We should do our best effort to protect youth from sin but are they ready for marriage? Yes. If they are ready for driving Daddy's car and voting, then they are ready for marriage. Would you say that the average 18 year old Muslim boy/girl is ready for responsibilities of marriage? If rightly brought up, why not? Or would throwing them into marriage force them to feel the weight of responsibility and stand up to it? Inshallah, it would. I really dont know. Fine we marry them off and take care of one of their problems, then what happens the following morning? Breakfast. I dont know what outweighs what and how the fuqaha make that distinction, I cant comment on that. It could solve many problems or be the cause of collapse of family structure. We don't need to think so much about following the way of the Salaf. It is abandoning their way that has brought us to where we are. 1400 years ago, an 18 year old man back then was able to command an entire army whereas an 18 year old man in this age can barely do his own laundry/manage his finances. We need to ask why and then correct it. Although this is not a universal phenomenon. I know people who have been working 14 hours a day since the age of 10. So why can't they marry at 20? Parents need to be little more proactive. A 16 year old, simply back in my grandparents age, a 16 year old girl could run an entire household. She won't have to run an entire household now. Just manage herself and her husband. 16 year old girls now are still busy with Barbie and Brittney Spears. Who gave the Barbie and Britney to the girl? It does solve a major problem and could be means to save many people from sin. I just dont know how well it could be sustained. The Sunna is perennially sustainable, the Umma need not worry how. Personally I think each case should be handled individually. Sounds like Malaria.