I was with Ibn Masʿood when he was with ‘Uthman {ؓ }. ʿUthman ؓ said to him: Do you still feel any desire towards women? When women were mentioned, Ibn Masʿood said: Come closer, ‘Alqamah. I was a young man (at that time). ʿUthman ؓ said to him: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out to some young men of the Muhajireen and said: “Whoever among you has the means to get married, let him do so, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity, whoever cannot (do that), then fasting is a shield for him.ʿ  

لَهُ عُثْمَانُ مَا بَقِيَ لِلنِّسَاءِ مِنْكَ؟ قَالَ فَلَمَّا ذُكِرَتِ النِّسَاءُ قَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ ادْنُ يَا عَلْقَمَةُ قَالَ وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ فَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ عَلَى فِتْيَةٍ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ فَقَالَ مَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ ذَا طَوْلٍ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُأَغَضُّ لِلطَّرْفِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَا فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ