The Meaning of the Hadith: O Youth
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Meaning of the Hadith: O young men
Question: It was narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in the context of a hadith in which he encourages youth to marry,It was narrated from him:As-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Nasa'i 13:144 , so what is the meaning of this, and what is the wisdom behind it?
Answer: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 3080 . The meaning of the hadith is clear: if a young man’s desire and urges for intercourse become strong, he must hasten to marry so that he may utilize that desire through the lawful, prescribed path, and remain safe and stay away from what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has forbidden. This is because Allah has made the Muslim self-sufficient with the lawful, so he should marry to guard his chastity and lower his gaze from what is forbidden.
Marriage provides protection for the Muslim. If he is unable to marry financially because he is poor and cannot afford the costs of marriage, he should turn to fasting, because fasting
is one of the two remedies; for it curbs desire and weakens it. Thus, the young man is safe from casting his gaze or looking at what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has forbidden, because he feels that he is in a state of worship; so he lowers his gaze and is cautious about his worship. Fasting provides a guarantee and protection for the Muslim from falling into what is forbidden. This is among the benefits of fasting, indeed, it is among the greatest benefits of fasting, that it serves as protection for the Muslim from falling into what is forbidden,For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning that it curbs his desire and breaks his overwhelming desire, the danger of which he fears. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in this noble hadith guided the young man to two great remedies by which he can treat the intensity of desire:
The first remedy: Marriage,He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 2242Sahih (Darussalam) , and if he is unable to marry, he resorts to the second remedy, which is fasting; for the effect of fasting on the Muslim’s psyche and character is well known.
Question: It was narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in the context of a hadith in which he encourages youth to marry,It was narrated from him:
So whoever is not able, let him fast, for it is a shield for him
فمن لم يستطع فعليه بالصوم فإنه له وجاءAnswer: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
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.
يا معشر الشباب، من استطاع منكم الباءة فليتزوج فإنه أغض للبصر وأحصن للفرج، ومن لم يستطع فعليه بالصوم فإنه له وجاءMarriage provides protection for the Muslim. If he is unable to marry financially because he is poor and cannot afford the costs of marriage, he should turn to fasting, because fasting
is one of the two remedies; for it curbs desire and weakens it. Thus, the young man is safe from casting his gaze or looking at what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has forbidden, because he feels that he is in a state of worship; so he lowers his gaze and is cautious about his worship. Fasting provides a guarantee and protection for the Muslim from falling into what is forbidden. This is among the benefits of fasting, indeed, it is among the greatest benefits of fasting, that it serves as protection for the Muslim from falling into what is forbidden,For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
For it is a restraint for him.
فإنه له وجاءThe first remedy: Marriage,He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: