Aslam

Praise be to Allah.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.

And Allaah

knows best.