While I was with ʿAbdullah, ʿUthman met him at Mina and said, "O Abu ʿAbdur-Rahman ! I have something to say to you." So both of them went aside and ʿUthman said, "O Abu ʿAbdur-Rah. man! Shall we marry you to a virgin who will make you remember your past days?" When ʿAbdullah felt that he was not in need of that, he beckoned me (to join him) saying, "O 'Alqama!" Then I heard him saying (in reply to ʿUthman), "As you have said that, (I tell you that) the Prophet ﷺ once said to us, 'O young people! Whoever among you is able to marry, should marry, and whoever is not able to marry, is recommended to fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power.  

كُنْتُ مَعَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَلَقِيَهُ عُثْمَانُ بِمِنًى فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ إِنَّ لِي إِلَيْكَ حَاجَةً فَخَلَيَا فَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ هَلْ لَكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ فِي أَنْ نُزَوِّجَكَ بِكْرًا تُذَكِّرُكَ مَا كُنْتَ تَعْهَدُ فَلَمَّا رَأَى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُ حَاجَةٌ إِلَى هَذَا أَشَارَ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَ يَا عَلْقَمَةُ فَانْتَهَيْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَهْوَ يَقُولُ أَمَا لَئِنْ قُلْتَ ذَلِكَ لَقَدْ قَالَ لَنَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ  

We were with the Prophet ﷺ while we were young and had no wealth. So Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse etc.), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power."  

دَخَلْتُ مَعَ عَلْقَمَةَ وَالأَسْوَدِ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ شَبَابًا لاَ نَجِدُ شَيْئًا فَقَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهُ ﷺ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ  

While I was walking with ʿAbdullāh at Miná, ʿUthmān happened to meet him. He stopped there and began to talk with him. ʿUthmān said to him: Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, should we not marry you to a young girl who may remind you some of the past of your bygone days?

Thereupon he said: If you say so, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "O young men, those among you who can support a wife should marry, for it lowers the eyes ˹away from lustful gazing˺ and a protects one's chastity. But those who are unable to ˹get married,˺ they should fast, for it is shield for him ˹against sinful desires˺."  

كُنْتُ أَمْشِي مَعَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بِمِنًى فَلَقِيَهُ عُثْمَانُ فَقَامَ مَعَهُ يُحَدِّثُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُثْمَانُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَلاَ نُزَوِّجُكَ جَارِيَةً شَابَّةً لَعَلَّهَا تُذَكِّرُكَ بَعْضَ مَا مَضَى مِنْ زَمَانِكَ؟

قَالَ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ قُلْتَ ذَاكَ لَقَدْ قَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ۔»  

0 young men, those among you who can support a wife should marry, for it restrains eyes (from casting evil glances) and preserves one from immorality; but he who cannot afford It should observe fast for it is a means of controlling the sexual desire.  

لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ  

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever among you can afford to get married, let him do so, and whoever cannot afford it should fast, for it will be a restraint (Wija) for him."'  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ  

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said: "The Messenger of Allah said to us: 'O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity, and whoever cannot then he should fast, for it will be a restraint (wija') for him.'"  

لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَنْكِحْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لاَ فَلْيَصُمْ فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ  

It was narrated that 'Alqamah said: "I was walking with 'Abdullah in Mina and he was met by 'Uthman who stood with him and spoke with him. He said: 'O Abu Abdur-Rahman! Shall I not marry you to a young girl? Perhaps she will remind you of when you were younger?' 'Abdullah said: 'As you say that (it reminds me that) the Messenger of Allah said to us: O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married.'"  

كُنْتُ أَمْشِي مَعَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بِمِنًى فَلَقِيَهُ عُثْمَانُ فَقَامَ مَعَهُ يُحَدِّثُهُ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَلاَ أُزَوِّجُكَ جَارِيَةً شَابَّةً فَلَعَلَّهَا أَنْ تُذَكِّرَكَ بَعْضَ مَا مَضَى مِنْكَ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَمَا لَئِنْ قُلْتَ ذَاكَ لَقَدْ قَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ  

‘Alqamah said “I was going with ‘Abd Allaah bin Mas’ud at Mina where ‘Uthman met him and desired to have a talk with him in privacy”. When ‘Abd Allaah (bin Mas’ud) thought there was no need of privacy, he said to me “Come, ‘Alqamah So I came (to him)”. Then ‘Uthman said to him “Should we not marry you, Abu ‘Abd Al Rahman to a virgin girl, so that the power you have lost may return to you?” ‘Abd Allaah (bin Mas’ud) said “If you say that , I heard the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ say “ Those of you who can support a wife, should marry, for it keeps you from looking at strange women and preserve from unlawful intercourse, but those who cannot should devote themselves to fasting, for it is a means of suppressing sexual desire.  

لَهُ عُثْمَانُ أَلاَ نُزَوِّجُكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بِجَارِيَةٍ بِكْرٍ لَعَلَّهُ يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ مَا كُنْتَ تَعْهَدُ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ قُلْتَ ذَاكَ لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ مِنْكُمْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ  

"We went with Messenger of Allah, while we were young men who had nothing. He said: 'O young men! You should marry, for indeed it helps in lowering the gaze and protecting the private parts. Whoever among you is not able to marry, then let him fast, for indeed fasting will diminish his sexual desire."  

خَرَجْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَنَحْنُ شَبَابٌ لاَ نَقْدِرُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ فَقَالَ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْبَاءَةِ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ  

Alqamah bin Qais said: “I was with Abdullah bin Masud in Mina, and Uthman took him aside. I was sitting near him. Uthman said to him: 'Would you like that I marry you to a young virgin who will remind you of how you were in the past?' When Abdullah saw that he did not say anything to him apart from that, he gestured to me, so I came and he said: 'As you say that the Messenger of Allah said “O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding one's chastity. Whoever cannot afford it, let him fast, for it will diminish his desire.” ' ”  

أَنْ أُزَوِّجَكَ جَارِيَةً بِكْرًا تُذَكِّرُكَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ بَعْضَ مَا قَدْ مَضَى فَلَمَّا رَأَى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ حَاجَةٌ سِوَى هَذَا أَشَارَ إِلَىَّ بِيَدِهِ فَجِئْتُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ لَئِنْ قُلْتَ ذَلِكَ لَقَدْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ  

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said: "The Messenger of Allah said to us: 'O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity, and whoever cannot then he should fast, for it will be a restraint (wija') for him.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3209)   

عَبْدُ اللهِ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ شَبَابًا لَيْسَ لَنَا شَيْءٌ فَقَالَ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ  

[Machine] We entered upon Abdullah and with him were Al-Ahqamah and Al-Aswad. So he began speaking a Hadith that I did not see him narrate except for my sake. I used to narrate for the people while being young. He said, "We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when we were young and we could not find anything. He said, 'O young people, whoever among you can afford to marry, let him do so, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity. And whoever cannot afford it, then he should fast, for it will be a protection for him.'"  

دَخَلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِ اللهِ وَعِنْدَهُ عَلْقَمَةُ وَالْأَسْوَدُ فَحَدَّثَ حَدِيثًا لَا أُرَاهُ حَدَّثَهُ إِلَّا مِنْ أَجْلِي كُنْتُ أَحْدَثَ الْقَوْمِ سِنًّا قَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ شَبَابٌ لَا نَجِدُ شَيْئًا فَقَالَ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ  

[Machine] Indeed, the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever among you is able, should marry, for it will help him lower his gaze and protect his private parts. And whoever is unable, should fast, for it will be a shield for him."  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَلْيَصُمْ فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ وِجَاؤُهُ أَوْ وِجَاءٌ لَهُ  

0 young men, those among you who can support a wife should marry, for it restrains eyes (from casting evil glances) and preserves one from immorality; but he who cannot afford It should observe fast for it is a means of controlling the sexual desire. (Using translation from Muslim 1400c)  

لَنَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ  

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said: "The Messenger of Allah said to us: 'O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity, and whoever cannot then he should fast, for it will be a restraint (wija') for him.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3209)   

عَبْدُ اللَّهِ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ شَبَابًا لَيْسَ لَنَا شَيْءٌ فَقَالَ «يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ»  

[Machine] Do you have a young virgin girl who reminds you of Abu Abdurrahman? So he said, "If you say that, then I have heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, 'O youth, whoever among you is able to marry, let him do so, for it is more effective in guarding the gaze and preserving chastity. And whoever is not able, then let him fast, for it will be a shield for him.'"  

لَهُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ هَلْ لَكَ فِي جَارِيَةٍ بِكْرٍ تُذَكِّرُكَ؟ فَقَالَ لَئِنْ قُلْتَ ذَاكَ فَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَلْيَصُمْ فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ»  

[Machine] While I and Ibn Mas'ud were walking in the city, Uthman ibn Affan met us and took Ibn Mas'ud's hand. So they both stood up and I stepped aside. When Abdullah saw that he had no need for me to accompany him, he said, "Come, O Alqamah." I then approached him while he was saying, "Should we not marry you, Abdullah, to a girl who may remind you of what you have missed?" Abdullah replied, "If you say that, then indeed we were young with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , and he said to us, 'Whoever is able to marry, let him marry, for it will help him lower his gaze and guard his chastity. And whoever is unable to marry, let him fast, for it will be a shield for him." And this is the Islamic castration.  

بَيْنَا أَنَا وَابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ نَمْشِي بِالْمَدِينَةِ قَالَ فَلَقِيَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِهِ قَالَ فَقَامَا وَتَنَحَّيْتُ عَنْهُمَا فَلَمَّا رَأَى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُ حَاجَةٌ يَسِرُّهَا قَالَ ادْنُ عَلْقَمَةُ قَالَ فَانْتَهَيْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ أَلَا نُزَوِّجُكَ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ جَارِيَةً لَعَلَّهَا أَنْ تُذَكِّرَكَ مَا فَاتَكَ؟ قَالَ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ قُلْتَ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّا قَدْ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ شَبَابًا فَقَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَصُمْ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وَجَاءٌ» وَهُوَ الْإِخْصَاءُ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "O young people, marry, for it is the best way to guard one's chastity and lower one's gaze. Whoever is not able to marry, then he should observe fasting, for it will be a shield for him."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ «يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْبَاءَةِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ أَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَأَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَقْدِرْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ»  

[Machine] On the authority of the Prophet ﷺ , he said, "Whoever is capable of marriage should get married; otherwise, let them fast, for fasting will be a shield for them."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ «مَنْ كَانَ ذَا طَوْلٍ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ وَإِلَّا فَلْيَصُمْ؛ فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ»  

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever among you can afford to get married, let him do so, and whoever cannot afford it should fast, for it will be a restraint (Wija) for him."' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2241)  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ وَمَنْ لَا فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ»  

[Machine] We complained to the Prophet ﷺ about being single, so he said, "Marry, and if you are unable to, then observe fasting, as it will be a restraint for you."  

شَكَوْنَا الْعُزُوبَةَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ «عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْبَاءَةِ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ»  

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever among you can afford to get married, let him do so, and whoever cannot afford it should fast, for it will be a restraint (Wija) for him."' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2241)  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ»  

It was narrated that 'Alqamah said: "I was walking with 'Abdullah in Mina and he was met by 'Uthman who stood with him and spoke with him. He said: 'O Abu Abdur-Rahman! Shall I not marry you to a young girl? Perhaps she will remind you of when you were younger?' 'Abdullah said: 'As you say that (it reminds me that) the Messenger of Allah said to us: O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3211)  

«كُنْتُ أَمْشِي مَعَ عَبْدِ اللهِ بِمِنًى فَلَقِيَهُ عُثْمَانُ فَقَامَ مَعَهُ يُحَدِّثُهُ» فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَلَا أُزَوِّجُكَ جَارِيَةً شَابَّةً فَلَعَلَّهَا أَنْ تُذَكِّرَكَ بَعْضَ مَا مَضَى مِنْكَ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ أَمَّا لَئِنْ قُلْتَ ذَاكَ لَقَدْ قَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ»  

[Machine] Abdullah said, "We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when we were young men, and we had nothing. He said, 'O young men, whoever among you can afford to get married, let him do so; because it is more conducive to lowering the gaze and guarding one's chastity. And whoever is not able to marry, then he should fast, for it will serve as a restraint for him.'"  

قَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ شَبَابًا لَيْسَ لَنَا شَيْءٌ فَقَالَ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ  

While I was walking with 'Abdullah at Mina, 'Uthman happened to meet him. He stopped there and began to talk with him. Uthman said to him: Abu 'Abd al-Rahman, should we not marry you to a young girl who may recall to you some of the past of your bygone days; thereupon he said: If you say so, Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 0 young men, those among you who can support a wife should marry, for it restrains eyes from casting (evil glances). and preserves one from immorality; but those who cannot should devote themselves to fasting for it is a means of controlling sexual desire. (Using translation from Muslim 1400a)   

يُحَدِّثُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُثْمَانُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَلَا نُزَوِّجُكَ جَارِيَةً شَابَّةً لَعَلَّهَا تُذَكِّرُكَ بَعْضَ مَا مَضَى مِنْ زَمَانِكَ؟ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ أَمَا لَئِنْ قُلْتَ ذَلِكَ لَقَدْ قَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ  

[Machine] We entered upon Abdullah and he had a date and some black grapes with him. He narrated a hadeeth which I did not see anyone else narrating except for my sake, for I used to memorize the hadeeths of the people. Abdullah said, "We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when we were young and had nothing. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'O youth! Whoever among you can afford to marry, let him do so, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity. And whoever cannot afford it, then he should fast, for it will be a shield for him.'"  

دَخَلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِ اللهِ وَعِنْدَهُ عَلْقَمَةُ وَالْأَسْوَدُ فَحَدَّثَ بِحَدِيثٍ لَا أَرَاهُ حَدَّثَ بِهِ إِلَّا مِنْ أَجْلِي كُنْتُ أَحْدَثَ الْقَوْمِ سِنًّا فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ ؓ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ شَبَابًا لَا نَجِدُ شَيْئًا فَقَالَ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ  

"مَنْ كان مِنْكُمْ ذا طوْل فلْيَتزوَّجْ، فإِنَّهُ أغضُّ للطَّرْف وَأَحصَنُ للْفرْجِ، وَمَنْ لَا فإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لهُ وجَاءٌ".  

"مَنْ كان عنْدَهُ طوْل فليَنْكحْ، وَإِلا فعليه بِالصَّوْمِ، فإِنَّهُ لهُ وجَاءٌ وَمَحْسَمَةٌ للعرْقِ".  

"مَنْ كان منْكُمْ ذا طوْلٍ فليَتزوجْ، فإِنهُ أَغضُّ للبَصَر وَأَحْصَنُ للفرْجِ، وَمَنْ لا فالصَّوْمُ لهُ وجَاءٌ".  

"عن عثمان قال: خرج رسول الله ﷺ في فتية من قريش أنا فيهم، فقال: يا معشر الشباب من استطاع منكم الباءة فلينكح، ومن لم يستطع فليصم؛ فإن الصوم له وجاء".  

"يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ! مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَليَتَزَوَّجْ؛ فَإِنَّهُ أغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ، وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرجِ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ لهُ وِجَاءٌ"  

"عَلَيكُمْ بالْبَاءَةِ، فَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِع فَعَلْيِه بالصَّومِ، فإِنَّهُ لَهُ وجاءٌ".