Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when the matter of Sayyiduna ‘Uthman bin Maz’un (may Allah be pleased with him) abandoning women arose, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent a message to him: “Uthman, monasticism has not been prescribed for me. Have you turned away from my Sunnah?” He replied: “No, O Messenger of Allah!” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “My way is that I pray and I sleep, I fast and I break my fast, I marry women and I also divorce. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me. Uthman, your family has a right over you and your own self has a right over you.” Sa’d says: If the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had left Sayyiduna ‘Uthman in his state, the Muslims would have resolved to become eunuchs and devote themselves solely to the worship of Allah Almighty, abandoning everything else.