Section 1

'Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, “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.”* (Bukhari and Muslim.) * <i>Waja'</i> has been translated freely above. It means castration.

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ»

Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas said:

God’s Messenger objected to ‘Uthman b. Maz’un living in celibacy. If he had given him permission we would have had ourselves castrated. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ قَالَ: رَدَّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى عُثْمَان ابْن مَظْعُونٍ التَّبَتُّلَ وَلَوْ أَذِنَ لَهُ لَاخْتَصَيْنَا

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A woman may be married for four reasons, for her property, her rank, her beauty and her religion; so get the one who is religious and prosper.”* (Bukhari and Muslim.) * <i>Taribat yadaka</i> literally, "may your hands cleave to the dust". It is explained as being used to encourage one to action, and so it has been translated above by "prosper.”

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

تُنْكَحُ الْمَرْأَةُ لِأَرْبَعٍ: لِمَالِهَا وَلِحَسَبِهَا وَلِجَمَالِهَا وَلِدِينِهَا فَاظْفَرْ بِذَات الدّين تربت يداك

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The whole world is to be enjoyed, but the best thing in the world is a good woman.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الدُّنْيَا كُلُّهَا مَتَاعٌ وَخَيْرُ مَتَاعِ الدُّنْيَا الْمَرْأَة الصَّالِحَة» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The best of the women who ride on camels are the good women of Quraish, for they are the most affectionate to small children and the most careful of what belongs to their husbands.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «خَيْرُ نسَاء ركبن الْإِبِل صَالح نسَاء قُرَيْش أَحْنَاهُ عَلَى وَلَدٍ فِي صِغَرِهِ وَأَرْعَاهُ عَلَى زَوْجٍ فِي ذَاتِ يَدِهِ»

Usama b. Zaid reported God's Messenger as saying, “I have not left behind me a trial more injurious to men than women.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا تَرَكْتُ بَعْدِي فِتْنَةً أَضَرَّ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ من النِّسَاء»

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The world is sweet and verdant, and God having put you in it in your turn watches how you act; so fear the world and fear women, for the first trial of the B. Isra’il had to do with women." Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا حُلْوَةٌ خَضِرَةٌ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ مُسْتَخْلِفُكُمْ فِيهَا فَيَنْظُرُ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ فَاتَّقُوا الدُّنْيَا وَاتَّقُوا النِّسَاءَ فَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ فِتْنَةِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانَتْ فِي النِّسَاء» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Ill luck arises concerning a woman, a house and a horse." A version has, “Ill luck arises concerning three things:

a woman, a dwelling and a beast." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الشُّؤْمُ فِي الْمَرْأَةِ وَالدَّارِ وَالْفَرَسِ» . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ:

الشُّؤْمُ فِي ثَلَاثَة: فِي الْمَرْأَة والمسكن وَالدَّابَّة

Jabir said:

When we were near Medina on our return from an expedition in which we had accompanied the Prophet (ﷺ) I told him that I had recently married. He asked, “Have you married?" and when I told him that I had, he asked whether I had married a virgin or a woman who had previously been married. On my telling him that it was one who had previously been married he said, “Why did you not marry a virgin with whom you could sport and who could sport with you?" Then when we arrived and were about to enter he said, “Wait so that we may enter by night, i.e. in the evening, in order that the woman with dishevelled hair may comb it and the woman whose husband has been away may get herself ready [for her husband’s enjoyment].’’* (Bukhari and Muslim.) * <i>Tastahidd</i> literally means to shave the hair on the private parts, and is explained as being used here in the sense or preparing herself for her husband’s enjoyment.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ: قَالَ: كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةِ فَلَمَّا قَفَلْنَا كُنَّا قَرِيبًا مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي حَدِيثُ عَهْدٍ بعرس قَالَ: «تَزَوَّجْتَ؟» قُلْتُ: نَعَمْ. قَالَ: «أَبِكْرٌ أَمْ ثَيِّبٌ؟» قُلْتُ: بَلْ ثَيِّبٌ قَالَ: «فَهَلَّا بِكْرًا تلاعبها وتلاعبك» . فَلَمَّا قدمنَا لِنَدْخُلَ فَقَالَ: «أَمْهِلُوا حَتَّى نَدْخُلَ لَيْلًا أَيْ عشَاء لكَي تمتشط الشعثة وتستحد المغيبة»

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “There are three whom it is right for God to help:

the slave whose master has agreed to let him buy his freedom when he wishes to pay the sum, the one who marries desiring to live a chaste life, and the one who fights in God’s path." Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:

ثَلَاثَةٌ حَقٌّ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَوْنُهُمْ: الْمُكَاتَبُ الَّذِي يُرِيدُ الْأَدَاءَ وَالنَّاكِحُ الَّذِي يُرِيدُ الْعَفَافَ وَالْمُجَاهِدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَالنَّسَائِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When someone with whose religion and character you are satisfied asks your daughter in marriage, accede to his request. If you do not do so there will be temptation in the earth and extensive corruption." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا خَطَبَ إِلَيْكُمْ مَنْ تَرْضَوْنَ دِينَهُ وَخُلُقَهُ فَزَوِّجُوهُ إِنْ لَا تَفْعَلُوهُ تَكُنْ فِتَنَةٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَفَسَادٌ عَرِيضٌ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ

Ma'qil b. Yasar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Marry women who are loving and very prolific, for I shall outnumber the peoples by you." Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ مَعْقِلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «تَزَوَّجُوا الْوَدُودَ الْوَلُودَ فَإِنِّي مُكَاثِرٌ بِكُمُ الْأُمَم» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Salim b. ‘Utba b.'Uwaim b. Sa'ida al-Ansari, on his father’s authority, told that his grandfather reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Marry virgins, for they have the sweetest mouths, the most prolific wombs, and are most satisfied with little.” Ibn Majah transmitted in <i>mursal</i> form.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَالِمِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ عُوَيْمِ بْنِ سَاعِدَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْأَبْكَارِ فَإِنَّهُنَّ أَعْذَبُ أَفْوَاهًا وَأَنْتَقُ أَرْحَامًا وَأَرْضَى بِالْيَسِيرِ» . رَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَه مُرْسلا

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “You have seen nothing like marriage for increasing the love of two people.” Ibn Majah transmitted.

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَمْ تَرَ لِلْمُتَحَابِّينَ مثل النِّكَاح» . رَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Those who wish to be pure and purified when they meet God should marry free women.” Ibn Majah transmitted.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَلْقَى الله طَاهِرا مطهراً فليتزوج الْحَرَائِر» . رَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه

Abu Umama told that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say, “After fear of God a believer gains nothing better for him than a good wife who obeys him if he gives her a command, pleases him if he looks at her, is true to him if he adjures her to do something, and is sincere towards him regarding her person and his property if he is absent.” Ibn Majah transmitted.

وَعَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ يَقُولُ: «مَا اسْتَفَادَ الْمُؤْمِنُ بَعْدَ تَقْوَى اللَّهِ خَيْرًا لَهُ مِنْ زَوْجَةٍ صَالِحَةٍ إِنْ أَمْرَهَا أَطَاعَتْهُ وَإِنْ نَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا سرته وَإِن أقسم عَلَيْهِ أَبَرَّتْهُ وَإِنْ غَابَ عَنْهَا نَصَحَتْهُ فِي نَفْسِهَا وَمَاله» . روى ابْن مَاجَه الْأَحَادِيث الثَّلَاثَة

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When a man marries he has fulfilled half of the religion; so let him fear God regarding the remaining half.” Baihaqi transmitted in <i>Shu'ab al-iman</i>.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا تَزَوَّجَ الْعَبْدُ فَقَدِ اسْتَكْمَلَ نِصْفَ الدِّينِ فَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ فِي النِّصْفِ الْبَاقِي»

‘A’isha reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “The marriage which produces most blessing is that which involves least burden.” Baihaqi transmitted in <i>Shu'ab al-iman</i>.

وَعَن عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ أَعْظَمَ النِّكَاحِ بَرَكَةً أَيْسَرُهُ مُؤْنَةً» . رَوَاهُمَا الْبَيْهَقِيّ فِي شعب الْإِيمَان