is better; for Allah Almighty praised Yahya (peace be upon him) by saying: "And a master and a chaste one" (15). The 'hasur' is the one who does not approach women. If marriage were better, He would not have praised his abandoning it. Allah Almighty also said: "Beautified for people is the love of desires: of women and sons" (16). This is in the context of blame. Also, because it is a contract of exchange, occupying oneself with worship is better than it, like trade. Our evidence is what has preceded regarding the command of Allah Almighty and His Messenger for it, and their exhortation to it. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "But I fast and I break my fast, I pray and I sleep, and I marry women. So whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me." Sa'd said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) rejected celibacy (tabattul) for Uthman ibn Maz'un, and if he had permitted it for him, we would have castrated ourselves." (Agreed upon) (17). From Anas, who said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to [command marriage (ba'ah)] (18), forbid celibacy severely, and say: 'Marry the loving and fertile, for I will be boastful of your numbers before the nations on the Day of Resurrection.'" Narrated by Sa'id (19). This is a severe exhortation to marry, and a warning against abandoning it that brings it close to the level of obligation.
(15) Surah Al-Imran, 39. (16) Surah Al-Imran, 14. (17) The first [report] was recorded by Al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter on Exhortation to Marriage, from the Book of Marriage. Sahih al-Bukhari 7/2. And Muslim, in: The Chapter on the Desirability of Marriage for whoever has a desire for it..., from the Book of Marriage. Sahih Muslim 2/1020. It was also recorded by Al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on the Prohibition of Celibacy, from the Book of Marriage. Al-Mujtaba 6/150; and Al-Darimi, in: The Chapter on the Prohibition of Celibacy, from the Book of Marriage. Sunan al-Darimi 2/133; and Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 2/158, 3/241, 259, 285, 5/409. The second [report] was recorded by Al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter on what is disliked of celibacy and castration, from the Book of Marriage. Sahih al-Bukhari 7/5. And Muslim, in: The Chapter on the Desirability of Marriage for whoever has a desire for it..., from the Book of Marriage. Sahih Muslim 2/1020. It was also recorded by Al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter on what has been reported regarding the prohibition of celibacy, from the Books of Marriage. Aridat al-Ahwadhi 4/305. And Al-Nasa'i, in: The Book of the Prohibition of Celibacy, from the Book of Marriage. Al-Mujtaba 6/48. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on the Prohibition of Celibacy, from the Book of Marriage. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/593. And Al-Darimi, in: The Chapter on the Prohibition of Celibacy, from the Book of Marriage. Sunan al-Darimi 2/133. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 1/176, 183. (18) In the original: "ya'muru bil-bah" (commands lewdness). In A and B: "ya'muruna bil-bah" (commands us to lewdness). In M: "ya'muruna bil-ba'ah" (commands us to marriage). The reading affirmed is the one in the Sunan. (19) In: The Chapter on Exhortation to Marriage. Sunan Sa'id ibn Mansur 1/139. It was also recorded by Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 3/158, 245.
