I will not marry women; someone among them said: I will not eat meat; and someone among them said: I will not lie down in bed. He (the Holy Prophet) praised Allah and glorified Him, and said: What has happened to these people that they say so and so, whereas I observe prayer and sleep too; I observe fast and suspend observing them; I marry women also? And he who turns away from my Sunnah, he has no relation with Me
The Book of Marriage - Sahih Muslim 1401
This narration from Sahih Muslim addresses the proper Islamic approach to worship and moderation, rejecting extreme asceticism that contradicts the Prophetic example.
Context and Background
This hadith responds to companions who proposed extreme practices: complete celibacy, vegetarianism, and perpetual vigil. The Prophet ﷺ corrected these misconceptions about piety.
Such extremes emerged from misunderstanding spiritual excellence, thinking Allah's pleasure required abandoning permissible pleasures.
Scholarly Commentary
The Prophet's ﷺ response begins with "praising Allah and glorifying Him" - indicating these extremes contradict Islamic theology which celebrates Allah's blessings.
His personal example demonstrates balanced worship: praying yet sleeping, fasting yet breaking fast, marrying while maintaining spirituality. This is the Sunnah's middle path.
The severe warning "he who turns away from my Sunnah has no relation with Me" shows rejecting Prophetic practice constitutes religious innovation (bid'ah) and distances one from the Prophet's ﷺ intercession.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
Marriage is not merely permitted but part of Prophetic practice. Celibacy as worship is rejected in Islam.
Permissible enjoyments (meat, marital intimacy, comfortable rest) become acts of worship when pursued with right intention and within Islamic boundaries.
True piety lies in balancing worldly engagements with spiritual obligations, not in monastic abandonment of lawful pleasures.