While I was with `Abdullah, `Uthman met him at Mina and said, "O Abu `Abdur-Rahman ! I have something to say to you." So both of them went aside and `Uthman said, "O Abu `Abdur-Rah. man! Shall we marry you to a virgin who will make you remember your past days?" When `Abdullah 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 `Uthman), "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.
Hadith Commentary: The Virtue of Marriage for Youth
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 5065 presents a profound teaching from Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) regarding marital life. The exchange between 'Uthman and 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud demonstrates the companions' concern for one another's spiritual and physical well-being, while the Prophet's guidance provides the foundational Islamic perspective on marriage.
The Prophet's Guidance for Youth
The Prophet's statement "O young people! Whoever among you is able to marry, should marry" establishes marriage as the recommended state for those who possess the physical and financial capability. Scholars explain this emphasizes marriage's role in preserving chastity, completing half of one's faith, and establishing a righteous household.
The phrase "able to marry" encompasses both physical maturity and financial capacity to provide the mandatory marital rights (mahr and maintenance). Classical commentators like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani note this ability is relative to individual circumstances.
Spiritual Alternative: Fasting
For those unable to marry, the Prophet prescribed fasting as a means to "diminish sexual power." Scholars interpret this as fasting helps control desires and strengthens one's spiritual resolve. Imam al-Nawawi explains this demonstrates Islam's practical approach to managing human nature through legitimate spiritual means.
The wisdom behind recommending fasting specifically is that it is among the most effective acts of worship for curbing physical desires while simultaneously earning divine reward.
Contextual Wisdom
'Uthman's offer to arrange a marriage for the elderly 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud shows the companions' continuous concern for one another's spiritual state, even in advanced age. 'Abdullah's response by quoting the Prophet's teaching redirects the focus to the universal principle rather than his personal situation.
This narration appears in the "Book of Wedlock and Marriage" (Kitab al-Nikah) of Sahih al-Bukhari, emphasizing its primary context as guidance for marital life while containing broader lessons about Islamic brotherhood and spiritual counsel.