The Baha'i Studies Listserv No, I think He was referring to the fact that monogamy was Baha'u'llah's intention all along and therefore nothing was abrogated.
On Wed, Sep 26, 2012 at 11:41 PM, Matt Haase <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 <[email protected]> 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 <[email protected]> >> Para: Baha'i Studies <[email protected]> >> 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 >> To: Baha'i Studies >> 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:[email protected] Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-667001-27401.54f46e81b66496c9909bcdc2f7987...@list.jccc.edu Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [email protected] Or subscribe: http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[email protected] 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/[email protected] New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
