In the strict legal sense there are no "grounds"
for a Bahá'í divorce. No question of misbehavior of either party is involved
and the only condition under which a Bahá'í divorce may be considered is the
irreconcilable antipathy of the parties. Thus it is not sufficient that one or
both of the parties has asked that the date for the beginning of the year of
waiting be fixed; the Assembly must find the condition of irreconcilable
antipathy to exist before the date can be fixed.
- The Universal House of
Justice (From a letter dated May 24, 1972 to a National Spiritual Assembly;
Developing Distinctive Baha'i Communities, NSA of USA, 1998 edition)