Guest Author - Vahid Ajepuh Oloro

There may never be an institution as old as the institution of marriage. The history of mankind is synonymous with the unity of man and woman. Marriage above all, is an important tool in the evolution of humanity and its procreation.

Baha�u�llah in His Most Holy Book; Kitab-i-Aqdas, loftly sets the law of marriage as a spiritual responsibility.

�Enter into wedlock, O peope,� He exhorts, �that ye may bring forth one who will make mention of Me amid My servants.

�This is My bidding unto you,� He adds, �hold fast to it as an assistance to yourselves.�

In those mighty words Baha�u�llah signifies marriage as both a spiritual engagement; a responsibility undertaken in order to continue the chain of the praise and worship of God, as well as a benefit to humanity.

This means that the Baha�i marriage must carry both the material and spiritual aspects in its union.

Abdu�l-Baha in his writings outlines this aspect:

�Among the majority of the people marriage consists of a physical relationship and its union is temporary. But marriage to the people of Baha must consist of both physical and spiritual relationship ...�

The core teaching of the Baha�i Faith is unity. This is the fulcrum round which its activities and laws revolve. One such activity and law is marriage. The Baha�i marriage therefore is an important instrument for the building of unity.

It becomes a uniting factor not just for the man and woman entering into wedlock but for families on both ends and in the larger context, the community they belong to.

Every effort and step of the Baha�i marriage is done with a key purpose of enhancing unity.

At the inception of its process those who intend to get married are requested to get acquinted with each other well enough before entering into married.

Baha�i sacred writings advise that; �Baha�i marriage is a commitment of two parties ... the mutual attraction of mind and heart. Each must however exercise utmost care and become thoroughly acquainted with the character of the other that a binding covenant between them ... will endure forever.�

Many marriages today suffer failure first because partners never care to get acquainted with each other but in stead rush into wedlock prespitated by outword desires. And second, because marriage is never seen as a spiritual responsibility, as a service to God and the advancement of His Will.

Once two individuals have discovered that inner bonding they must however seek consent of all their living biological parents. This requirement strengthens the significance of Baha�i marriage as a tool of unity.

Once the two families give consent a seed of unity between them (sometimes never known to each other before) is planted and the realm of unity expands from the two partners to incorporate two families.

Once the consent of parents has been given the two shall then inform their Local spiritual Assembly that�ll pronounce their engagement. Withion a period not exceeding 90 days after the pronouncement of engagement, the two must get married.

Baha�i marriage is a simple affair, which involves the two partners each reciting the marriage vow; �We will all verily abide by the Will of God�, in the presence of two witnesses. After which the Baha�i marriage certificate can be signed.

Any other addition to the marriage programme is left to the discretion of those getting married and their families.

That vow signifies the spirituality of Baha�i marriage. The two partners see their relation first as a submission to the Will of God. The love for, and humility to God becomes a crucial factor for the success of their marriage.

As two Baha�is grow in their marriage they continue growing closer to each other and both continue getting closer to God. Growing closer to God enables them to discover true attraction and love for each other, in the process building a stronger bond and unity.