My brother is well off in life right now, but he refuses to get married, even though all of us want him to marry. He is practising Islam. Therefore, could you please send us some information about the importance of marriage in Islam and fallacy of staying away from the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammed (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam)?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Know that marriage becomes an obligation if a person fears committing something prohibited because he is required to keep himself away from doing anything forbidden.

On the other hand, the marriage is recommendable if the Muslim does not fear committing something forbidden. But one is not permitted to marry if he has no sex desire or his penis is cut. Such a marriage harms a wife and does not protect her chastity.

Know that it is better for one to marry as long as he can afford it, since there are many Ahadeeth that support such a viewpoint.

The Prophet said: “(Oh Muslims!) Marry, then, I will be proud of being the largest in number among nations, and do not follow the monastic life of Christians.” [Al-Bayhaqi on the authority of Abu Umamah]

Another Hadeeth reads: “Marry even with an iron ring.” [Al-Bukhari on the authority of Sahl Ibn Sa'd.]

Ibn Masoud said: “If I knew that I will die on the tenth day of the last ten days of my life and I can afford marriage, I will marry since I fear temptation.”

Ibn 'Abbaas said to Sa'eed ibn Jubayr: “Marry, for the best people of the Muslim Ummah are those who have the largest number of wives.” [Al-Bukhari and Ahmad]

Imam Ahmad said: “Celibacy is not part of Islam.”

The Prophet's Companions were craving marriage which is from amongst the best deeds.

You know that marriage is better than celibacy since marriage is more beneficial than celibacy. Marriage helps one keep to one's adherence to Islam and to guard the woman's chastity. It is also the natural channel for progeny that the Prophet urged on as for the sake of being the largest nation in number and followers. So, we advise our brother who refrains from marriage, without a genuine reason, to hurry to marriage since this is the Sunnah of Allah's Prophet who said: “Whoever dislikes to follow my Sunnah (way and practice of life) is not one from among my followers.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Allah knows best.