<> It's interesting that this only mentions sexual intercourse between two people who are unmarried and adultery, as this leaves out a punishment for an unmarried individual who has relations with a married individual.<>
Dear David, My understanding of this is the two people in question (who have committed adultery) are not married to one another. This in no way implies that one or the other or BOTH are not "married" individuals to a third and/or fourth party. Here are a few more quotes - food for your ravenous brain <smile> "The Arabic word "zina", here translated as "adultery", signifies both fornication and adultery. It applies not only to sexual relations between a married person and someone who is not his or her spouse, but also to extramarital sexual intercourse in general. One form of "zina" is rape. The only penalty prescribed by Bahá'u'lláh is for those who commit fornication (see note 77); penalties for other kinds of sexual offence are left to the Universal House of Justice to determine." (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 181) 77. God hath imposed a fine on every adulterer and adulteress, to be paid to the House of Justice # 49 Although the term translated here as adultery refers, in its broadest sense, to unlawful sexual intercourse between either married or unmarried individuals (see note 36 for a definition of the term), 'Abdu'l-Bahá has specified that the punishment here prescribed is for sexual intercourse between persons who are unmarried. He indicates that it remains for the Universal House of Justice to determine the penalty for adultery committed by a married individual. (See also Q and A 49.) In one of His Tablets, 'Abdu'l-Bahá refers to some of the spiritual and social implications of the violation of the laws of morality and, concerning the penalty here described, He indicates that the aim of this law is to make clear to all that such an action is shameful in the eyes of God and that, in the event that the offence can be established and the fine imposed, the principal purpose is the exposure of the offenders -- that they are shamed and disgraced in the eyes of society. He affirms that such exposure is in itself the greatest punishment. The House of Justice referred to in this verse is presumably the LocalHouse of Justice, currently known as the Local Spiritual Assembly. (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 200) I also find it interesting from the quote you noted initially - Baha'u'llah doesn't address the issue of "recommencing" their year of patience after intercourse has taken place between the spouses. However, it is answered elsewhere in the Aqdas - see following: 11. QUESTION: If intercourse take place between a couple during their year of patience, and they become estranged again thereafter, must they recommence their year of patience, or may the days preceding the intercourse be included in the reckoning of the year? And once divorce hath taken place, is it necessary that a further period of waiting be observed? ANSWER: Should affection be renewed between the couple during their year of patience, the marriage tie is valid, and what is commanded in the Book of God must be observed; but once the year of patience hath been completed and that which is decreed by God taketh place, a further period of waiting is not required. Sexual intercourse between husband and wife is forbidden during their year of patience, and whoso committeth this act must seek God's forgiveness, and, as a punishment, render to the House of Justice a fine of nineteen mithqáls of gold. (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 110) 40. QUESTION: If during the year of patience the fragrance of affection be renewed, only to be succeeded by antipathy, and the couple waver between affection and aversion throughout the year, and the year endeth in antipathy, can divorce take place or not? ANSWER: In each case at any time antipathy occurreth, the year of patience beginneth on that day, and the year must run its full course. (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 119) So, one might say there is a "double penalty" -payment- (made to the Local Spiritual Assembly with whom they had the "contractural" Year of Patience) and the year of patience must begin -again- My advice: Choose your wife very carefully. Lovingly, Sandra __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web - http://list.jccc.net/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.net/bahai-st http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist (public) http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] (public)
