Narrated Sahl bin Sa'd: It was narrated that Sahl bin Sa'd said: "I was among the people when a woman said: 'I offer myself (in marriage) to you, O Messenger of Allah, see what you think of me.' A man stood up and said: 'Marry me to her.' He said: 'Go and find (something), even if it is an iron ring.' So he went, but he could not find anything, not even an iron ring. So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Do you have (memorized) any surahs of the Qur'an?' He said: 'Yes.' So he married him to her on the basis of what he knew of surahs of the Qur'an."

Narrated 'Aishah: It was narrated from 'Aishah, the wife of the Prophet, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to her when Allah commanded him to give his wives the choice. 'Aishah said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) started with me and said: 'I am going to tell you something, but you do not have to rush until you consult your parents.'" She said: "He knew that my parents would not tell me to leave him." Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'O Prophet! Say to your wives: If you desire the life of this world, and its glitter, then come! I will make a provision for you and set you free in a handsome manner.' "I said: 'Do I need to consult my parents about this? I choose Allah and His Messenger, and the abode of the Hereafter.'"

Narrated 'Aishah: It was narrated that 'Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gave his wives the choice (of staying with him) was it divorce?"

Narrated 'Alqamah: It was narrated that 'Alqamah said: "I was with Ibn Mas'ud while he was with 'Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, and 'Uthman said: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to some fityah (young men)--Abu 'AbdurRahman said, 'I did not understand (the word) fityah as I would want'-- and said: 'Whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity, and whoever cannot, then fasting will be a restraint (wija') for him.'"

Narrated 'Alqamah: It was narrated from 'Alqamah and Al-Aswad that 'Abdullah said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to us: 'Whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, and whoever cannot then he should fast, for it will be a restraint (wija') for him.'" Abu Abdur-Rahman said: (The mention of) Al-Aswad in this hadith is not preserved.

Narrated 'Abdullah: It was narrated that 'Abdullah said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to us: 'O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity, and whoever cannot then he should fast, for it will be a restraint (wija') for him.'"

Narrated 'Alqamah: It was narrated that 'Alqamah said: "I was walking with 'Abdullah in Mina and he was met by 'Uthman who stood with him and spoke with him. He said: 'O Abu Abdur-Rahman! Shall I not marry you to a young girl? Perhaps she will remind you of when you were younger?' 'Abdullah said: 'As you say that (it reminds me that) the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to us: O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married.'"

Narrated Samurah bin Jundab: It was narrated from Samurah bin Jundab that the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade celibacy. Abu Abdur-Rahman said: Qatadah is more reliable and better preserves narrations than Ash'ath but the hadith of Ash'ath (here) appears to be the correct one. Allah, Most High, knows best.

Narrated Abu Salamah: It was narrated from Abu Salamah that Abu Hurairah said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I am a young man and I fear hardship for myself, but I cannot afford to marry; should I castrate myself?'" The Prophet (ﷺ) turned away from him until he said it three times. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "O Abu Hurairah, the pen is dried concerning what you are going to face, so (it is up to you whether) you castrate yourself or not." Abu Abdur-Rahman (An-Nasai) said: Al-Awzai did not hear this narration from Az-Zuhri, and this hadith is sahih, Yunus reported it from Az-Zuhri.

Narrated Sa'd bin Hisham: It was narrated from Sa'd bin Hisham that he came to the Mother of the Believers, 'Aishah. He said: "I want to ask you about celibacy, what do you think about it?" She said: "Do not do that; have you not heard that Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, says: 'And indeed We sent Messengers before you, and made for them wives and offspring'? So do not be celibate."

Narrated 'Aishah: It was narrated from 'Aishah that Abu Hudhaifah bin 'Utbah bin Rabi'ah bin 'Abd Shams --who was one of those who had been present at Badr with the Messenger of Allah-- adopted Salim and married him to his brother's daughter, Hind bint Al-Walid bin 'Utbah bin Rabi'ah bin 'Abd Shams, and he was a freed slave of an Ansari woman --as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had adopted Zaid. During the Jahiliyyah, if a man adopted someone, the people would call him his son, and he would inherit from his legacy, until Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, revealed about that: 'Call them by (the names of) their fathers, that is more just with Allah. But if you know not their fathers' (names, call them) your brothers in Faith and Mawalikum (your freed slaves)." Then if a person's father's name was not known, he would be their freed slave and brother in faith.

Narrated 'Aishah: It was narrated from 'Aishah the wife of the Prophet, and Umm Salamah the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ) that Abu Hudhaifah bin 'Utbah bin Rabi'ah bin Abd Shams --who was one of those who had been present at Badr with the Messenger of Allah-- adopted Salim --who was the freed slave of an Ansari woman-- as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had adopted Zaid bin Harithah. Abu Hudhaifah bin 'Utbah married Salim to his brother's daughter Hind bint Al-Walid bin 'Utbah bin Rabi'ah. Hind bint Al-Walid bin 'Utbah was one of the first Muhajir women, and at that time she was one of the best single women of the Quraish. When Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, revealed the following concerning Zaid bin Harithah: "Call them by (the names of) their fathers, that is more just with Allah. But if you know not their fathers' (names, call them) your brothers in Faith and Mawalikum (your freed slaves).' Each of them went back to being called after his father, and if a person's father was unknown, he was named after his former masters.

Narrated Ibn Buraidah: It was narrated from Ibn Buraidah that his father said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The nobility of the people of this world, that which they (always) go to, is wealth.'"

Narrated Jabir: It was narrated from Jabir that he married a woman at the time of the Messenger of Allah, and the Prophet (ﷺ) met him and said: "Have you got married, O Jabir?" He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'A virgin or a previously-married woman?' I said: 'A previously-married woman.' He said: 'Why not a virgin who would play with you?' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I have sisters, and I did not want her to come between them and I.' He said: 'That's better then. A woman may be married for her religious commitment, her wealth or her beauty. You should choose the one who is religiously committed, may your hands be rubbed with dust (may you prosper).'"

Narrated Ma'qil bin Yasar: It was narrated that Ma'qil bin Yasar said: "A man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: 'I have found a woman who is from a good family and of good status, but she does not bear children, should I marry her?' He told him not to. Then he came to him a second time and he told him not to (marry her). Then he came to him a third time and he told him not to (marry her), then he said: 'Marry the one who is fertile and loving, for I will boast of your great numbers.'"

Narrated 'Amr bin Shu'aib: It was narrated from 'Amr bin Shu'aib, from his father, from his grandfather, that Marthad bin Abi Marthad Al-Ghanawi --a strong man who used to take the prisoners from Makkah to Al-Madinah-- said: "I arranged with a man to bring him (from Makkah to Al-Madinah). There was a prostitute in Makkah who was called 'Anaq, and she was his friend. She came out and saw my shadow on the wall, and said: 'Who is this? Marthad? Welcome, O Marthad, come tonight and stay at our place.' I said: 'O 'Anaq, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has forbidden adultery.' She said: 'O people of the tents, this porcupine is the one who is taking your prisoners from Makkah to Al-Madinah!' I headed toward (the mountain of) Al-Khandamah, and eight men came after me. They came and stood over my head, and they urinated, and their urine reached me, but Allah caused them not to see me. Then I went to my companion (the prisoner) and brought him to Al-Arak, where I undid his fetters. Then I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, shall I marry 'Anaq?' He remained silent and did not answer me, then the following was revealed: 'And the adulteress-fornicator, none marries her except an adulterer-fornicator or an idolater.' He called me and recited them to me and said: 'Do not marry her.'"

Narrated 'Amir bin Shurahbil Ash-Sha'bi: 'Amir bin Shurahbil Ash-Sha'bi narrated that he heard Fatimah bint Qais--who was one of the first Muhajir women-- say: 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf proposed marriage to me, along with others of the Companions of Muhammad. And the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) proposed that I marry his freed slave, Usamah bin Zaid. I was told that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said: 'Whoever loves me, let him love Usamah.' When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) spoke to me I said: 'My affairs are in your hands; marry me to whomever you wish.' He said: 'Go to Umm Sharik.' Umm Sharik was a rich Ansari woman who used to spend a great deal in the cause of Allah, and she always had a lot of guests. I said: 'I will do that.' He said: 'Do not do that, for Umm Sharik has a lot of guests, and I would not like your Khimar to fall off, or your shins to become uncovered, and the people to see something of you that you do not want them to see. Rather go to your cousin (son of your paternal uncle) 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Umm Maktum, who is a man of Banu Fihr.' So I went to him."

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "None of you should propose marriage to a woman when someone else has already proposed to her, unless he marries (and he gives up the idea), or gives him permission."

It was narrated that 'Umar said: "Hafsah bint 'Umar became single when (her husband) Khunais -meaning bin Hudhafah- (died). He was one of the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) who had been present at Badr, and he died in Al-Madinah. I met 'Uthman bin 'Affan and offered Hafsah in marriage to him. I said: 'If you wish, I will marry you to Hafsah.' He said: 'I will think about it.' A few days passed, then I met him and he said: 'I do not want to get married at the moment.'" 'Umar said: "Then I met Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, and said: 'If you wish, I will marry Hafsah to you.' He did not give me any answer, and I felt more upset with him than I had with 'Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him. Several days passed, then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) proposed marriage to her, and I married her to him. Abu Bakr met me and said: 'Perhaps you felt upset with me when you offered Hafsah in marriage to me and I did not give you an answer?' I said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Nothing prevented me from giving you an answer when you made the offer to me except the fact that I had heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) speak of her, and I did not want to disclose the secret of the Messenger of Allah; if he had left her, then I would have married her.'"

It was narrated that Jabir bin 'Abdullah said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach his Companions to perform Istikharah in all matters, just as he used to teach them Surahs from the Qur'an. He said: 'If any one of you is deliberating about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two Rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, then say: Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi 'ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika wa as'aluka min fadlika, fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allam al-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa aqibati amri faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fihi. Allahumma, wa in kunta ta'lamu annahu sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu waqdur li al-khayr haythu kana, thumma radini bihi. (O Allah, I seek Your guidance (in making a choice) by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, this matter (then it should be mentioned by name) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs (or: both in this world and in the Hereafter), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs (or: for me both in this world and the next), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it.)"