‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in His Tablets, not only calls attention to the responsibility of parents to educate all their children, but He also clearly specifies that the "training and culture of daughters is more necessary than that of sons", for girls will one day be mothers, and mothers are the first educators of the new generation. If it is not possible, therefore, for a family to educate all the children, preference is to be accorded to daughters since, through educated mothers, the benefits of knowledge can be most effectively and rapidly diffused throughout society. 77. God hath imposed a fine on every adulterer and adulteress, to be paid to the House of Justice #49 Although the term translated here as adultery refers, in its broadest sense, to unlawful sexual intercourse between either married or unmarried individuals (see note 36 for a definition of the term), ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has specified that the punishment here prescribed is for sexual intercourse between persons who are unmarried. He indicates that it remains for the Universal House of Justice to determine the penalty for adultery committed by a married individual. (See also Q and A 49.) In one of His Tablets, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá refers to some of the spiritual and social implications of the violation of the laws of morality and, concerning the penalty here described, He indicates that the aim of this law is to make clear to all that such an action is shameful in the eyes of God and that, in the event that the offence can be established and the fine imposed, the principal purpose is the exposure of the offenders—that they are shamed and disgraced in the eyes of society. He affirms that such exposure is in itself the greatest punishment. The House of Justice referred to in this verse is presumably the Local House of Justice, currently known as the Local Spiritual Assembly. 78. nine miṯẖqáls of gold, to be doubled if they should repeat the offence #49 A miṯẖqál is a unit of weight. The weight of the traditional miṯẖqál used in the Middle East is equivalent to 24 náḵẖuds. However, the miṯẖqál used by the Bahá’ís consists of 19 náḵẖuds, "in accordance with the specification of the Bayán" (Q and A 23). The weight of nine of these miṯẖqáls equals 32.775 grammes or 1.05374 troy ounces. In relation to the application of the fine, Bahá’u’lláh clearly specifies that each succeeding fine is double the preceding one (Q and A 23); thus the fine imposed increases in geometrical progression. The imposition of this fine is intended for a future condition of society, at which time the law will be supplemented and applied by the Universal House of Justice. 79. We have made it lawful for you to listen to music and singing. #51