[Q 648] Ruling on Remaining Unmarried

QUESTION:

if a man has desires and has financial means but he still wants to remain unmarried and he did not commit fornication
is it haram for him to stay unmarried?

ANSWER:

In the situation mentioned, it is Sunnah Muakkadah (emphasised Sunnah) for such a person to marry. Persisting in not marrying and remaining firm upon that is sinful, because when there is no fear of Zina (fornication) and a person has the ability to provide Mahr (dower) and Nafaqah (maintenance), he is considered to be in a state of I‘tidal (moderation/balance). For such a person, this is the ruling of Nikah (marriage).

It is mentioned in Durr al-Mukhtar:

“و) يكون (سنة) مؤكدة في الأصح فيأثم بتركه ويثاب إن نوى تحصينا وولدا (حال الاعتدال) أي القدرة على وطء ومهر ونفقة ورجح في النهر وجوبه للمواظبة عليه والإنكار على من رغب عنه”
(Durr al-Mukhtar ma‘a Radd al-Muhtar, Vol. 3, p. 7)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 8th June 2026.