What is
the Islamic ruling on one who forbids marriage for
himself and forbids women for himself?
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
It is not permissible for anyone to forbid that which
Allaah has made permissible, such as women (marriage),
food or anything else, because Allaah, may He be
exalted, said:
"O you who believe! Make not unlawful the Tayyibaat
(all that is good as regards foods, things, deeds,
beliefs, persons) which Allaah has made lawful to you,
and transgress not. Verily, Allaah does not like the
transgressors"
[al-Maa'idah 5:87]
Some of the Sahaabah wanted to be celibate and keep
away from women, but the Prophet (Peace And Blessings
Of Allaah Be Upon Him) forbade them to do that, and
Allaah revealed this verse.
Ibn Jareer narrated with his isnaad that Mujaahid (may
Allaah have mercy on him) said: Some men, including 'Uthmaan
ibn Maz'oon and 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Amr (may Allaah be
pleased with them) wanted to be celibate, and to
castrate themselves, then this verse was revealed.
Al-Bukhaari (5074) and Muslim (1402) narrated that
Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqaas (may Allaah be pleased with him)
said: The Messenger of Allaah (Peace And Blessings Of
Allaah Be Upon Him) forbade 'Uthmaan ibn Maz'oon to be
celibate. If he had given him permission, we would
have gotten ourselves castrated.
Remaining celibate, getting castrated and regarding
women as haraam are all haraam. This is turning away
from the Sunnah of the Prophet (Peace And Blessings Of
Allaah Be Upon Him), who got married and encouraged
others to get married.
Al-Bukhaari (5063) and Muslim (1401) narrated that
Anas ibn Maalik said: Three people came to the houses
of the wives of the Prophet (Peace And Blessings Of
Allaah Be Upon Him) asking about the worship of the
Prophet (Peace And Blessings Of Allaah Be Upon Him).
When they were told, it was as if they regarded it as
too little. They said: Who are we in comparison to the
Prophet (Peace And Blessings Of Allaah Be Upon Him)?
Allaah has forgiven his past and future sins. One of
them said: As for me, I will pray all night forever.
Another said: I shall fast all my life and never break
my fast. Another said: I shall keep away from women
and never get married. The Messenger of Allaah (Peace
And Blessings Of Allaah Be Upon Him) came and said:
"Are you the ones who said such and such? By Allaah, I
am the one who fears Allaah the most among you and I
am the most pious, but I fast and I break my fast, I
pray and I sleep, and I marry women. Whoever turns
away from my Sunnah is not of me." Narrated by al-Bukhaari
(5063) and Muslim (1401).
Thus is it clear that no one has the right to forbid
women (marriage) to himself.
Thirdly:
Whoever has done that has to repent to Allaah, may He
be exalted, and he has to offer expiation for breaking
an oath, because Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"O Prophet! Why do you forbid (for yourself) that
which Allaah has allowed to you, seeking to please
your wives? And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.
2. Allaah has already ordained for you (O men) the
absolution from your oaths"
[al-Tahreem 66:1-2]
Allaah has described the forbidding of something
permissible as an oath.
See: al-Sharh al-Mumti' (10/475).
The expiation for breaking an oath is to free a slave,
or to feed ten poor persons with the average kind of
food that he gives his own family, or to clothe them.
Whoever cannot do that must fast for three days.
This has been explained in detail in the answer to
question no. 45676.
Fourthly:
The ruling on marriage varies from one person to
another, according to financial and physical ability
and how much a person needs to get married. In some
cases it is obligatory and in others it is mustahabb
or makrooh. See question no. 36486.
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