Sh. Ibn al-ʿUthaymīn, may Allāh have mercy upon him, was asked whether he could provide some words of advice to the youth regarding hastening marriage and protecting their chastity.

The Shaykh, may Allāh have mercy upon him, replied:

“Yes, there are no better words than the words of the Prophet ﷺ who said, “O young men, whoever amongst you is able to marry, then let him marry, for indeed it is more effective in guarding the gaze and protecting the private parts, and whoever is unable, then he must fast for indeed it will be a restraint for him.”

I advise the youth to hasten in marrying, especially in this age in which the causes of temptations and distractions have become numerous. This is why we find many of the youth enduring the difficulty of bachelorhood, and if it was not for his belief in Allāh – the Almighty and Majestic – he would have gone hunting for fornication.

Moreover, I say, if the young man has sufficient wealth to marry, then this is what is demanded in order for him to marry. If, however, he does not have wealth, it is obligatory upon his father to marry him off if he is capable of that, just as it is obligatory upon him to spend on him in terms of food, drink, clothing, and accommodation. It is not lawful for anyone whom Allāh has enriched, and his sons have reached the age of marriage, and they seek that from him – either through their explicit speech or their actions which indicate seeking marriage – it is not lawful for him to prevent that. Rather, it is obligatory upon him to marry them off, and if he does not do that then he is sinning, and Allāh will not bless his wealth for him. Some of the ignoramuses amongst fathers say a common proverb to their children if they seek to marry, “Nothing scratches your back like your own nails” (i.e., one should abstain from relying on others), you go and obtain what you can marry with on your own, otherwise I will not marry you off. This is prohibited for them as long as they are capable and their sons are unable.”

Source: Fatāwá Nūr ʿalá al-Darb (10: 15) of Sh. Muḥammad b. Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn. The ḥadīth is from al-Bukhārī (5066) and Muslim (1400).