This excerpt is taken from Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi's book Halal and Haram in Islam, translated into Urdu by Muhammad Tahir Naqqash.
There is no Monasticism in Islam
Islam has not left sexual desire unchecked to run wild like an untamed camel going wherever it pleases; rather, it has a strong grip on it. Accordingly, Islam has declared not only adultery but also its causes and related matters as forbidden. On the other hand, Islam opposes tendencies that conflict with natural desires or seek to eliminate them altogether. For this reason, Islam encourages marriage and forbids remaining unmarried or castrating oneself. Therefore, it is not permissible for any Muslim, despite having the means, to avoid marriage on the pretext that he wants to renounce the world and devote himself entirely to Allah or focus solely on worship.
Some companions of the Prophet ﷺ developed a tendency to renounce the world. But as soon as the Prophet ﷺ was informed of this, he declared that renouncing the world is a deviation from the path of Islam and a rejection of the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. In this way, the Prophet ﷺ excluded such Christian-like thoughts from the fold of Islam.
Sayyiduna Abu Qulabah رضي الله عنه narrates:
اراد أناس من اصحب رسول الله أن يرفضوا الدنيا ويتركوا النساء ويترهبوا فقال رسول الله فغلظ فيهم المقالة ثم قال: إنما هلك من كان قبلكم بالتشديد، شددو اعلى أنفسهم فشدد الله عليهم فأولئك بقايا هم فى الديار والصوامع، فاعبدوا الله ولا تشركوا به وحجوا واعتمروا واستقيموا يستقم بكم
Some companions of the Messenger ﷺ intended to become ascetics, abandon women, and adopt monasticism, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ strongly reprimanded them and said: The people before you were destroyed because of extremism in religion. When they became extreme, Allah dealt with them in an extreme manner. Their successors are those found in monasteries and cloisters. So worship Allah and do not associate anyone with Him. Perform Hajj and Umrah and follow the middle path so that you may be treated with moderation as well.
Reference: Tafsir al-Tabari (917) - Tafsir Dur al-Manthur (140/3) - Kitab al-Zuhd by Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak (p. 136, hadith 1031) and its chain is weak for sending and partly supported by Abu Dawood (4904)
The narrator says that regarding such people, this verse was revealed:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُحَرِّمُوا طَيِّبَاتِ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ
O you who have believed, do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful to you and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors.
Reference: (Surah Al-Ma'idah: 87)
And Mujahid رحمه الله said that people like Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Maz'oon رضي الله عنه and Abdullah ibn Amr رضي الله عنه wanted to live a celibate life, castrate themselves, and wear coarse cloth. This verse and the following verse were revealed regarding them.
Reference: Tafsir al-Tabari (10/7-11)
There is a narration in Sahih Bukhari and others:
إن رهطا من الصحابة ذهبوا إلى بيوت النبى يسألون ازواجه عن عبادته، فلما أخبروا بها كأنهم تقالوها ثم قالوا أين نحن من رسول الله وقد غفر الله له ما تقدم من ذنبه وما تأخر فقال احدهم أما أنا فاصوم الدهر فلا أفطر وقال الثاني وآنا أقوم الليل فلا أنام وقال الثالث وأنا اعتزل النساء فلا أنزوج آبداء - فلما بلغ إلك النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم بين لهم خطأهم وعوج طريقهم وقال لهم إنما أنا أعلمكم بالله واخشاكم له ولكنى أقوم وآنام واصوم وأفطر وآتزوج النساء فمن رغب عن سنتي فليس مني
A group of companions رضي الله عنهم went to the house of the Prophet ﷺ to inquire from the pure wives رضي الله عنهم about the worship of the Prophet ﷺ. When they learned about his worship, they thought it was little and said, "Where are we and where is the Messenger of Allah! All his past and future sins have been forgiven by Allah." Then one of them said, "I will fast continuously," another said, "I will pray all night and never sleep," and a third said, "I will avoid women and never marry." When the Prophet ﷺ was informed of this, he clarified their mistake and deviation by saying: I am the most knowledgeable of you about Allah and the most fearful of Him, but I also sleep at night and pray, fast and sometimes do not fast, and marry women. Whoever deviates from my way is not from me.
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Marriage, Chapter on Encouragement to Marriage, Hadith: 5063 - Muslim, Book of Marriage, Chapter on Recommendation of Marriage, Hadith: 1401
Sayyiduna Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه narrates:
رد رسول الله على عثمان بن مضعون التبتل ولو أذن له لا ختصينا
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade Uthman ibn Maz'oon رضي الله عنه from living a celibate life. If the Prophet ﷺ had permitted him, we would have castrated ourselves.
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Marriage, Chapter on What is Disliked about Asceticism, Hadith: 5073 - Muslim, Book of Marriage, Chapter on Recommendation of Marriage, Hadith: 1402
The Prophet ﷺ addressed the youth saying:
يا معشر الشباب من استطاع منكم الباءة فليتزوج فإنه أغض للبصر وأحصن للفرج
O young people! Whoever among you is able to marry should marry, for marriage restrains the gaze and preserves chastity.
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Marriage, Chapter on the Saying of the Prophet: Whoever among you can afford to marry, let him marry, Hadith: 5065 - Muslim, Book of Marriage, Chapter on Recommendation of Marriage, Hadith: 1400
On this basis, some scholars say that marriage is obligatory for a Muslim. It is not permissible to avoid it despite having the means. According to other scholars, it is obligatory for the person who desires marriage and fears for himself.
It is not appropriate for a Muslim to avoid marriage due to fear of financial hardship or responsibilities. Rather, he should strive and hope for Allah’s grace and assistance, which Allah has promised to those who marry for the sake of chastity and purity. Allah says:
وَأَنكِحُوا الْأَيَامَىٰ مِنكُمْ وَالصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَائِكُمْ ۚ إِن يَكُونُوا فُقَرَاءَ يُغْنِهِمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male and female slaves. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty.
Reference: (Surah An-Nur: 32)
And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
ثلاثة حق على الله عونهم الناكح الذى يريد العفاف والمكاتب الذى يريد الآداء والغازي فى سبيل الله
There are three persons whom Allah will help: one who marries seeking chastity, one who is a slave who wants to be freed by paying the price, and one who strives in the cause of Allah.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 437/2, Tirmidhi, Book of Virtues of Jihad, Chapter on What Has Been Related About the Mujahid and the Marrying Person, Hadith: 1655 - Nasai, Book of Marriage, Chapter on Helping the Marrying Person Who Seeks Chastity, Hadith: 3220 - Ibn Majah, Book of Emancipation, Chapter on Mukatib, Hadith: 2518
