حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ أَنَّ ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ لَقِيَهُ عُثْمَانُ بِعَرَفَاتٍ فَخَلَا بِهِ فَحَدَّثَهُ ثُمَّ إِنَّ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ لِابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ هَلْ لَكَ فِي فَتَاةٍ أُزَوِّجُكَهَا فَدَعَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ عَلْقَمَةَ فَحَدَّثَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَنْ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمْ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَلْيَصُمْ فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ وِجَاؤُهُ أَوْ وِجَاءَةٌ لَهُ
مسند امام احمد بن حنبل · Hadith 4271
It was narrated from 'Alqamah that Ibn Mas'ood was met by 'Uthman in 'Arafah. He sat on his own with him and talked to him, then 'Uthman said to Ibn Mas'ood: What do you think of a girl I will give to you in marriage? 'Abdullah bin Mas'ood called 'Alqamah and he told him that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding one's chastity. And whoever cannot afford it should fast, for it will be a shield for him."
Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020