Should marriage be given priority over settling debts?`

If a person owes money, but at present he cannot pay it off, and he intends to pay it off as soon as he is able to do so, noting that the people to whom he owes that money are not in the same city as he is – if he gets some money and he fears that he may fall into temptation, and he wants to get married, can he give priority to marriage instead of paying off his debts?.

Praise be to Allaah.

He should give priority to paying off his debts before he gets married, unless the people to whom he owes money give him permission to give priority to marriage, in which case he is permitted to do that. 

With regard to his fears of falling into temptation, he has to fast in order to protect himself, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, because that is more effective in guarding one’s chastity and lowering one’s gaze. Whoever cannot afford it, let him fast, for that will be a shield for him.” Agreed upon. 

And Allaah is the Source of strength.