for bearing many children. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet said: “Marry women who are loving and fertile, for I shall boast of your numbers before the nations on the Day of Resurrection.” Reported by al-Nasaʾi and others, and several narrations carry the same meaning.

The legal status of marriage differs according to a person’s situation—his physical and financial ability and his readiness to shoulder its responsibilities.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, urged the young to marry early, for they need it more than others. He said: “O young people! Whoever among you is able to shoulder al-bāʾah should marry, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and more protective of the private parts. Whoever is unable should fast, for fasting will act as a restraint.” Reported by al-Bukhari, Muslim, and others.

The term al-bāʾah has been explained as sexual intercourse and also as the financial means of marriage. There is no contradiction between the two, for the sense is: whoever is capable of intercourse because he possesses the means to marry.

His words “more effective in lowering the gaze” mean that marriage better keeps a man’s eyes from looking at women who are unlawful to him, and “more protective of the private parts” mean that it more strongly safeguards him from falling into immorality.