It was narrated that 'Alqamah said: "I was with Ibn Mas'ud while he was with 'Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, and 'Uthman said: 'The Messenger of Allah came out to some fityah (young men)--Abu 'AbdurRahman said, 'I did not understand (the word) fityah as I would want'-- and said: 'Whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity, and whoever cannot, then fasting will be a restraint (wija') for him.'"

It was narrated from 'Alqamah, that 'Uthman said to Ibn Mas'ud: "Shall I arrange for you to marry a young girl?" 'Abdullah called 'Alqamah and he told the people that the Prophet said: "Whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity. And whoever cannot afford it, then let him fast, for it will be a restraint for him."

It was narrated that 'Alqamah said: "I was walking with 'Abdullah in Mina and he was met by 'Uthman who stood with him and spoke with him. He said: 'O Abu Abdur-Rahman! Shall I not marry you to a young girl? Perhaps she will remind you of when you were younger?' 'Abdullah said: 'As you say that (it reminds me that) the Messenger of Allah said to us: O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married.'"

It was narrated from 'Aishah that the Messenger of Allah forbade celibacy.

It was narrated from Samurah bin Jundab that the Prophet forbade celibacy. Abu Abdur-Rahman said: Qatadah is more reliable and better preserves narrations than Ash'ath but the hadith of Ash'ath (here) appears to be the correct one. Allah, Most High, knows best.

It was narrated from Sa'd bin Hisham that he came to the Mother of the Believers, 'Aishah. He said: "I want to ask you about celibacy, what do you think about it?" She said: "Do not do that; have you not heard that Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, says: 'And indeed We sent Messengers before you, and made for them wives and offspring'? So do not be celibate."

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said: "Women are married for four things: their wealth, their nobility, their beauty and their religious commitment. Choose the one who is religiously committed, may your hands be rubbed with dust."

"I was with Anas bin Malik and a daughter of his was with him. He said: 'A woman came to the Messenger of Allah and offered herself in marriage to him. She said: O Messenger of Allah, do you want to marry me?'"

Zainab bint Jahsh used to boast to the other wives of the Prophet and say: "Allah married me to him from above the Heavens." And the Verse of Hijab was revealed concerning her.

"Tell the Messenger of Allah that I am a jealous woman and that I have sons, and none of my guardians are present." He went to the Messenger of Allah and told him that. He said: "Go back to her and tell her: As for your saying that you are a jealous woman, I will pray to Allah for you to take away your jealousy. As for your saying that you have sons, your sons will be taken care of. And as for your saying that none of your guardians are present, none of your guardians, present or absent, would object to that." She said to her son: "O 'Umar, get up and perform the marriage to the Messenger of Allah," so he performed the marriage.

"The Messenger of Allah married me when I was seven years old, and he consummated the marriage with me when I was nine."

"Aishah said: 'The Messenger of Allah married me when I was nine and I lived with him for nine years.'"

"Hafsah bint 'Umar became single when (her husband) Khunais bin Hudhafah As-Sahmi (died). He was one of the Companions of the Prophet, and he died in Al-Madinah." Umar said: "I went to 'Uthman bin 'Affan and offered Hafsah in marriage to him. I said: 'If you wish, I will marry you to Hafsah bint 'Umar.' He said: 'I will think about it.' A few days passed, then I met him and he said: 'It seems that I do not want to get married at the moment.'" 'Umar said: "Then I met Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, and said: 'If you wish, I will marry Hafsah bint 'Umar to you.' Abu Bakr remained silent, and did not give me any answer, and I felt more upset with him than I had with 'Uthman. Several days passed, then the Messenger of Allah proposed marriage to her and I married her to him. Abu Bakr met me and said: 'Perhaps you felt upset with me when you offered Hafsah in marriage to me, and I did not give you any answer?' I said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Nothing prevented me from giving you an answer when you made the offer to me, except the fact that I had heard the Messenger of Allah speak of her, and I did not want to disclose the secret of the Messenger of Allah. If he had left her, then I would have married her.'"

"Seek the permission of women with regard to marriage." It was said: "What if a virgin is too shy and remains silent?" He said: "That is her permission."

"A previously married woman should not be married until her consent has been sought, and a virgin should not be married until her permission has been sought." They said: "O Messenger of Allah, what is her permission?" He said: "If she remains silent."

It was narrated from Khansa' bint Khidham that her father married her off when she had been previously married, and she was unwilling. She went to the Messenger of Allah and he annulled the marriage.

"The Muhrim should not get married, arrange a marriage for someone else, nor propose marriage."

"The Messenger of Allah taught us the Tashahhud for Salah and the Tashahhud upon Al-Hajah. He said: 'The Tashahhud upon the occasion of marriage is: Alhamdu lillahi nasta'inahu wa nastaghfiruhu, wa na'udhu billahi min shururi anfusina, man yahdih Illahu fala mudilla lahu wa man yudlil Illahu fala hadiya lahu, wa ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluhu (Praise be to Allah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil of our own souls. Whomsoever Allah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger).' Then he recited three Verses."

"Innal-hamda lillahi nahmaduhu wa nasta'inahu, man yahdih Illahu fala mudilla lahu wa man yudlil Illahu fala hadiya lahu, wa ashhadu an la ilaha illallahu (wahdahu lasharika lahu) wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abdahu wa rasuluhu. Amma ba'd (Praise be to Allah, we seek His help. Whomsoever Allah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah (alone with no partners) and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. To proceed)."

"O Messenger of Allah, marry my sister, the daughter of Abu Sufyan." She said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Would you like that?' I said: 'Yes; I do not have you all to myself and I would like to share this goodness with my sister.' The Prophet said: 'Your sister is not permissible for me (to marry).' I said: 'By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, we have been saying that you want to marry Durrah bint Abi Salamah.' He said: 'The daughter of Umm Salamah?' I said: 'Yes.' He said: 'By Allah, even if she were not my stepdaughter who is in my care, she would not be permissible for me (to marry), because she is the daughter of my brother through breast-feeding. Thuwaibah breastfed Abu Salamah and I. So do not offer your daughters or sisters to me in marriage.'"