أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، قَالَ لَقَدْ رَدَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى عُثْمَانَ التَّبَتُّلَ وَلَوْ أَذِنَ لَهُ لاَخْتَصَيْنَا ‏.‏

Narrated Abu Salamah

It was narrated from Abu Salamah that Abu Hurairah said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I am a young man and I fear hardship for myself, but I cannot afford to marry; should I castrate myself?'" The Prophet turned away from him until he said it three times. Then the Prophet said: "O Abu Hurairah, the pen is dried concerning what you are going to face, so (it is up to you whether) you castrate yourself or not." Abu Abdur-Rahman (An-Nasai) said: Al-Awzai did not hear this narration from Az-Zuhri, and this hadith is sahih, Yunus reported it from Az-Zuhri.