67/2. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5065 — Youth, Marriage, and Fasting
"Whoever is able to marry, should marry..."
O Young People: Hadith About Marriage and Fasting
Sahih Bukhari : 5065
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5065
حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَلَقِيَهُ عُثْمَانُ بِمِنًى فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ إِنَّ لِي إِلَيْكَ حَاجَةً. فَخَلَيَا فَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ هَلْ لَكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ فِي أَنْ نُزَوِّجَكَ بِكْرًا، تُذَكِّرُكَ مَا كُنْتَ تَعْهَدُ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُ حَاجَةٌ إِلَى هَذَا أَشَارَ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَ يَا عَلْقَمَةُ، فَانْتَهَيْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَهْوَ يَقُولُ أَمَا لَئِنْ قُلْتَ ذَلِكَ لَقَدْ قَالَ لَنَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ ".
Alqama Narrated from:
While I was with `Abdullah, `Uthman met him at Mina and said, "O Abu `Abdur-Rahman ! I have something to say to you." So both of them went aside and `Uthman said, "O Abu `Abdur-Rah. man! Shall we marry you to a virgin who will make you remember your past days?"When `Abdullah felt that he was not in need of that, he beckoned me (to join him) saying, "O 'Alqama!" Then I heard him saying (in reply to `Uthman), "As you have said that, (I tell you that) the Prophet (ﷺ) once said to us, 'O young people! Whoever among you is able to marry, should marry, and whoever is not able to marry, is recommended to fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5065In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 3USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 3
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5065
This Hadith gives direct advice to young people about marriage and fasting. Abdullah quoted the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saying, “O young people!” Whoever is able to marry should marry, and whoever is not able should fast, because fasting reduces sexual desire. The setting in this narration includes Abdullah responding to Uthman when marriage was mentioned to him. The main message stays clear and practical. Marriage is recommended for the one who has the ability, while fasting is given as a way of self-control for the one who cannot marry. This hadith about marriage for young people does not shame desire. It shows a lawful path and a patient path, both tied to discipline.
What we learn from this hadith
- Marriage is encouraged for the young person who has the ability.
- Fasting is advised for the one who cannot marry.
- Desire should be managed through lawful and disciplined means.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave practical guidance for real human needs.
