Hadith 3
The Book of Marriage
Narrated 'Alqamah:
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.'"
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ زُرَارَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْشَرٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَهُوَ عِنْدَ عُثْمَانَ رضى الله عنه فَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى فِتْيَةٍ - قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ فَلَمْ أَفْهَمْ فِتْيَةً كَمَا أَرَدْتُ - فَقَالَ
مَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ ذَا طَوْلٍ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لاَ فَالصَّوْمُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ
Hadith gradings, numbering and translations can differ between editions. For legal rulings or detailed interpretation, consult qualified scholarship and the referenced edition.