Baha'i views on Chastity and Modesty

Ravian Bilani
by Ravian Bilani
16-May-2009
 

FROM THE TEACHINGS OF ABDU'L-BAHA

Recorded by Ann M. Boylan

Walking today in the gardens by the Hudson River in the early morning, I had the privilege of being with Abdu'l-Baha, and I told Him how some people have tried to spread the untruth that the Baha'is teach "free love."

He answered: "The marriage bond is very important." He repeated it again: "Very, very important. Marriage must be strict and pure. You must all be very careful about this."

He continued: "Women and men must not embrace each other when not married, or not about to be married. They must not kiss each other. If women kiss women, that is not bad. If men kiss men, that is not bad. But men and women must not embrace. Such conduct is not taught in the Baha'i Revelation. AND IT MUST NOT BE DONE. IT IS NOT PERMITTED. If they wish to greet each other, or comfort each other, they may take each other by the hand.

"Describe how you have seen the women of the East, as in Haifa. The Blessed Beauty directed that there should be great modesty in the women, that they should not bare the neck and bosom, and that the women in the East should wear a veil.

Notes of a talk with Abdu'l-Baha, New York City, June 7, 1912

Balatarin
Share/Save/Bookmark

Recently by Ravian BilaniCommentsDate
Defeat of the Haifan Baha'is in Federal Court of the United States of America
15
Dec 13, 2010
Corruption in the Baha'i Faith
2
Nov 18, 2010
Baha'i Faith in Russia
2
Oct 29, 2010
more from Ravian Bilani
 
default

This information is innacurate

by berkeleyc (not verified) on Fri Jul 03, 2009 01:59 AM PDT

According to the Kitab-i-aqdas, Baha'is are not allowed to have premarital sex, and marriage must strictly be between a man and a woman. However, there are no restrictions on ways to greet people or other activities. At every Baha'i meeting I have been to both men and women have been friendly and welcomed each other with handshakes, hugs, or kisses on the cheek - whatever the individuals are most comfortable with. Baha'is do value marriage between a man and a woman very much, but that does not prohibit them from being friendly with each other nor impose unnecessarily restrictions.

Please see the Kitab-i-aqdas, the book of laws, for more information. It is available online at //www.sacred-texts.com/bhi/aqdas.htm. 107 applies generally to relationships between family members. The same passage has been interpreted by Shoghi Effendi to include a prohibition on homosexual marriage.


  •  
default

nonsense

by Anonymouse11111111 (not verified) on Wed May 20, 2009 10:20 PM PDT

actually bahais are quite loose with their morals go to any phoenix grand canyon bahai conference and see for yourself much sex going on premarital and extramarital


  •  
default

Ya'Abdu'l Baha!

by Baha'i Member (not verified) on Mon May 18, 2009 01:16 PM PDT

Ya'Abdu'l Baha!


  •  
Reza 41

less not make mistake

by Reza 41 on Sat May 16, 2009 10:35 PM PDT

dear ravian;

I understand ,what you are trying to say, as far as Mr.AB-Baha maybe offering homo sexuality ? 

but that is not he meant there, by kissing man and man or women to woman , those kissing he is talking about has cultural attachment just like Italian man kiss each other cheeks, middle eastern(Iranian) also have same habit of when they greet, they kiss each other cheeks and that is a normal thing to us middle eastern  , although we have very legitimate questions for this faith but less not  treat them with unfair questions, but there if there is point that ,as infallible person he should have known most European and American they don't have same cultur  as middle east culture of man to man kissing , but he seems like didn't know much about any thing in tradition manners , he also called naked African savage and retarded animals, he didn't realize that ,their way of living has nothing to do with their human aspects ,I could go even  farther and call them (African)they have much more human value and aspact than European nations. African they never kill each other in the scale of European did 60 million mostly civilian in ww2. they may fight but their fight may be finish by exchange of few cattle .than , AB as prophet how could he not think about differences of cultures and call African savage animals or cows? and Erupian educated civil human beaing? that is we should ask ..

peace


  •  
Tahirih

ای جهلای معروف بعلم

Tahirih
Sat May 16, 2009 01:00 PM PDT

چرا در ظاهر دعوی شبانی کنيد و در باطن ذئب اغنام من شده‌ايد * مَثَل شما مثل ستاره قبل از صبح است که در ظاهر درّيّ و روشن است و در باطن سبب اضلال و هلاکت کاروانهای مدينه و ديار من است

"Bahaullah"


  •  
Alexx

تعالیم بهایی

Alexx
Sat May 16, 2009 09:25 AM PDT

"ذره ای از عصمت اعظم از صد هزار سال عبادت و دریای معرفت است."
-عبدالبها
گلزار تعالیم بهایی ص ٥٠٢


  •  
default

interesting?

by reza9 (not verified) on Sat May 16, 2009 08:40 AM PDT

before you hojatiyeh tugs were criticizing bahais for being morally loose. now we are being criticized for not having premarital sex?? make up your minds so which one we are guilty of? loose or too rigid? or is it that your opinion changes as the situation of the day?


  •