The desire only of pleasing god did We prescribe to them, and this they observed not as it ought to have been observed .-- Qur'an, s.lviii.

27.
Whatever justification there may have been for the monastic life in ancient times and bygone circumstances, Baha'u'llah declares that such justification no longer exists; and, indeed, it seems obvious that the withdrawal of a large number of the most pious and God-fearing of the population from association with their fellows, and from the duties and responsibilities of parenthood, must result in the spiritual impoverishment of the race.
Marriage The Baha'i teachings enjoin monogamy, and Baha'u'llah makes marriage conditional on the consent of both parties and of their parents.

He says in the Book of Aqdas:-- Verily in the Book of Bayan (the Bab's Revelation) the matter is restricted to the consent of both (bride and bridegroom).

As We desired to bring about love and friendship and the unity of the people, therefore We made it conditional upon the consent of the parents also, that enmity and ill-feeling might be avoided .-- Kitab-i-Aqdas.
On this point 'Abdu'l-Baha wrote to an inquirer:--"As to the question of marriage, according to the law of God: First you must select one, and then it depends on the consent of the father and mother.

Before your selection they have no right of interference." 'Abdu'l-Baha says that as a result of this precaution of Baha'u'llah's the strained relations between relatives-in-law which have become proverbial in Christian and Muhammadan countries are almost unknown among the Baha'is, and divorce is also of very rare occurrence.