adultery, and blocks all ways leading to them. On the other hand,
Islam calls people toward marriage,
prohibitingrenunciationandcastration. (Renunciation means remaining
celibate and renouncing worldly activity for the sake of devoting
oneself to the worship of God. Castration denotes suppressing sexual
desire by removing the testicles.)
As long as he possesses the means to marry, the Muslim isnot
permittedto refrain from marriage on the grounds that he has dedicated
himself to the service or the worship of Allah and to a life
ofmonasticismand renunciation of the world.
The Prophet (peace be on him) noted a tendency toward monasticism
among some of his Companions. Declaring this to be a deviation from
the straight path of Islam and a rejection of his sunnah (recommended
practice), he thereby rid Islam's conceptual framework of such a
Christian notion.
Abu Qulabah narrated
"Some of the Companions of the Prophet (peace be on him) decided
torelinquishthe world,forsaketheir wives, and become likemonks. The
Prophet (peace be on him) told them with asperity, People before
youperishedbecause of theirasceticism; they made excessive demands on
themselves until Allah broughthardshipson them: you can still see a
few of them remaining inmonasteries and temples. Thenworship Allahand
do not associate anything with Him, perform the Hajj and the 'Umrah,
be righteous, and all affairs will be set right for you." (Reported by
'Abdur Razzaq, Ibn Jarir, and Ibn al-Mundhir).
Abu Qulabah said the following verse was revealed concerning them:
"O you who believe! Do not make haram the good of things which Allah
has made halal for you, and do not transgress; indeed, Allah does not
like transgressors." ( Surah 5: Verse 87)
Mujahid narrated, "Some people, including 'Uthman ibn Maz'un and
'Abdullah ibn 'Umar, intended to renounce their wives, castrate
themselves, and wear coarse clothing. Then the above verse and the
verse following it were revealed." (Reported by Ibn Jarir in his
Tafsir.)
It is reported by Al-Bukhari and others thatthree people cameto the
Prophet's wives and asked how the Prophet (peace be on him) conducted
his worship. When they were told about it, they seemed to consider it
but little, saying, "What a difference there is between us and the
Messenger of Allah (peace be on him), whose past and future sins have
been forgiven him by Allah!"
One of them said, "As for me, I willalways prayduring the night."
The other said, "I will have nothing to do with women and will never marry."
When the Prophet (peace be on him) heard about this, he explained to
them theirerror and deviation from the straightpath, saying, I am the
one who fears Allah the most among you, yetI fast and I break my fast,
I pray and I sleep, and I marry women. He who turns away from my
sunnah has nothing to do with me.
S'ad ibn Abi Waqqas said, Allah's Messenger (peace be on him) objected
to 'Uthman ibn Maz'un living in celibacy. If he had given him
permission (to do so), we (others) would have had ourselves castrated.
(Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
Addressing the young men of all times, the Prophet (peace be on him)
said, 'Young men, those of you who can support a wifeshould marry, for
itkeeps you from looking at womenand preserves your chastity.'
(Reported by al-Bukhari.)
From this statement some scholars have inferred thatmarriage is
obligatoryfor the Muslim who is able to support a wife and that the
avoidance of it is not permissible, while other scholars add the
furthercondition for its obligatorinessthat he should be afraid of
falling into sin.
In fact, it is not befitting that a Muslim should refrain from
marriage out of fear of poverty or of not being able to meet his
obligations. He should make every possible attempt to find employment,
seeking help from Allah, for He has promised to help those who marry
in order to protect their chastity and purity.
Says Allah Ta'ala:
"And marry those among you who are single and the virtuous ones among
your slaves, male or female. If they are in poverty, Allah will enrich
them out of His bounty".... ( Surah 24: Verse 32)
And the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said,
"There arethreewho have a right to the help of Allah: the one
whomarries outof the desire to live a chaste life, theslavewhose
master has agreed to his buying his freedom when he wishes to pay the
sum, and the one whofightsin the cause of Allah." (Reported by Ahmad,
al-Nisai, al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and al-Hakim).
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