Get married if you can financially support yourself & your family ; Fast if you cannot get married ; Maintain moral values ; Lower your gaze ; Abstain from immoral activities

This hadith speaks about the importance of marriage and fasting in order to maintain chastity and lower one's gaze. It was narrated by 'Alqamah from 'Uthman that he asked Ibn Mas'ud if he wanted him to arrange for him to marry a young girl. In response, Ibn Mas'ud called upon Alqamah who then told them that Prophet Muhammad said “Whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity”. This means that marriage is encouraged for those who are able to financially support themselves and their families because it helps them stay away from immoral activities such as adultery or looking at inappropriate things with lustful eyes. For those who cannot afford marriage due to financial constraints or other reasons, fasting has been prescribed as an alternative form of restraint which will help them stay away from such activities. Therefore this hadith teaches us about the importance of both marriage and fasting in order to maintain our moral values in society.