There is a Tablet from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá which states that the year of waiting is waived in the case of an unfaithful wife. This aspect of the Bahá’í law of divorce, however, will need elucidation and supplementary legislation by the Universal House of Justice. Therefore, at the present time, in divorce cases such as the one you cited, the husband must still observe the year of waiting, which involves payment of the wife’s expenses during this period.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated June 17, 1987, to a National Spiritual Assembly; compilation: Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies by United States NSA, revised 2022)
The provisions of the Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá regarding exemption from the year of waiting because of infidelity applies to both husband and wife. In a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer dated 28 April 1974, which is also included in the newly released compilation on the subject of women the following is stated:
It is apparent from the Guardian’s writings that where Bahá’u’lláh has expressed a law as between a man and a woman it applies, mutatis mutandis, between a woman and a man unless the context should make this impossible.
This aspect of the Bahá’í law of divorce, however, will need elucidation and supplementary legislation by the House of Justice. Therefore, at the present time, the year of waiting must be observed when adultery on the part of either party is proven.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter
from the Universal House of Justice, dated February 11, 1986, to a National Spiritual
Assembly; compilation: Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies by United
States NSA, revised 2022)
