Sahih Muslim Book - 16, Hadith - 3398

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى التَّمِيمِىُّ وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ الْهَمْدَانِىُّ جَمِيعًا عَنْ أَبِى مُعَاوِيَةَ - وَاللَّفْظُ لِيَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ - عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ قَالَ كُنْتُ أَمْشِى مَعَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بِمِنًى فَلَقِيَهُ عُثْمَانُ فَقَامَ مَعَهُ يُحَدِّثُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُثْمَانُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَلاَ نُزَوِّجُكَ جَارِيَةً شَابَّةً لَعَلَّهَا تُذَكِّرُكَ بَعْضَ مَا مَضَى مِنْ زَمَانِكَ. قَالَ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ قُلْتَ ذَاكَ لَقَدْ قَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ ».

It was narrated that 'Alqamah said: "I was walking with Abdullah in Mina when he was met by Uthman. He stood and talked with him and Uthman said to him: 'O Abu Abdur-ur-Rahman, shall we not marry you to a young girl who can remind you of the times past?' Abdullah said, 'If that is what you are telling me, (let me tell you that) the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said to us: 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.' "