While I was walking with ʿAbdullah he said, "We were in the company of the Prophet ﷺ and he said, 'He who can afford to marry should marry, because it will help him refrain from looking at other women, and save his private parts from committing illegal sexual relation; and he who cannot afford to marry is advised to fast, as fasting will diminish his sexual power."

بَيْنَا أَنَا أَمْشِي مَعَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ؓ فَقَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ 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

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

Ibn Masud met 'Uthman at 'Arafat and spoke to him in private. Uthman said to Ibn Masud: "Are you interested in a girl so that I marry her to you?" 'Abdullah called 'Alqamah and he told him that the Prophet said: 'Whoever among you can afford to get married, let him do so. Whoever cannot afford it, let him fast, for fasting will be a restraint (Wija) for him."'

لاِبْنِ مَسْعُودٍ هَلْ لَكَ فِي فَتَاةٍ أُزَوِّجُكَهَا فَدَعَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ عَلْقَمَةَ فَحَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَلْيَصُمْ فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ

It was narrated from 'Alqamah, that 'Uthman said to Ibn Mas'ud: "Shall I arrange for you to marry a young girl?" 'Abdullah called 'Alqamah and he told the people that the Prophet said: "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 afford it, then let him fast, for it will be a restraint for him."

لاِبْنِ مَسْعُودٍ هَلْ لَكَ فِي فَتَاةٍ أُزَوِّجُكَهَا فَدَعَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ عَلْقَمَةَ فَحَدَّثَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَلْيَصُمْ 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 '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

Ibn Masud met 'Uthman at 'Arafat and spoke to him in private. Uthman said to Ibn Masud: "Are you interested in a girl so that I marry her to you?" 'Abdullah called 'Alqamah and he told him that the Prophet said: 'Whoever among you can afford to get married, let him do so. Whoever cannot afford it, let him fast, for fasting will be a restraint (Wija) for him."' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2240)

لِابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ هَلْ لَكَ فِي فَتَاةٍ أُزَوِّجُكَهَا فَدَعَا عَبْدُ اللهِ عَلْقَمَةَ فَحَدَّثَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ «مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَلْيَصُمْ فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ»

[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

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

"عن علقمة قال: كنت مع ابن مسعود وهو عند عثمان فقال: خرج رسول الله ﷺ على فتية عزاب فقال: من كان منكم ذا طول فليتزوج، فإنه أغض للبصر وأحصن للفرج ومن لا؟ فالصوم له وجاء".