The Baha'i Studies Listserv Hasan, perhaps he was referring to men who were already married to two women. As far as I know, a Baha'i convert doesn't have to get divorced from one of his wives if he got married before joining the religion.
On Wed, Sep 26, 2012 at 7:49 PM, Hasan Elías <hasanel...@yahoo.com> wrote: > The Baha'i Studies Listserv > > Hi Dean, > > The enemies of 'Abdu'l-Bahá blamed Him for modify/abrogated this law of > Bahá'u'lláh. But the Master said He didn't change it, He denied it. > > Best, > > Hasan > > > *De:* Dean Betts <fdbe...@mindspring.com> > *Para:* Baha'i Studies <bahai-st@list.jccc.edu> > *Enviado:* Martes, 25 de septiembre, 2012 7:33 P.M. > *Asunto:* Re: Bigamy permitted in bahá'í writings? > > The Baha'i Studies Listserv > > Dear Hasan, > The following passages from Notes to Kitab-i-Aqdas should clarify this > subject. > Dean B. > > 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: 206 > > 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; Bahá'u'lláh, Who was > revealing His Teachings in the milieu of a Muslim society, > introduced the question of monogamy gradually in accordance > with the principles of wisdom and the progressive > unfoldment of His purpose. The fact that He left His > followers with an infallible Interpreter of His Writings > enabled Him to outwardly permit two wives in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas > but uphold a condition that enabled 'Abdu'l-Bahá to > elucidate later that the intention of the law was to enforce > monogamy. > > (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 205) > > > > Dear Hasan, > My understanding is that the writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha have the same effect > as legislation, as do the writings of Shoghi Effendi. > 'Abdu'l-Baha has written that a man may two wives *only* if > Greetings, > Dean B. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Hasan Elías <hasanel...@yahoo.com> > *To:* Baha'i Studies <bahai-st@list.jccc.edu> > *Sent:* Tuesday, September 25, 2012 1:14 AM > *Subject:* Bigamy permitted in bahá'í writings? > > The Baha'i Studies Listserv > > Hi all, > > I have read in recently posts of two other lists the following: > > - Bahá'u'lláh in the Kitáb al-Aqdas permits bigamy and never changed > this to monogamy, also never legislated again on this issue > - 'Abdu'l-Bahá has never legislated or abrogated the permission of > this law > - Shoghi Effendi said that Bahá'u'lláh prescribes monogamy in the > Kitáb al-Aqdas (!) > > > Could anyone explain to me how we can put this together without falling > into contradictions? > > If Bahá'u'lláh permits bigamy, then, why and how the actual bahá'í law > prescribes monogamy and forbids bigamy? > > Also, if a muslim take 4 wives, it is ok because it is based on the > Qur'án, then why it is bad for a bahá'í to take 2 wives if he is based on > the Kitáb al-Aqdas, if nobody has the right to abrogate a law of > Bahá'u'lláh? > > These are basic questions. > > Thanks to all, > > Hasan > > > > __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:arch...@mail-archive.com Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-667000-27401.54f46e81b66496c9909bcdc2f7987...@list.jccc.edu Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to ly...@list.jccc.edu Or subscribe: http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/?forum=bahai-st News (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu
