Detestability of Celibacy

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once wife of ‘Uthman ibn Maz‘un came to the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, ‘Uthman, fasts during the day and stands up for Salat (prayer) during the night.’ The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, came out with anger carrying his shoes until he reached ‘Uthman and found him performing Salat (prayer). When ‘Uthman completed, he saw the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, who said to him, “O ‘Uthman, why did Allah not sent me to behave like a monk, however, He has sent me to be right-minded, planner and magnanimous. I fast, perform Salat (prayer) and touch my wife. Whoever likes my nature (culture) must adopt my Sunnah (manners) and of my Sunnah is marriage.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once asked a man, ‘Are you fasting this morning?’ The man replied, ‘No, I am not fasting.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) asked, ‘Have you fed a destitute person?’ He replied, ‘No, I have not done so.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) then said, ‘Go to your family, it will be a charity from you to them.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who is on a journey with his wife and they cannot find water; if he can go to bed with his wife. He (the Imam) said, ‘I do not like it unless he is afraid for himself.’ I then asked, ‘Is it about the case of seeking to satisfy one’s lust or is about the case of pressing desire for women?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Pressing desire for women of one’s fear for one’s self.’ I then asked, ‘Can one seek thereby pleasure?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is lawful.’ I then asked, ‘It is narrated from the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, that once abu Dharr, may Allah grant him mercy, asked him about it and he (the Messenger of Allah) said, “You can go to your wife; you will be rewarded.” He asked, “O Messenger of Allah, I go to my wife and receive reward?” The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, said, “It is like when you commit an unlawful act; you have sinned, so also is the case of your doing a lawful act; you receive rewards.’” Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Consider when one fears his soul, then performs a lawful act; he then is rewarded.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once went to the house of ‘Umm Salamah, smelled a fine fragrance and asked, ’Had al-Hawla’ come to you?’ She replied, ’She is here, complaining against her husband.’ Al-Hawla then came out and said, ’I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, my husband turns away from me.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘Use more perfume, O Hawla’. She said, ‘I have not left any perfume without being tried to make him happy but he turns away from me.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) then said, ’I wish he learns what he receives by coming forward to you.’ She asked, ’What can he receive by being forthcoming to me?’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘If he comes to you he will be circled by two angels and he will be like one who has pulled his sword from its sheath in the way of Allah; and when he goes to bed with his wife, sins fall off of him like the falling of leaves from the tree and when he takes Ghusl (bath), he comes clean out of sins.”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Three women came to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and one of them said, “My husband does not eat meat.” The other one said, “My husband does not smell perfume.” The other one said, “My husband does not go near the woman.” The Messenger of Allah came out while his gown dragged behind him until he climbed on the pulpit, praised Allah and glorified Him; then said, “What has happened to certain people of my companions who do not eat meat, smell perfume and do not go near women. I however, eat meat, smell perfumes and go to women, thus, those who disregard my Sunnah are not of my people.’””

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Whoever loves to follow my nature (culture), he must follow my Sunnah; and of my Sunnah is marriage.’”