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The practice of abortion - which is absolutely criminal as it involves the deliberate destruction of human life - is forbidden in the Cause.
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, 15 August 1939)
Regarding the practice of abortion; as no specific reference has been made to the subject in the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, it devolves upon the International House of Justice to definitely pronounce upon it. There can be no doubt, however, that this practice, involving as it does the destruction of human life, is to be strongly deprecated.”
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, 13 November 1940)
As there is nothing specific in the Bahá'í Writings on the subject of abortion, it will consequently have to be dealt with by the International House of Justice, when that Body is formed.
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, 20 October 1953)
The problems confronting doctors at this time when abortion is becoming such a widely accepted practice are indeed grave, and we have the greatest sympathy with them in the serious dilemma in which they are placed.
It is quite true that, according to the Teachings, the soul of an individual appears at conception and the practice of abortion merely to get rid of unwanted children is absolutely prohibited in the Faith. However, circumstances might exist in which abortion could be justified. Since such a situation is not dealt with in the Sacred Text and the Universal House of Justice does not wish to legislate upon it at present, individual believers needing to make such a decision will have to be guided by the general principle stated above, the best professional advice available to them, and their own consciences.
(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly, 26 August 1971)
The House of Justice is acutely aware of the difficulty you are currently experiencing due to the desire of your daughter to have an abortion, and to the legal requirement that such a procedure have the consent of a parent. The House of Justice understands and commends your sincere wish to act in the best interests of your daughter, and at the same time to comply with the teachings of the Faith.
You are undoubtedly aware of the law of the Faith that abortion merely to prevent the birth of a child is forbidden. This law is based on the fact that the human soul comes into existence at the time of conception. In light of this fundamental principle, the House of Justice does not deem it permissible under these circumstances for a Bahá'í to give consent to an abortion.
Bahá'u'lláh has laid down certain laws for the protection and upliftment of humanity, and believers can with complete confidence in the results adhere to the requirements He has placed upon us. The benefit which is derived from such obedience will undoubtedly enable you to eventually see in the present “calamity” the “light of mercy” of His providence, which He has affirmed is there.
The House of Justice assures you of its most ardent prayers at the Sacred Threshold that the Blessed Beauty will surround you and your daughter with His love and protection during this trying period.
(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual, 26 June 1990)
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We have not discovered any specific reference in the texts to the problem of population explosion in its relation to birth control. This question, of course, is a matter which is currently a subject of concern and speculation by many. A study of our teachings, however, indicates that in the future there will no doubt be a general improvement of standards of life and of health, but there will also be the full exploitation of unused and as yet unsuspected resources of the planet along with the control and tapping of its sources of raw material, with a great increase in productivity…
As to your desire and that of your husband to avoid any action which would permanently prevent you from bearing children, the only text we have so far found on the subject is in a letter to an individual believer from the beloved Guardian. The question asked was whether after a few children it would be permissible to have a surgical operation on the wife to prevent further conception. His reply was that such an act was unacceptable and unworthy, and those who commit the act were responsible before God.
When the Guardian was asked whether the exercise of birth control constitutes a sin in a case where the number of children would prevent the father from fulfilling his obligation to educate his children, he stated that it is the duty of Bahá'ís to uphold moderation in all things, and avoid illegal methods.
And finally we have the following statement written on behalf of the Guardian which we hope will shed more light on the subject: “Regarding your question of whether you should have more children or not, the Guardian feels that this is a matter for you and your husband to decide. However, we must always bear in mind that God will protect His own, and that the Bahá'í children are the future servants of mankind who will help to carry the world forward into the glorious New Order which Bahá'u'lláh has prepared for it in this day of days. We should not face the future with fear, but with glad and assured hearts.”
(Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, 31 July 1970)
With regard to birth control an individual asked the beloved Guardian a similar question in 1935, and the Guardian’s secretary replied on his behalf on 14 October 1935:
“As to the problem of birth control, neither Bahá'u'lláh nor 'Abdu'l-Bahá have revealed anything direct or explicit regarding this question. But the Bahá'í Teachings, when carefully studied imply that such current conceptions like birth control, if not necessarily wrong and immoral in principle, have nevertheless to be discarded as constituting a real danger to the very foundations of our social life. For Bahá'u'lláh explicitly reveals in His Book of laws that the very purpose of marriage is the procreation of children who, when grown up, will be able to know God and to recognize and observe His Commandments and Laws as revealed through His Messengers. Marriage is thus, according to the Bahá'í Teachings, primarily a social and moral act. It has a purpose which transcends the immediate personal needs and interests of the parties. Birth control, except in certain exceptional cases, is therefore not permissible.”
Another believer, having read this letter, asked the beloved Guardian whether all birth control methods of any purpose were absolutely prohibited by Bahá'í Teachings. The secretary of the beloved Guardian wrote on his behalf on 4 February 1937:
“The Guardian has…given his careful consideration to your question regarding the Bahá'í view of birth control.
“…there is no reference whatsoever in the Writings on this subject. The utmost we can say is by way of reference from what Bahá'u'lláh has revealed regarding the nature, purpose and character of marriage.
“We, as Bahá'ís, are not therefore in a position either to condemn the practice of birth control or to confirm it.
“Birth control, however, when exercised in order to deliberately prevent the procreation of any children is against the Spirit of the Law of Bahá'u'lláh, which defines the primary purpose of marriage to be the rearing of children and their spiritual training in the Cause. The Universal House of Justice will have to consider this issue and give its verdict upon it.”
The Universal House of Justice feels that the time has not yet arrived for legislation on this matter, and that these instructions provide sufficient guidance for the friends for the time being.
(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly, 26 August 1971)
As to your question about whether it is permissible for a married Bahá'í couple not to have children, a letter written to an individual believer on behalf of the beloved Guardian states:
“Regarding your question of whether Bahá'ís should consider it their duty to have children: as Bahá'u'lláh has stated that the fundamental purpose of marriage is to being other souls into this world, to serve God and love Him, the Guardian does not believe that you should be unwilling to undertake this responsibility and privilege, even if it should, temporarily at least, interfere with the tempo of your Bahá'í activities.”
However, there is nothing in the Writings to indicate or imply that Bahá'í marriage is open only to those who are physically able to have children. The bearing of children is but one of the purposes of marriage, albeit a fundamental one.
The question was raised about bringing forth a “defective” child. In a letter to an individual concerning a serious hereditary disease which afflicted the male members of the family, and which was feared latent in any child the couple might bear, the House of Justice states that there is nothing in the Teachings about the use of contraceptive methods in order to prevent the transmission through inheritance of undesirable family traits and tendencies. These are, therefore, matters which the Universal House of Justice will have to consider in the future, but which it does not wish to legislate on presently. Therefore the decision in each case is left to the individual believers involved. The House of Justice states that there may be circumstances which would justify not having children, and that those called upon to make decisions in this regard must rely on the best medical advice available (preferably more than one expert should be consulted) and their own consciences. They should also take into account the availability, reliability and reversibility of methods of contraception.
(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual, 13 August 1980)
In a letter written to an individual believer on 3 February 1932, the beloved Guardian’s secretary wrote on his behalf:
“You inquired whether we have anything in the teachings concerning birth control and the sex element in marriage. Shoghi Effendi says that there is scarcely anything on that subject in the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and the Master except a constant emphasis on mutual fidelity. Both Bahá'u'lláh and the Báb emphasise the need for children in marriage. The latter, for example, states that to beget children is the highest physical fruit of man’s existence. But neither say whether the number of children should be limited or not. Or if it is to be limited what is the proper method to be used.”
Bahá'u'lláh stated that the primary purpose of marriage was the procreation of children, and the beloved Guardian alludes to this in many of the letters that were written on his behalf on this subject. This does not imply that a couple are obliged to have as many children as they can; the Guardian’s secretary clearly stated on his behalf, in answer to an enquiry, that it was for the husband and wife to decide how many children they would have. A decision to have no children at all would vitiate the primary purpose of marriage and would be contrary to the spirit of the law of Bahá'u'lláh, unless, of course, there were some medical reason why such a decision would be required.
Concerning the general matter of family planning, the spacing of children and the methods available for such birth control, there is nothing in the Sacred Writings beyond what Bahá'u'lláh has revealed regarding the nature, purpose and character of marriage. However, with reference to the use of intrauterine devices, the House of Justice understands that there is a difference of professional opinion as to how intrauterine devices work, i.e. whether they prevent conception or whether they prevent the fertilized ovum from attaching to the wall of the uterus. According to our teachings, individual life beings at conception. In using such devices, therefore, Bahá'ís will have to be guided by the best professional advice available and their own consciences.
(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly, 16 March 1983)
Your first request is for a definition of “unwanted children”. From the context this can be seen to mean children whom, for some reason or other not covered by circumstances which would justify abortion, the parents do not wish to have. It is, for example, very common in some countries to use abortion as a method of birth control when a family is large or a child is conceived out of wedlock. Such uses of abortion are absolutely prohibited by Bahá'í law.
Your second request is for a definition of the circumstances under which abortion would be justified. The House of Justice does not wish to enter into this subject at this time, since it is very complicated indeed. From the context, however, it is clear that the House of Justice has in mind medical circumstances. Letters written on behalf of the House of Justice in response to specific questions indicate that among circumstances which are open to consideration are:
- serious malformations of the embryo
- serious damage to the foetus
- neural tube defects in babies in utero
-serious risk to the mental health of the mother
We should stress that these by no means exhaust the range of possibilities, they are merely those which have arisen in specific cases. Moreover, the House of Justice has not ruled that abortion would or would not be justified in these cases, merely that they are the kinds of circumstances which fall within the area of the individual’s decision.
In the case of rape of a mentally defective woman who would in incapable of bringing up the child, the House of Justice answered that although some cases of this kind might fall within the area of permissible abortion, the problem of care for a child born in such circumstances would have to be solved in the situation of each case and that one solution would be adoption.
(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, 14 November 1986)
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You and your husband, therefore, should have no feeling that you are obliged to add to your already large family. This is a matter entirely for you to decide, and there are many methods of preventing conception, including self-discipline and restraint, to which you can have recourse. Sterilization, however, would be a more far-reaching action than any of these, with implications and results beyond those necessary for the immediate purpose of limiting the size of your family, and it is not permissible in Bahá'í law except in rare instances where it is necessary for a medical reason.
(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, 28 January 1977)
The Universal House of Justice has received your letter of April 29 asking about tubal ligation and has noted that you are familiar with general Bahá'í principles on the subject. However, it has directed us to say that under normal circumstances it is not permissible to have a surgical operation for the purpose of not having more children if such an operation could result in permanent sterility.
(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, 28 May 1978)
A related subject is, of course, the possibility of sterilization in certain circumstances. In regard to this the principle is that a surgical operation to prevent the conception of children is not permissible if it is irreversible, unless there are specific medical grounds to justify it. Among such grounds the House of Justice has included grave sickness of the mother, and grave genetic defects of the parent – although not all genetic defects. It has also ruled that lack of social and financial means or a wish to avoid additional children are not acceptable reasons for permanent sterilization.
(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, 14 November 1986)
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