'Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Young man, those of you who can support a wife should marry, for it keeps you from looking at strange women and preserves you from immorality; but those who cannot should devote themselves to fasting, for it is a means of suppressing sexual desire.”*(Bukhari and Muslim.)* Waja' has been translated freely above. It means castration.
Commentary on the Prophetic Guidance Regarding Marriage
This noble hadith from the Book of Marriage in Mishkat al-Masabih (Reference: Mishkat al-Masabih 3080) contains profound wisdom from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ addressing the youth among his companions and all subsequent generations of Muslim youth.
The Dual Path for Chastity
The Prophet ﷺ presents two distinct paths for preserving one's chastity: marriage for those capable and fasting for those incapable. This demonstrates the Shariah's comprehensive understanding of human nature and its practical solutions for spiritual protection.
Marriage serves as both a protective shield (hijab) for the eyes from unlawful gazing and a fortress (hisn) for the private parts from forbidden acts. The term "strange women" (al-nisa') refers to all women outside the bond of lawful marriage.
The Condition of Capability (al-Qudrah)
Scholars have defined "capability" as possessing the physical maturity, mental readiness, and financial means to provide the basic necessities of marriage—dwelling, sustenance, and clothing—according to one's customary standard without falling into difficulty or debt.
The phrase "those who cannot" refers not merely to financial inability but includes those physically or psychologically unprepared for marital responsibilities.
Fasting as Spiritual Medicine
For those unable to marry, fasting is prescribed as "waja'"—a term the commentator rightly explains as meaning castration in its literal sense, but here metaphorically indicating the suppression of sexual desire. Just as physical castration removes the means of desire, spiritual castration through fasting weakens its intensity.
Imam al-Nawawi explains that fasting diminishes the flow of bodily humors that fuel desire, thereby making it easier to control one's passions and maintain purity.
Practical Implementation
The wise legislator does not leave the youth without practical guidance. This hadith encourages early marriage for those capable while providing an alternative spiritual discipline for others. This prevents the common excuse that one must wait until perfect financial stability before marriage.
The collective wisdom of this teaching balances between the ideal solution (marriage) and the practical alternative (fasting), ensuring every Muslim has a clear path to spiritual protection according to their circumstances.