April 11

Of course, under normal circumstances, every person should consider it his moral duty to marry. And this is what Baha'u'llah has encouraged the believers to do. But marriage is by no means an obligation. 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. (Shoghi Effendi, from a letter dated May 3, 1936, to an individual believer; compilation ‘Baha’i Marriage and Family Life’)