Fatwa: 284
Category: Miscellaneous Fatwas
The ruling regarding masturbation
The question:
What is the ruling regarding masturbation?
The answer:
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.
As a rule, practicing masturbation, as regards the damage that may attain the masturbator’s body and health, is illicit, especially if it is frequent, because the Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم said, “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm”(1).
However, if it is medically affirmed that keeping the sperm in the man’s organ damages him, if he does not discharge it with masturbation, it is then allowed for him to resort to it to remove harm and preserve himself, but he should not do it out of pleasure. Whereas, “If there is ease, the restriction comes back”.
Having said this, some of the Pious Predecessors authorize the person who fears to commit fornication to soothe himself by masturbation; this is after alleviating his desire by getting married, so that to be chaste. If it is not possible [for him to get married], he should then observe fasting, because the Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم said, “O young men ! Whoever among you can afford to marry, should marry, because it helps him refrain his sight from looking at other women, and guard his private parts from committing adultery; and whoever cannot afford to marry, should fast, because fasting diminishes his sexual power”(2).
As for the meaning of the following verse:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ. إِلاَّ عَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ. فَمَنِ ابْتَغَى وَرَاءَ ذَلِكَ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ﴾ [المؤمنون: 5-7].
The meaning of the verse:
﴾And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts), except from their wives or (the slaves) that their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame, but whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors﴿ [Al-Mu'minûn (The Believers): 5-6-7]; apparently, it concerns sexes, .i.e. those who desire the sexes of the other women than the sex of their wives or slave girls. Then, these are the transgressors. This opinion is the choice of At-Tabari, mentioned in his exegesis, of Ash-Shawkâni and others.
The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah عزَّ وجلَّ. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم, his Family, his Companions and Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.
Algiers, Sha`bân 9th, 1426
Corresponding to: September 13th, 2005
(1) Reported by Ibn Mâjah, chapter of “Judgments” (hadith 2430), Ahmad (hadith 23462) and Al-Bayhaqi (hadith 12224) from the hadith of `Ubâda Ibn As-Sâmit رضي الله عنه. This hadith is judged authentic by Al-Albâni in “Al-Irwâ'” (896), in “As-Silsila As-Sahîha” (250) and “In Ghayat Al-Marâm” (254).
(2) Reported by Al-Bukhâri, chapter of “Fasting” (hadith 1905), Muslim, chapter of “Marriage” (hadith 3464), Abu Dâwûd, chapter of “Marriage” (hadith 2048), At-Tirmidhi, chapter of “Marriage” (hadith 1103) and An-Nassâ'i, chapter of “Fasting” (hadith ) on the authority of `Abd Allâh Ibn Mass`ûd رضي الله عنه.