipulated.
Taking a second wife is made dependent upon equity and justice being
upheld between the two wives, under all conditions. However, observance
of justice and equity towards two wives is utterly impossible. The fact
that bigamy has been made dependent upon an impossible condition is
clear proof of its absolute prohibition. Therefore it is not
permissible for a man to have more than one wife.
Polygamy is a very ancient practice among the majority of humanity. The
introduction of monogamy has been only gradually accomplished by the
Manifestations of God. Jesus, for example, did not prohibit polygamy,
but abolished divorce except in the case of fornication; Muhammad limited the number of wives to four, but making plurality of wives contingent on justice, and reintroducing permission for divorce;...
-- Notes, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 205
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