obligation", and he affirmed that "in the last resort, it is for the
individual to decide whether he wishes to lead a family life or live in a
state of celibacy". If a person has to wait a considerable period of time
before finding a spouse, or ultimately must remain single, it does not
mean that the individual is thereby unable to fulfil his or her life's
purpose, which is fundamentally spiritual.

92. We have conditioned it ... upon the permission of their parents #65

In a letter written on his behalf, Shoghi Effendi has commented on this
provision of the law:

Baha'u'llah has clearly stated the consent of all living parents
is required for a Baha'i marriage. This applies whether the
parents are Baha'is or non-Baha'is, divorced for years or not.
This great law He has laid down to strengthen the social fabric,
to knit closer the ties of the home, to place a certain gratitude
and respect in the hearts of the children for those who have given
them life and sent their souls out on the eternal journey towards
their Creator.

93. No marriage may be contracted without payment of a dowry #66

The Synopsis and Codification, section IV.C.1.j.i.-v., summarizes the main
provisions concerning the dowry. These provisions have their antecedents
in the Bayan.

The dowry is to be paid by the bridegroom to the bride. It is fixed at 19
mit{~COMBINING MACRON BELOW~}h{~COMBINING MACRON BELOW~}qals of pure gold for city-dwellers, and 19 mit{~COMBINING MACRON BELOW~}h{~COMBINING MACRON BELOW~}qals of silver for
village-dwellers (see note 94). Baha'u'llah indicates that, if, at the
time of the wedding, the bridegroom is unable to pay the dowry in full, it
is permissible for him to issue a promissory note to the bride (Q and A
39).

With the Revelation of Baha'u'llah many familiar concepts, customs and
institutions are redefined and take on new meaning. One of these is the
dowry. The institution of dowry is a very ancient practice in many
cultures and takes many forms. In some countries it is a payment made by
the parents of the bride to the bridegroom; in others it is a payment made
by the bridegroom to the parents of the bride, called a "bride-price". In
both such cases the amount is often quite considerable. The law of
Baha'u'llah abolishes all such variants and converts the dowry into a
symbolic act whereby the bridegroom presents a gift of a certain limited
value to the bride.