Can a poor man get married?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “O Young men, those of you who can afford to get married should do so ...” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Being able to afford marriage in this narration means having the needed financial and sexual ability to get married.

Hence, if a Muslim man feels that he possesses the needed financial and sexual ability to get married, then he is able to marry and should get married. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, urges young Muslim men to get married; for it helps them to maintain their chastity, shields them against immorality, and helps them to hold on to obeying Allaah The Exalted. Furthermore, marriage helps in maintaining Muslim women’s chastity and implies increasing the number of Muslims via reproduction of children who would join the procession of the believers and the callers to Allaah the Exalted, if they were raised duly in the optimal environment.

Furthermore, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “There are three people whom Allaah will surely help: a warrior in the Cause of Allaah, a slave who wants to free himself by a payable contract and whoever seeks chastity by marriage.” [An-Nisaai’]

Muslim men should not succumb to weakness and give in to idleness. A Muslim should work hard to provide for himself and follow in the footsteps of our righteous predecessors who did not let poverty prevent them from striving to do righteous deeds, acquiring Islamic knowledge, reviving the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and enduring the hardships for achieving this.

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And whoever fears Allaah – He will make for him of his matter ease.} [Quran 65:4]

Moreover, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Marriage is my Sunnah and whoever refrains from my Sunnah does not belong to me.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Finally, we beseech Allaah The Exalted in supplication to help us to obey Him and follow the Sunnah of His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Allaah Knows best.