Family Life and Children
The family serves as the fundamental unit of human society, providing the primary setting for cultivating admirable qualities and skills. The behaviors and habits formed within the family setting extend into the workplace, permeate local communities, influence social interactions, and ultimately shape national and international politics and policymaking. When family ties are fortified by solidarity and love, and these connections are diligently maintained and safeguarded, the family exemplifies the principle that an individual's welfare is intricately linked to the collective wellbeing and progress of others.
How easily, where unity existeth in a given family, the affairs of that family are conducted; what progress the members of that family make, how they prosper in the world. Their concerns are in order, they enjoy comfort and tranquility, they are secure, their position is assured.
Bahá'ís continuously strive to strengthen the spiritual bonds that hold the family unit together. Each member of the Bahá'í community commits to contributing to the preservation of a family dynamic that upholds gender equality, fosters love and mutual respect between parents and children, and promotes loving consultation in decision-making.
In their daily lives, Bahá’í families aim to cultivate genuine love that embraces all people, practice tolerance despite differences, and nurture a strong sense of justice and empathy for others. Bahá’ís are dedicated to raising their children with a profound appreciation of the oneness of mankind, encouraging them to view every individual—regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or nationality—as a member of one human family, as reflected in the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh where He says: "Ye are all the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch." Neglecting the needs and well-being of others undermines our ability to commit fully to fairness and justice for all.
The fundamental role of the family is to raise children who take responsibility for their own spiritual development and recognize the contribution they can make to the advancement of civilization. While parents bear the primary responsibility for their children's education and must remain mindful of this vital duty, the task of educating children is not theirs alone. The community also plays a significant role in this process. For this reason, the Bahá'í community places great emphasis on the importance of education, viewing it as a shared responsibility between the family and the wider community.
