While he wishes me to assure you that he will pray for the
solution of your domestic troubles, he would urge you to endeavour, by every
means in your power, to compose your differences, and not to allow them to
reach such proportions as to lead to your complete and final separation from
your husband. For while, according to the Bahá'í law, divorce is permissible,
yet it is highly discouraged, and should be resorted to only when every effort
to prevent it has proved to be vain and ineffective.
It is for you, and for Mr.... as well, to ponder carefully
over the spiritual implications which any act of divorce on either part would
involve, and strengthened by the power of faith and confident in the blessings
which strict adherence to the principles and laws of Bahá'u'lláh is bound to
confer upon every one of His faithful followers, to make a fresh resolve to
solve your common difficulties and to restore the harmony, peace and happiness
of your family life. (From a letter
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 11 September 1938 to an individual
believer; The Compilation of Compilations vol II)
