Editing Baháʼí Faith (section)

=== Marriage ===
{{Main|Baháʼí marriage}}
The purpose of marriage in the Baháʼí Faith is mainly to foster spiritual harmony, fellowship and unity between a man and a woman and to provide a stable and loving environment for the rearing of children.{{sfn|Smith|2008|pp=164–165}} The Baháʼí teachings on marriage call it a ''fortress for well-being and salvation'' and place marriage and the family as the foundation of the structure of [[society|human society]].{{sfn|Smith|2008|p=164}} Baháʼu'lláh highly praised marriage, discouraged divorce, and required [[chastity]] outside of marriage; Baháʼu'lláh taught that a husband and wife should strive to improve the spiritual life of each other.{{sfn|Momen|2022}} [[Interracial marriage]] is also highly praised throughout Baháʼí scripture.{{sfn|Smith|2008|p=164}}

Baháʼís intending to marry are asked to obtain a thorough understanding of the other's character before deciding to marry.{{sfn|Smith|2008|p=164}} Although parents should not [[Arranged marriage|choose partners for their children]], once two individuals decide to marry, they must receive the consent of all living biological parents, whether they are Baháʼí or not. The Baháʼí marriage ceremony is simple; the only compulsory part of the wedding is the reading of the wedding vows prescribed by Baháʼu'lláh which both the groom and the bride read, in the presence of two witnesses.{{sfn|Smith|2008|p=164}} The vows are "We will all, verily, abide by the Will of God."{{sfn|Smith|2008|p=164}}

Transgender people can gain recognition of their gender in the Baháʼí Faith if they have medically transitioned and undergone [[sex reassignment surgery]] (SRS). After SRS, they are considered transitioned and may have a Baháʼí marriage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 December 2002 |title=Transsexuality |url=http://bahai-library.com/uhj_transsexuality |publisher=[[Universal House of Justice]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Parashar |first=Singh M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VEnrDwAAQBAJ&dq='bahai+faith%22+transgender&pg=PT210 |title=Why Homosexuality Was Not Opposed by Narendra Modi ? |date=2020-04-17 |publisher=Xlibris Corporation |isbn=978-1-984594-67-9 |language=en}}</ref>