If the proselytizers are asked: what is your opinion about the commandment of the book Aqdas regarding the permit for having two wives in Baha’ism[1]?!, they will answer: According to the Excellency Abdul Baha, having two wives in Baha’ism isn’t absolutely allowable:
“Be aware that the divine religious law hasn’t allowed the plurality of wives… Regulating justice between two wives is impossible… This is the obvious reason for the lack of absolute allowance for it. Consequently, no man is allowed to have more than a wife.[2]”
While contrary to the claim by the proselytizers and the Baha’is, even Abdul Baha has allowed the plurality of wives: “You asked about the plurality of wives. According to the divine book text, the plurality of wives is allowable and isn’t forbidden at all; but it is legitimate and permissible. So, don’t be sad. Think about justice to be just as much as possible. This is what is mentioned. Because justice is really difficult, so it is better to have just a wife…[3]”
However; contrary to this claim, Abdul Baha consider regulating justice as a possible but hard issue and assume the claiming for abolishing and changing the commandment of having two wives as an accusation: “Concerning the wife plurality, it is mentioned and there isn’t any abolisher. Abdul Baha hasn’t abolished this commandment; this is an accusation by friends; but I say he had appointed justice as a condition in plurality of wives in order for everybody not to make sure about performing justice…[4]”
Consequently, either Abdul Baha contradicts about the commandment of plurality of wives or the Baha’is attribute the prohibition of plurality of wives to him falsely!
[1] Refer to Hussein Ali Nouri, the Aqdas, the electronic copy, pp. 57-58, paragraph 63.
[2] Hussein Ali Nouri, the Aqdas, the electronic copy, pp. 166-167. (narrated by Abdul Baha)
[3]Fadhel Mazandarani, Amr & Khalq, the electronic copy, vol. 4, p. 174.
[4] Ibid, Vol. 4, pp. 175-176.