# A Chaste and Holy Life

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> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Bahá'u'lláh, A Chaste and Holy Life, bahai-library.com.
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> 
> A Chaste and Holy Life
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh
> 
> Abdu'l-Bahá
> 
> Shoghi Effendi
> 
> Universal House of Justice
> 
> published in
> 
> Compilation of Compilations
> 
> Volume 1,  pp. 45-64
> 
> 1991
> 
> Such a chaste
> and holy life, with its implications of modesty, purity, temperance, decency,
> and clean-mindedness, involves no less than the exercise of moderation
> in all that pertains to dress, language, amusements, and all artistic and
> literary avocations. It demands daily vigilance in the control of one's
> carnal desires and corrupt inclinations. It calls for the abandonment of
> a frivolous conduct, with its excessive attachment to trivial and often
> misdirected pleasures. It requires total abstinence from all alcoholic
> drinks, from opium, and from similar habit-forming drugs. It condemns the
> prostitution of art and of literature, the practices of nudism and of companionate
> marriage, infidelity in marital relationships, and all manner of promiscuity,
> of easy familiarity, and of sexual vices....
> 
> ("The Advent
> of Divine Justice" (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1984),
> p.
> 30
> )
> 
> 1. The Bahá'í Standard
> 
> 1.1 The Nature of Bahá'í Law
> 
> 1.2 True Liberty
> 
> 1.3 The Bahá'í Standard of Chastity
> 
> 2. A Chaste And Holy Life
> 
> 2.1 Definition
> 
> 2.2 Chastity
> 
> 2.3 Moderation
> 
> 2.4 Daily Vigilance of Actions
> 
> 2.5 Abandonment of Frivolous Conduct
> 
> 2.6 Alcohol
> 
> 2.7 Drugs
> 
> 2.8 Bahá'í Attitude Toward Sex
> 
> 2.9 Immoral Practices are Condemned
> 
> 2.10 Application of the Principle of a Chaste and Holy Life
> 
> 3 The Power Of Example
> 
> 3.1 A Praiseworthy Character
> 
> 3.2 The Importance of Deeds
> 
> 3.3 The Effect of Example
> 
> 4 Endnotes
> 
> The Bahá'í
> Standard
> 
> 1.1
> 
> The Nature of
> Bahá'í Law
> 
> 1. They
> whom God hath endued with insight will readily recognize that the precepts
> laid down by God constitute the highest means for the maintenance of order
> in the world and the security of its peoples....
> 
> O ye peoples of the world! Know assuredly that My commandments are
> the lamps of My loving providence among My servants, and the keys of My
> mercy for My creatures. Thus hath it been sent down from the heaven of
> the Will of your Lord, the Lord of Revelation....
> 
> Say: From My laws the sweet smelling savour of My garment can be
> smelled, and by their aid the standards of victory will be planted upon
> the highest peaks. The Tongue of My power hath, from the heaven of My omnipotent
> glory, addressed to My creation these words: "Observe My commandments,
> for the love of My beauty." Happy is the lover that hath inhaled the divine
> fragrance of his Best-Beloved from these words, laden with the perfume
> of a grace which no tongue can describe. By My life! He who hath drunk
> the choice wine of fairness from the hands of My bountiful favour, will
> circle around My commandments that shine above the Dayspring of My creation.
> 
> Think not that We have revealed unto you a mere code of laws. Nay,
> rather, We have unsealed the choice Wine with the fingers of might and
> power. To this beareth witness that which the Pen of Revelation hath revealed.
> Meditate upon this, O men of insight!....
> 
> ("Gleanings
> from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh", rev. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í
> Publishing Trust, 1984), sec.
> 155
> , pp.
> 331
> -
> 333
> )
> 
> 2. Just
> as there are laws governing our physical lives, requiring that we must
> supply our bodies with certain foods, maintain them within a certain range
> of temperatures, and so forth, if we wish to avoid physical disabilities,
> so also there are laws governing our spiritual lives. These laws are revealed
> to mankind in each age by the Manifestation of God, and obedience to them
> is of vital importance if each human being, and mankind in general, is
> to develop properly and harmoniously. Moreover, these various aspects are
> interdependent. If an individual violates the spiritual laws for his own
> development he will cause injury not only to himself but to the society
> in which he lives. Similarly, the condition of society has a direct effect
> on the individuals who must live within it.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 6 February 1973 written by the Universal House of Justice to all
> National Spiritual Assemblies, published in "Messages from the Universal
> House of Justice 1968-1973" (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing
> Trust, 1976), pp.
> 105
> -
> 6
> )
> 
> 3. We
> have considered your several letters and have noted your questions, and
> your view that many Bahá'í youth in ... are confused, and are
> pleading for guidance in simple clear language on how to meet daily situations,
> particularly those involving sex.
> 
> It is neither possible nor desirable for the Universal House of Justice
> to set forth a set of rules covering every situation. Rather is it the
> task of the individual believer to determine, according to his own prayerful
> understanding of the Writings, precisely what his course of conduct should
> be in relation to situations which he encounters in his daily life. If
> he is to fulfil his true mission in life as a follower of the Blessed Perfection,
> he will pattern his life according to the Teachings. The believer cannot
> attain this objective merely by living according to a set of rigid regulations.
> When his life is oriented toward service to Bahá'u'lláh,
> and when every conscious act is performed within this frame of reference,
> he will not fail to achieve the true purpose of his life.
> 
> Therefore, every believer must continually study the sacred Writings
> and the instructions of the beloved Guardian, striving always to attain
> a new and better understanding of their import to him and to his society.
> He should pray fervently for Divine Guidance, wisdom and strength to do
> what is pleasing to God, and to serve Him at all times and to the best
> of his ability.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 17 October 1968 written by the Universal House of Justice to an individual
> believer)
> 
> 4. As
> to chastity, this is one of the most challenging concepts to get across
> in this very permissive age, but Bahá'ís must make the utmost
> effort to uphold Bahá'í standards, no matter how difficult
> they may seem at first. Such efforts will be made easier if the youth will
> understand that the laws and standards of the Faith are meant to free them
> from untold spiritual and moral difficulties in the same way that a proper
> appreciation of the laws of nature enables one to live in harmony with
> the forces of the planet.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 14 January 1985 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice
> to an individual believer)
> 
> 1.2
> 
> True Liberty
> 
> 5. Consider
> the pettiness of men's minds. They ask for that which injureth them, and
> cast away the thing that profiteth them....
> 
> Know ye that the embodiment of liberty and its symbol is the animal.
> That which beseemeth man is submission unto such restraints as will protect
> him from his own ignorance, and guard him against the harm of the mischief-maker.
> Liberty causeth man to overstep the bounds of propriety, and to infringe
> on the dignity of his station. It debaseth him to the level of extreme
> depravity and wickedness. Regard men as a flock of sheep that need a shepherd
> for their protection. This, verily, is the truth, the/certain truth. We
> approve of liberty in certain circumstances, and refuse to sanction it
> in others. We, verily, are the All- Knowing.
> 
> Say: True liberty consisteth in man's submission unto My commandments,
> little as ye know it. Were men to observe that which We have sent down
> unto them from the Heaven of Revelation, they would, of a certainty, attain
> unto perfect liberty. Happy is the man that hath apprehended the Purpose
> of God in whatever He hath revealed from the Heaven of His Will, that pervadeth
> all created things. Say: The liberty that profiteth you is to be found
> nowhere except in complete servitude unto God, the Eternal Truth. Whoso
> hath tasted of its sweetness will refuse to barter it for all the dominion
> of earth and heaven.
> 
> ("Gleanings
> from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh", sec.
> 159
> , pp.
> 335
> -
> 36
> )
> 
> 6. ...with
> regard to the peoples who clamour for freedom: the moderate freedom which
> guarantees the welfare of the world of mankind and maintains and preserves
> the universal relationships, is found in its fullest power and extension
> in the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh.
> 
> ("Selections
> from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá" [rev. ed.], (Haifa: Bahá'í
> World Centre, 1982, sec.
> 227
> , p.
> 305
> )
> 
> 1.3
> 
> The Bahá'í
> Standard of Chastity
> 
> 7. The
> chosen ones of God ... should not look at the depraved condition of the society
> in which they live, nor at the evidences of moral degradation and frivolous
> conduct which the people around them display. They should not content themselves
> merely with relative distinction and excellence. Rather they should fix
> their gaze upon nobler heights by setting the counsels and exhortations
> of the Pen of Glory as their supreme goal. Then it will be readily realized
> how numerous are the stages that still remain to be traversed and how far
> off the desired goal lies — a goal which is none other than exemplifying
> heavenly morals and virtues.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 30 October 1924 written by Shoghi Effendi to the Local Spiritual
> Assembly of Tihrán, translated from the Persian)
> 
> 8. It
> must be remembered, however, that the maintenance of such a high standard
> of moral conduct is not to be associated or confused with any form of asceticism,
> or of excessive and bigoted puritanism. The standard inculcated by Bahá'u'lláh,
> seeks, under no circumstances, to deny anyone the legitimate right and
> privilege to derive the fullest advantage and benefit from the manifold
> joys, beauties, and pleasures with which the world has been so plentifully
> enriched by an All-Loving Creator. "Should a man," Bahá'u'lláh
> Himself reassures us, "wish to adorn himself with the ornaments of the
> earth, to wear its apparels, or partake of the benefits it can bestow,
> no harm can befall him, if he alloweth nothing whatever to intervene between
> him and God, for God hath ordained every good thing, whether created in
> the heavens or in the earth, for such of His servants as truly believe
> in Him. Eat ye, O people, of the good things which God hath allowed you,
> and deprive not yourselves from His wondrous bounties. Render thanks and
> praise unto Him, and be of them that are truly thankful."
> 
> (Shoghi Effendi,
> "The Advent of Divine Justice", p.
> 33
> )
> 
> 9. The
> Bahá'í standard is very high, more particularly when compared
> with the thoroughly rotten morals of the present world. But this standard
> of ours will produce healthier, happier, nobler people, and induce stabler
> marriages....
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 19 October 1947 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
> believer)
> 
> A Chaste
> And Holy Life
> 
> 2.1
> 
> Definition
> 
> 10. Such
> a chaste and holy life, with its implications of modesty, purity, temperance,
> decency, and clean-mindedness, involves no less than the exercise of moderation
> in all that pertains to dress, language, amusements, and all artistic and
> literary avocations. It demands daily vigilance in the control of one's
> carnal desires and corrupt inclinations. It calls for the abandonment of
> a frivolous conduct, with its excessive attachment to trivial and often
> misdirected pleasures. It requires total abstinence from all alcoholic
> drinks, from opium, and from similar habit-forming drugs. It condemns the
> prostitution of art and of literature, the practices of nudism and of companionate
> marriage, infidelity in marital relationships, and all manner of promiscuity,
> of easy familiarity, and of sexual vices. It can tolerate no compromise
> with the theories, the standards, the habits, and the excesses of a decadent
> age. Nay rather it seeks to demonstrate, through the dynamic force of its
> example, the pernicious character of such theories, the falsity of such
> standards, the hollowness of such claims, the perversity of such habits,
> and the sacrilegious character of such excesses.
> 
> (Shoghi Effendi,
> "The Advent of Divine Justice", p.
> 30
> )
> 
> 2.2
> 
> Chastity
> 
> 11. He
> is My true follower who, if he come to a valley of pure gold, will pass
> straight through it aloof as a cloud, and will neither turn back, nor pause.
> Such a man is, assuredly, of Me. From his garment the Concourse on high
> can inhale the fragrance of sanctity.... And if he met the fairest and most
> comely of women, he would not feel his heart seduced by the least shadow
> of desire for her beauty. Such an one, indeed, is the creation of spotless
> chastity. Thus instructeth you the Pen of the Ancient of Days, as bidden
> by your Lord, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful.
> 
> ("Gleanings
> from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec.
> 60
> , p.
> 118
> )
> 
> 12. Purity
> and chastity have been, and still are, the most great ornaments for the
> handmaidens of God. God is My Witness! The brightness of the light of chastity
> sheddeth its illumination upon the worlds of the spirit, and its fragrance
> is wafted even unto the Most Exalted Paradise....
> 
> (Cited in Shoghi
> Effendi, "The Advent of Divine Justice", p.
> 32
> )
> 
> 13. Concerning
> the positive aspects of chastity the Universal House of Justice states
> that the Bahá'í Faith recognizes the value of the sex impulse
> and holds that the institution of marriage has been established as the
> channel of its rightful expression. Bahá'ís do not believe
> that the sex impulse should be suppressed but that it should be regulated
> and controlled.
> 
> Chastity in no way implies withdrawal from human relationships. It
> liberates people from the tyranny of the ubiquity of sex. A person who
> is in control of his sexual impulses is enabled to have profound and enduring
> friendships with many people, both men and women, without ever sullying
> that unique and priceless bond that should unite man and wife.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 8 May 1979 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to
> an individual believer)
> 
> 2.3
> 
> Moderation
> 
> Whatsoever passeth
> beyond the limits of moderation will cease to exert a beneficial influence.
> Consider for instance such things as liberty, civilization and the like.
> However much men of understanding may favourably regard them, they will,
> if carried to excess, exercise a pernicious influence upon men.
> 
> ("Tablets of
> Bahá'u'lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas" [rev.
> ed.], (Haifa: Bahá'í World Centre, 1982), p.
> 169
> )
> 
> 14. The
> choice of clothing and the cut of the beard and its dressing are left to
> the discretion of men. But beware, O people, lest ye make yourselves the
> playthings of the ignorant.
> 
> ("Tablets of
> Bahá'u'lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas", p.
> 
> 23
> )
> 
> 15. Human
> utterance is an essence which aspireth to exert its influence and needeth
> moderation. As to its influence, this is conditional upon refinement which
> in turn is dependent upon hearts which are detached and pure. As to its
> moderation, this hath to be combined with tact and wisdom as prescribed
> in the Holy Scriptures and Tablets.
> 
> ("Tablets of
> Bahá'u'lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas", p.
> 
> 172
> )
> 
> 16. We
> have permitted you to listen to music and singing. Beware lest such listening
> cause you to transgress the bounds of decency and dignity. Rejoice in the
> joy of My Most Great Name through which the hearts are enchanted and the
> minds of the well-favoured are attracted.
> 
> ("Bahá'u'lláh,
> from a Tablet translated from the Arabic)
> 
> 17. ...In
> the teachings there is nothing against dancing, but the friends should
> remember that the standard of Bahá'u'lláh is modesty and
> chastity. The atmosphere of modern dance halls, where so much smoking and
> drinking and promiscuity goes on, is very bad, but decent dances are not
> harmful in themselves. There is certainly no harm in classical dancing
> or learning dancing in school. There is also no harm in taking part in
> dramas. Likewise in cinema acting. The harmful thing, nowadays, is not
> the art itself but the unfortunate corruption which often surrounds these
> arts. As Bahá'ís we need avoid none of the arts, but acts
> and the atmosphere that sometimes go with these professions we should avoid.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 30 June 1952 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to a National Spiritual
> Assembly of India, Pakistan and Burma)
> 
> 2.4
> 
> Daily Vigilance
> of Actions
> 
> 18. Arise,
> O people, and, by the power of God's might, resolve to gain the victory
> over your own selves, that haply the whole earth may be freed and sanctified
> from its servitude to the gods of its idle fancies - gods that have inflicted
> such loss upon, and are responsible for the misery of, their wretched worshippers.
> These idols form the obstacle that impedeth man in his efforts to advance
> in the path of perfection.
> 
> ("Gleanings
> from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh", sec.
> 43
> , p.
> 93
> )
> 
> 19. O
> SON OF BEING! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to
> a reckoning; for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee and thou shalt
> be called to give account for thy deeds.
> 
> ("The Hidden
> Words of Bahá'u'lláh, Arabic no.
> 31
> , rev. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í
> Publishing Trust, 1985), p.
> 11
> )
> 
> 20. For
> desire is a flame that has reduced to ashes uncounted lifetime harvests
> of the learned, a devouring fire that even the vast sea of their accumulated
> knowledge could never quench. How often has it happened that an individual
> who was graced with every attribute of humanity and wore the jewel of true
> understanding, nevertheless followed after his passions until his excellent
> qualities passed beyond moderation and he was forced into excess. His pure
> intentions changed to evil ones, his attributes were no longer put to uses
> worthy of them, and the power of his desires turned him aside from righteousness
> and its rewards into ways that were dangerous and dark. A good character
> is in the sight of God and His chosen ones and the possessors of insight,
> the most excellent and praiseworthy of all things, but always on condition
> that its centre of emanation should be reason and knowledge and its base
> should be true moderation....
> 
> ("The Secret
> of Divine Civilization", 2nd ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing
> Trust, 1983), pp.
> 59
> -
> 60
> )
> 
> 2.5
> 
> Abandonment of
> Frivolous Conduct
> 
> 21. O
> MY FRIEND! Thou art the day-star of the heavens of My holiness, let not
> the defilement of the world eclipse thy splendour. Rend asunder the veil
> of heedlessness, that from behind the clouds thou mayest emerge resplendent
> and array all things with the apparel of life.
> 
> ("The Hidden
> Words of Bahá'u'lláh", Persian no.
> 73
> , p.
> 47
> )
> 
> 22. Disencumber
> yourselves of all attachment to this world and the vanities thereof. Beware
> that ye approach them not, inasmuch as they prompt you to walk after your
> own lusts and covetous desires, and hinder you from entering the straight
> and glorious Path.
> 
> ("Gleanings
> from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh", sec.
> 128
> , p.
> 276
> )
> 
> 23. On
> page
> 25
> of "The Advent of Divine Justice" the beloved Guardian is describing
> the requirements not only of chastity, but of "a chaste and holy life"
> — both the adjectives are important. One of the signs of a decadent society,
> a sign which is very evident in the world today, is an almost frenetic
> devotion to pleasure and diversion, an insatiable thirst for amusement,
> a fanatical devotion to games and sport, a reluctance to treat any matter
> seriously, and a scornful, derisory attitude towards virtue and solid worth.
> Abandonment of "a frivolous conduct" does not imply that a Bahá'í
> must be sour-faced or perpetually solemn. Humour, happiness, joy are characteristics
> of a true Bahá'í life. Frivolity palls and eventually leads
> to boredom and emptiness, but true happiness and joy and humour that are
> parts of a balanced life that includes serious thought, compassion and
> humble servitude to God, are characteristics that enrich life and add to
> its radiance.
> 
> Shoghi Effendi's choice of words was always significant, and each
> one is important in understanding his guidance. In this particular passage,
> he does not forbid "trivial" pleasures, but he does warn against "excessive
> attachment" to them and indicates that they can often be "misdirected".
> One is reminded of `Abdu'l-Bahá's caution that we should not let
> a pastime become a waste of time.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 8 May 1979 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to
> an individual believer)
> 
> 2.6
> 
> Alcohol
> 
> 24. Become
> ye intoxicated with the wine of the love of God, and not with that which
> deadeneth your minds, O ye that adore Him! Verily, it hath been forbidden
> unto every believer, whether man or woman....
> 
> (Bahá'u'lláh,
> cited in Shoghi Effendi, "The Advent of Divine Justice", p.
> 33
> )
> 
> 25. The
> drinking of wine is, according to the text of the Most Holy Book, forbidden;
> for it is the cause of chronic diseases, weakeneth the nerves, and consumeth
> the mind.
> 
> (Cited in Shoghi
> Effendi, "The Advent of Divine Justice", p.
> 33
> )
> 
> 2.7
> 
> Drugs
> 
> 26. As
> to opium, it is foul and accursed. God protect us from the punishment He
> inflicteth on the user. According to the explicit Text of the Most Holy
> Book, it is forbidden, and its use is utterly condemned. Reason showeth
> that smoking opium is a kind of insanity, and experience attesteth that
> the user is completely cut off from the human kingdom. May God protect
> all against the perpetration of an act so hideous as this, an act which
> layeth in ruins the very foundation of what it is to be human, and which
> causeth the user to be dispossessed for ever and ever. For opium fasteneth
> on the soul, so that the user's conscience dieth, his mind is blotted away,
> his perceptions are eroded. It turneth the living into the dead. It quencheth
> the natural heat. No greater harm can be conceived than that which opium
> inflicteth. Fortunate are they who never even speak the name of it; then
> think how wretched is the user.
> 
> ("Selection
> from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá, pp.
> 148
> -
> 49
> )
> 
> 27. Regarding
> hashish, you had pointed out that some Persians have become habituated
> to its use. Gracious God! This is the worst of all intoxicants, and its
> prohibition is explicitly revealed. Its use causeth the disintegration
> of thought and the complete torpor of the soul. How could anyone seek this
> fruit of the infernal tree, and by partaking of it, be led to exemplify
> the qualities of a monster? How could one use this forbidden drug, and
> thus deprive himself of the blessings of the All-Merciful?... Alcohol consumeth
> the mind and causeth man to commit acts of absurdity, but ... this wicked
> hashish extinguisheth the mind, freezeth the spirit, petrifieth the soul,
> wasteth the body and leaveth man frustrated and lost.
> 
> (`Abdu'l-Bahá,
> from a Tablet- translated from the Persian)
> 
> 28. Concerning
> the so-called "spiritual" virtues of the hallucinogens, ... spiritual stimulation
> should come from turning one's heart to Bahá'u'lláh, and
> not through physical means such as drugs and agents.
> 
> From the description given in your letter it appears that hallucinogenic
> agents are a form of intoxicant. As the friends, including the youth, are
> required strictly to abstain from all forms of intoxicants, and are further
> expected conscientiously to obey the civil law of their country, it is
> obvious that they should refrain from using these drugs.
> 
> A very great responsibility for the future peace and well- being
> of the world is borne by the youth of today. Let the Bahá'í
> youth by the power of the Cause they espouse be the shining example for
> their companions.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 15 April 1965 written by the Universal House of Justice to the National
> Spiritual Assembly of the United States)
> 
> 29. ...Bahá'ís
> should not use hallucinogenic agents, including LSD, peyote and similar
> substances, except when prescribed for medical treatment. Neither should
> they become involved in experiments with such substances.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 11 January 1967 written by the Universal House of Justice to a National
> Spiritual Assembly)
> 
> 2.8
> 
> Bahá'í
> Attitude Toward Sex
> 
> 30. Briefly
> stated the Bahá'í conception of sex is based on the belief
> that chastity should be strictly practiced by both sexes, not only because
> it is in itself highly commendable ethically, but also due to its being
> the only way to a happy and successful marital life. Sex relationships
> of any form, outside marriage, are not permissible therefore, and whoso
> violates this rule will not only be responsible to God, but will incur
> the necessary punishment from society.
> 
> The Bahá'í Faith recognizes the value of the sex impulse,
> but condemns its illegitimate and improper expression such as free love,
> companionate marriage and others, all of which it considers positively
> harmful to man and to the society in which he lives. The proper use of
> the sex instinct is the natural right of every individual, and it is precisely
> for this very purpose that the institution of marriage has been established.
> The Bahá'ís do not believe in the suppression of the sex
> impulse but in its regulation and control.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 5 September 1938 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
> believer)
> 
> 31. Concerning
> your question whether there are any legitimate forms of expression of the
> sex instinct outside of marriage; according to the Bahá'í
> Teachings no sexual act can be considered lawful unless performed between
> lawfully married persons. Outside of marital life there can be no lawful
> or healthy use of the sex impulse. The Bahá'í youth should,
> on the one hand, be taught the lesson of self- control which, when exercised,
> undoubtedly has a salutary effect on the development of character and of
> personality in general, and on the other should be advised, nay even encouraged,
> to contract marriage while still young and in full possession of their
> physical vigour. Economic factors, no doubt, are often a serious hindrance
> to early marriage, but in most cases are only an excuse, and as such should
> not be overstressed.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 13 December 1940 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
> believer)
> 
> 32. Chastity
> implies both before and after marriage an unsullied, chaste sex life. Before
> marriage absolutely chaste, after marriage absolutely faithful to one's
> chosen companion. Faithful in all sexual acts, faithful in word and in
> deed.
> 
> The world today is submerged, amongst other things, in an over-exaggeration
> of the importance of physical love, and a dearth of spiritual values. In
> as far as possible the believers should try to realize this and rise above
> the level of their fellow-men who are, typical of all decadent periods
> in history, placing so much over-emphasis on the purely physical side of
> mating. Outside of their normal, legitimate married life they should seek
> to establish bonds of comradeship and love which are eternal and founded
> on the spiritual life of man, not on his physical life. This is one of
> the many fields in which it is incumbent on the Bahá'ís to
> set the example and lead the way to a true human standard of life, when
> the soul of man is exalted and his body but the tool for his enlightened
> spirit. Needless to say this does not preclude the living of a perfectly
> normal sex life in its legitimate channel of marriage.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 28 September 1941 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
> believer)
> 
> 2.9
> 
> Immoral Practices
> are Condemned
> 
> 33. Ye
> are forbidden to commit adultery, sodomy and lechery. Avoid them, O concourse
> of the faithful. By the righteousness of God! Ye have been called into
> being to purge the world from the defilement of evil passions. This is
> what the Lord of all mankind hath enjoined upon you, could ye but perceive
> it. He who relateth himself to the All-Merciful and committeth satanic
> deeds, verily he is not of Me. Unto this beareth witness every atom, pebble,
> tree and fruit, and beyond them this ever-proclaiming, truthful and trustworthy
> Tongue.
> 
> (Bahá'u'lláh, from a Tablet - translated from the Arabic)
> 
> 34. When we realize that Bahá'u'lláh says adultery
> retards the progress of the soul in the afterlife — so grievous is it —
> and that drinking destroys the mind, and not to so much as approach it,
> we see how clear are our teachings on these subjects.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 30 September 1949 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
> believer)
> 
> 35. Amongst
> the many other evils afflicting society in this spiritual low-water mark
> in history is the question of immorality, and overemphasis of sex. Homosexuality,
> according to the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, is spiritually
> condemned. This does not mean that people so afflicted must not be helped
> and advised and sympathized with. It does mean that we do not believe that
> it is a permissible way of life; which, alas, is all too often the accepted
> attitude nowadays.
> 
> We must struggle against the evils in society by spiritual means,
> and by medical and social ones as well. We must be tolerant but uncompromising,
> understanding but immovable in our point of view.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 21 May 1954 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
> believer)
> 
> 36. A
> number of sexual problems, such as homosexuality and transsexuality can
> well have medical aspects, and in such cases recourse should certainly
> be had to the best medical assistance. But it is clear from the teaching
> of Bahá'u'lláh that homosexuality is not a condition to which
> a person should be reconciled, but is a distortion of his or her nature
> which should be controlled and overcome. This may require a hard struggle,
> but so also can be the struggle of a heterosexual person to control his
> or her desires. The exercise of self-control in this, as in so very many
> other aspects of life, has a beneficial effect on the progress of the soul.
> It should, moreover, be borne in mind that although to be married is highly
> desirable, and Bahá'u'lláh has strongly recommended it, it
> is not the central purpose of life. If a person has to wait a considerable
> period before finding a spouse, or if ultimately, he or she must remain
> single, it does not mean that he or she is thereby unable to fulfil his
> or her life's purpose.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 6 February 1973 written by the Universal House of Justice to all
> National Spiritual Assemblies, published in "Messages from the Universal
> House of Justice 1968-1973", pp.
> 110
> -
> 11
> )
> 
> 37. Your
> letter asking for direct or indirect references in the Writings of the
> Faith to rape or sexual assault was referred to the Research Department,
> and we have been asked to convey to you the following comments.
> 
> "Lechery" is clearly forbidden by Bahá'u'lláh (see
> "Epistle to the Son of the Wolf", p.
> 49
> ) and Shoghi Effendi has stated
> that a "chaste and holy life", according to the teachings of the Faith,
> implies a condemnation of "all manner" of "sexual vices"(See "Advent of
> Divine Justice", p.
> 25
> .).
> 
> As to the contents of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, one of the provisions
> of that Most Holy Book is "not to indulge one's passions" (see "Synopsis
> and Codification of the Laws and Ordinances of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas",
> p. 50). Furthermore, reference should be made to one of the "prohibitions"
> mentioned on page 47 of the "Synopsis", namely "adultery". This word so
> appears in this book because entries in a synopsis should by necessity
> be brief, and by the original word used by Bahá'u'lláh in
> the Aqdas, i.e., "zina", adultery is generally and mainly intended. However,
> this by no means covers all the meanings of the concept of "zina" in legal
> language used in Arabic and Persian. One of the forms of "zina" — i.e.,
> when the illicit sexual intercourse is performed through force or violence
> — is rape or sexual assault.
> 
> As to the punishments for such acts as rape, these will be determined
> in the future by the Universal House of Justice.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 8 June 1982 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to
> an individual believer)
> 
> 2.10
> 
> Application of
> the Principle of a Chaste and Holy Life
> 
> 38. ...[absolute
> chastity] is mainly and directly concerned with the Bahá'í
> youth, who can contribute so decisively to the virility, the purity, and
> the driving force of the life of the Bahá'í community, and
> upon whom must depend the future orientation of its destiny, and the complete
> unfoldment of the potentialities with which God has endowed it....
> 
> As to a chaste and holy life it should be regarded as no less essential
> a factor that must contribute its proper share to the strengthening and
> vitalization of the Bahá'í community, upon which must in
> turn depend the success of any Bahá'í plan or enterprise....
> All of them, be they men or women, must, at this threatening hour when
> the lights of religion are fading out, and its restraints are one by one
> being abolished, pause to examine themselves, scrutinize their conduct,
> and with characteristic resolution arise to purge the life of their community
> of every trace of moral laxity that might stain the name, or impair the
> integrity, of so holy and precious a Faith.
> 
> A chaste and holy life must be made the controlling principle in
> the behaviour and conduct of all Bahá'ís, both in their social
> relations with the members of their own community, and in their contact
> with the world at large. It must adorn and reinforce the ceaseless labours
> and meritorious exertions of those whose enviable position is to propagate
> the Message, and to administer the affairs, of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh.
> It must be upheld, in all its integrity and implications, in every phase
> of the life of those who fill the ranks of that Faith, whether in their
> homes, their travels, their clubs, their societies, their entertainments,
> their schools, and their universities. It must be accorded special consideration
> in the conduct of the social activities of every Bahá'í summer
> school and any other occasions on which Bahá'í community
> life is organized and fostered. It must be closely and continually identified
> with the mission of the Bahá'í youth, both as an element
> in the life of the Bahá'í community, and as a factor in the
> future progress and orientation of the youth of their own country.
> 
> ("The Advent
> of Divine Justice", p.
> 22
> ; pp.
> 29
> -
> 30
> )
> 
> The Power
> Of Example
> 
> 3.1
> 
> A Praiseworthy
> Character
> 
> 39. Whoso
> ariseth, in this Day, to aid Our Cause, and summoneth to his assistance
> the hosts of a praiseworthy character and upright conduct, the influence
> flowing from such an action will, most certainly, be diffused throughout
> the whole world.
> 
> ("Gleanings
> from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec.
> 131
> , p.
> 287
> )
> 
> 40. A
> Bahá'í is known by the attributes manifested by him, not
> by his name: he is recognized by his character, not by his person.
> 
> (`Abdu'l-Bahá,
> from a Tablet - translated from the Persian)
> 
> 41. ...by
> upholding Bahá'í law in the face of all difficulties we not
> only strengthen our own characters but influence those around us.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 6 February 1973 written by the Universal House of Justice to all
> National Spiritual Assemblies, published in "Messages from the Universal
> House of Justice 1968-1973", p.
> 107
> )
> 
> 3.2
> 
> The Importance
> of Deeds
> 
> 42. O
> SON OF MY HANDMAID! Guidance hath ever been given bywords, and now it is
> given by deeds. Every one must show forth deeds that are pure and holy,
> for words are the property of all alike, whereas such deeds as these belong
> only to Our loved ones. Strive then with heart and soul to distinguish
> yourselves by your deeds. In this wise We counsel you in this holy and
> resplendent tablet.
> 
> ("The Hidden
> Words of Bahá'u'lláh", Persian no.
> 76
> , pp.
> 48
> -
> 49
> )
> 
> 43. One
> righteous act is endowed with a potency that can so elevate the dust as
> to cause it to pass beyond the heaven of heavens. It can tear every bond
> asunder, and hath the power to restore the force that hath spent itself
> and vanished....
> 
> Be pure, O people of God, be pure; be righteous, be righteous....
> 
> ("Gleanings
> from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh", sec.
> 131
> , p.
> 287
> )
> 
> 44. The
> Guardian has urged, over and over again, the paramount necessity for Bahá'í
> Youth to exemplify the Teachings, most particularly the moral aspect of
> them. If they are not distinguished for their high conduct they cannot
> expect other young people to take the Cause very seriously.
> 
> He heartily agrees with you that unless we practise the Teachings
> we cannot possibly expect the Faith to grow, because the fundamental purpose
> of all religions — including our own — is to bring man nearer to God, and
> to change his character, which is of the utmost importance. Too much emphasis
> is often laid on the social and economic aspects of the Teachings; but
> the moral aspect cannot be over- emphasized.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 6 September 1946 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
> believer)
> 
> 3.3
> 
> The Effect of
> Example
> 
> 45. The
> betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds,
> through commendable and seemly conduct....
> 
> (Bahá'u'lláh,
> cited in "The Advent of Divine Justice", pp.
> 24
> -
> 25
> )
> 
> 46. Let
> your acts be a guide unto all mankind, for the professions of most men,
> be they high or low, differ from their conduct. It is through your deeds
> that ye can distinguish yourselves from others. Through them the brightness
> of your light can be shed upon the whole earth. Happy is the man that heedeth
> My counsel, and keepeth the precepts prescribed by Him Who is the All-Knowing,
> the All- Wise.
> 
> ("Gleanings
> from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh", sec.
> 139
> , p.
> 305
> )
> 
> 47. These
> are the days for rendering the divine Cause victorious and effective aid!
> The victory of God's Faith is dependent upon teaching; and teaching is
> conditional upon righteous actions and goodly deeds and conduct. The foundation-stone
> of a life lived in the way of God is the pursuit of moral excellence and
> the acquisition of a character endowed with qualities that are well-pleasing
> in His sight. The Bahá'ís should adorn themselves with this
> holy raiment; with this mighty sword they should conquer the citadels of
> men's hearts. People have grown weary and impatient of rhetoric and discourse,
> of preaching and sermonizing. In this day, the one thing that can deliver
> the world from its travail and attract the hearts of its peoples is deeds,
> not words; example, not precept; saintly virtues, not statements and charters
> issued by governments and nations on socio-political affairs. In all matters,
> great or small, word must be the complement of deed, and deed the companion
> of word: each must supplement, support and reinforce the other. It is in
> this respect that the Bahá'ís must seek distinction....
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 8 December 1923 written by Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá'ís
> in Bombay - translated from the Persian)
> 
> 48. It
> is primarily through the potency of noble deeds and character, rather than
> by the power of exposition and proofs, that the friends of God should demonstrate
> to the world that what has been promised by God is bound to happen, that
> it is already taking place and that the divine glad- tidings are clear,
> evident and complete. For unless some illustrious souls step forth into
> the arena of service and shine out resplendent in the assemblage of men,
> the task of vindicating the truth of this Cause before the eyes of enlightened
> people would be formidable indeed. However, if the friends become embodiments
> of virtue and good character, words and arguments will be superfluous.
> Their very deeds will well serve as eloquent testimony, and their noble
> conduct will ensure the preservation, integrity and glory of the Cause
> of God.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 19 December 1923 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá'ís
> of the East - translated from the Persian)
> 
> 49. There
> is no doubt that the standard of spotless chastity inculcated by Bahá'u'lláh
> in His teachings can be attained by the friends only when they stand forth
> firmly and courageously as uncompromising adherents of the Bahá'í
> way of life, fully conscious that they represent teachings which are the
> very antithesis of the corrosive forces which are so tragically destroying
> the fabric of man's moral values. The present trend in modern society and
> its conflict with our challenging principles of moral conduct, far from
> influencing the believers to compromise their resolve to adhere undeviatingly
> to the standards of purity and chastity set forth for them by their Faith,
> must stimulate them to discharge their sacred obligations with determination
> and thus combat the evil forces undermining the foundations of individual
> morality.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 22 May 1966 written by the Universal House of Justice to two believers)
> 
> 50. It
> is the challenging task of the Bahá'ís to obey the law of
> God in their own lives, and gradually to win the rest of mankind to its
> acceptance.
> 
> In considering the effect of obedience to the laws on individual
> lives, one must remember that the purpose of this life is to prepare the
> soul for the next. Here one must learn to control and direct one's animal
> impulses, not to be a slave to them. Life in this world is a succession
> of tests and achievements, of falling short and of making new spiritual
> advances. Sometimes the course may seem very hard, but one can witness,
> again and again, that the soul who steadfastly obeys the law of Bahá'u'lláh,
> however hard it may seem, grows spiritually, while the one who compromises
> with the law for the sake of his own apparent happiness is seen to have
> been following a chimera: he does not attain the happiness he sought, he
> retards his spiritual advance and often brings new problems upon himself.
> 
> (From a letter
> dated 6 February 1973 written by the Universal House of Justice to all
> National Spiritual Assemblies, published in "Messages from the Universal
> House of Justice 1968-1973, p.
> 106
> )
> 
> Endnotes
> 
> Endnotes:
> 
> 1  On page 25
> in the 1956 U.S. edition; on page
> 30
> in the 1984 U.S.  edition.
> 
> 2  On page 25 in
> the 1956 U.S. Edition; on page
> 30
> in the 1984 U.S.  edition.
> 
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> — *A Chaste and Holy Life (Used by permission of the curator)*