Mukhtasar Muslim (Abridged) 794 — Encouragement to marry

Sayyiduna Alqamah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I used to go with Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) in Mina when Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) met Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), and they stood and began talking. Then Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: O Abu Abdur Rahman! Should we not arrange your marriage with a young girl so that she may remind you of some of your past days? So Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: If you say this, then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to us: O group of young men! Whoever among you has the means to marry should marry, for it lowers the gaze and protects the private parts (from adultery and the like), and whoever is not able to do so should fast, for it will be a protection for him, as if castrating himself.