Marriage Comes First

Question:
A common costume among the people nowadays is for a woman or her father to refuse a man's proposal so that she may finish high school, college or some specific amount of studying. What is the ruling concerning that? What is your advice for those who fall into that trap? Sometimes, the woman reaches the age of thirty or more and she has yet to get married!

Response:
My advice to all young men and young women is to get married quickly if the means to it are made possible for you. This is because the Prophet (pbuh) has said,
"O youthful people, if any of you have the means to, he should get married, as it lowers the eyesight and protects the private parts. Those who have not the ability to do so should fast, as it will be a shield for him."
This was recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim. The Prophet (pbuh) also said,
"If one whose religion and character pleases you propose to you, you should marry him. If you do not do so, there will be tribulations in the land and great evil."
This was recorded by al-Tirmidhi with a hasan chain. The Prophet (pbuh) also said,
"marry the child-bearing, loving woman for I shall outnumber the people by you on the Day of Resurrection."
This was recorded by Ahmed and graded sahih by ibn Hibban. Therefore, there are many benefits to marriage which the Prophet (pbuh) alluded to, included to, including lowering the gaze, protecting the privet parts, increasing the numbers of the Muslim Nation and being saved from great evil and misfortune. May Allah grant to all what is best for their religion and worldly lives. He is All-Hearing, Close.

Sourse
Shaik ibn Baz

The Appropriate Age for Marriage

Question:
What is the appropriate age for men and women to marry? Some of the young ladies of today do not accept to be married to men older then them and also some of the men do not get married from anyone older then them either. We hope for a response, may Allah reward you.

Answer:
I advise the young ladies not to refuse a man because of his older age. Even if he be ten, twenty or thirty years older, this is not a valid excuse. The Prophet (pbuh) married Aisha when he was fifty years old and she was nine years old. Older age is not harmful. There is no problem if the women is older then the man and there is no problem if the man is older then the women. The Prophet (pbuh) married Khadijah when she was forty years old and he was twenty-five years old, before he received his first revelation. That is, she was fifteen years older then him (may Allah be pleased with her). And Aisha was married when she was a young lady of six or seven years and the Prophet (pbuh) consummated the marriage when she was nine years old and he was fifty-three years old. Many of those who talk on the radio or television and speak against having disparaging ages between husband and wife are wrong. It is not permissible for them to say such things. Instead, what must be done, is the women must look at the prospective husband and, if he be pious and appropriate, she must agree to him, even if he is older then her. Similarly, the man must try to marry a women who is pious and virtuous, even if she is older then him, especially if she is still less then midlife. In any case, age should not be taken as an excuse. It should also not be considered a shortcoming, as long as the man is pious or the woman is pious. May Allah make the affairs good for everyone.

Source:
Shaikh ibn Baz.