We were on an expedition with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and we had no women with us. We said: Should we not have ourselves castrated? He (the Holy Prophet) forbade us to do so He then granted us permission that we should contract temporary marriage for a stipulated period giving her a garment, and 'Abdullah then recited this verse: 'Those who believe do not make unlawful the good things which Allah has made lawful for you, and do not transgress. Allah does not like trangressers" (al-Qur'an, v. 87).
The Book of Marriage - Sahih Muslim 1404a
This narration from Sahih Muslim addresses the companions' inquiry about self-castration during military expeditions when women were absent. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explicitly prohibited this extreme measure, demonstrating Islam's balanced approach to human nature.
Temporary Marriage (Mut'ah) Ruling
The permission for temporary marriage mentioned here was specific to that historical context during early Islam and was later abrogated by the consensus of classical scholars. This demonstrates the evolutionary nature of Islamic legislation.
The companion Abdullah ibn Mas'ud's recitation of Quranic verse 5:87 emphasizes the principle that believers should not prohibit what Allah has made lawful, nor should they exceed the divinely prescribed limits.
Scholarly Interpretation
Classical commentators note this hadith illustrates the Prophet's wisdom in providing practical solutions while maintaining moral boundaries. The temporary marriage permission was a transitional ruling that addressed specific circumstances during warfare.
The majority of classical scholars hold that mut'ah marriage was ultimately prohibited and remains forbidden in Islamic law, with only minor scholarly differences regarding its initial permissibility during the early Islamic period.