Islam and masturbation
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- This is a sub-article of Sexuality in Islam and masturbation.
Istimna (استمناء) is the Arabic term for masturbation.
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[edit] Overview
Istimna (استمناء) is the Arabic term for masturbation. Masturbation may only be done in fear of committing adultery, nor is it preferred (either getting married and fasting is suggested as alternatives from hadith). It is totally forbidden in the Shi'a sect, but the four Sunni schools of jurisprudence (known as Madhaahib - the Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki and Hambali schools of Fiqh) have differing stances on the issue. Some consider it forbidden in all cases. Some see it forbidden in certain cases but obligatory in others. Another view is that it is Makruh but not expressly forbidden. Scholars of Islam do not approve of masturbation, except in extenuating circumstances. There is a statement in Quran "And those who guard their chastity, Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess,- for then, they are free from blame; But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are transgressors."
In Islam, sexual engagement outside of marriage (and outside of slaves the right-hand possesses) is a major sin, which cause the doer to be punished in this life and the Qiyama. Yet if one's desire is so overwhelming one might perform a greater wrong by having sex outside marriage, masturbation becomes permissible as a necessity but in that case it will be like eating the flesh of pig when no other food is available. So Quran says "And those who are not married should try to live in chastity, until God enriches them with His Grace" (Qur'an, 24:33)
Beliefs and practices vary, it is not, however, in any case a sin for which there is a prescribed punishment.
[edit] Haram
At least one Islamic legal tradition forbids masturbation on the authority of an Ayah of the Holy Quran which indicates that those who seek sexual gratification from other than their legal sexual partners are transgressing set limits. This is interpreted to refer not only to adultery but to masturbation as well.
Interpretations of this saying have stated that were masturbation permissible, Muhammad would have named this as a remedy for sexual frustration rather than the more difficult act of fasting, as Islamic traditions have taken seriously the belief that hardship is not sought for believers.
Those of the view that it is Haram:
- Malik ibn Anas [1]
- Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi`i [1]
- Abu Hanifa an-Nu‘man [1]
- Ibn Kathir [1]
- Al-Qurtubi [1]
Some have quoted one (1) narration from Ahmad ibn Hanbal [1]
Ali al-Sistani, a 21st century Shi'a Twelver Islamic scholar[2] on the question "If my wife wants me to masturbate in front of her, is it then allowed?":
| You are not allowed to excite yourself with your own hands, but you can do it [to] your wife. |
On the question "What does Islam say about masturbation? If a man is doing this what type of punishment will he deserve and how can he do\ get Tawbah?"[2]:
| He has committed a forbidden act. Repentance would be sufficient for forgiveness. |
And on the question "When I am unable to do Muta’h (temporary marriage), am I allowed to masturbate?"[2]:
| Masturbation is not permissible under any circumstances. |
[edit] Qur'an
| And who guard their private parts, Except before their mates or those whom their right hands possess, for they surely are not blameable,— translated by M. H. Shakir
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Ibn Kathir, a 14th century Sunni Islamic scholar that Imaam Shaafi'i and those who have agreed with him have concluded that masturbation is Haram from the above verse. He says [1]:
- Masturbation is excluded from these two types which Allah has made Halaal, viz. wives and slave-girls.
| And let those who do not find the means to marry keep chaste until Allah makes them free from want out of His grace...— translated by M. H. Shakir
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Al-Qurtubi, a 13th century Sunni Islamic scholar in the exegis of this verse [1]:
| And when Allah Taãla has not determined any order between Nikah and chastity, then this shows that besides these two, everything else is Haraam. However, this Hurmat (unlawfulness) does not include slave-girls because another command of the Qurãn makes them Mubaah (permissible), viz. 'That which the right-hands earn (i.e. slave-girls).' Hence, in this manner an addition of slave-girl has come. Masturbation, however still remains Haram. |
| And those who guard their private parts, Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely are not to be blamed, But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits--— translated by M. H. Shakir
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Under the exegis of this verse, Qadi Thanaullah Panipati writes [1]:
- Imam Baghawi has deduced from this Aayat that masturbation is Haram.
[edit] Hadith
Some hadith that are quoted to in support of masturbation being haram include:
A narration reports:
| We were with the Prophet while we were young and had no wealth whatsoever. The Prophet said: "O assembly of youths; whoever among you possesses the physical and financial resources to marry should do so, because it helps him guard his modesty, and whoever is unable to marry should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power." |
Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari includes [1]:
A narration attributed to Abd-Allah ibn Mas'ud reports:
| Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, 'O group of youth! Whoever from among you can marry should do so because it keeps the gaze low and it protects the private parts. And he who cannot marry should make it compulsory upon himself to fast because it breaks lust.' |
Ibn Kathir has wrote in volume vol. 5 p. 458 [1]:
A narration attributed to Hasan ibn Arfah reports:
Nabi (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, 'Seven persons are such that Allah will not look at them on the Day of Qiyaamat nor will He purify them nor will He include them among the learned and Allah will enter them into Jahannam. They will enter Jahannam first except for those who repent. As those who repent Allah will accept their repentance.
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Other quoted material include from Tafsir al-Mazhari vol. 12 p. 94[1]:
A narration attributed to Anas ibn Malik reports:
| Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, 'The person who performs Nikah with his hands (i.e. masturbates) is cursed. |
Quoted from those after the Sahaba
A narration attributed to Sa'id ibn Jubayr reports:
| Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, 'Allah Taãla will inflict a punishment on a group of people because they played with their private parts.' |
A narration attributed to Ata ibn Abi Rabah reports:
| Some people will be resurrected in such a condition that their hands will be pregnant, I think they are those who masturbate. |
[edit] Halal
Still, some legal schools of thought -- while agreeing that masturbation is essentially forbidden or at the very least extremely disliked -- allow for its permissibility through a legal principle of necessity, designating it as a last resort for unmarried individuals attempting to avoid succumbing to the greater sin of adultery.
Ibn al-Qayyim, a 14th century Sunni Islamic scholar [3]:
| Ibn 'Aqeel, and many of our scholars, and our Shaykh (Ibn Taymiyya) have ruled that masturbation is makruh (disliked), and never explicitly said he that it was haram. |
He then presents his own discussion on the conditions that make masturbation halaal [3]:
| If a man is torn between continued desire or releasing it, and if this man does not have a wife or he has a slave-girl but he does not marry, then if a man is overwhelmed by desire, and he fears that he will suffer because of this (someone like a prisoner, or a traveller, or a pauper), then it is permissible for him to masturbate, and Ahmad (ibn Hanbal) is explicit on this. Furthermore, it is narrated that the Companions of the Prophet (s) used to masturbate while they were on military expeditions or travelling...
If a woman does not have a husband, and her lust becomes strong, then some of our scholars say: It is permissible for the woman to take an akranbij, which is a piece of leather worked until it becomes shaped like a penis, and insert it in herself. She may also use a cucumber. |
Masturbation, like any form of sex in which seminal or vaginal fluids have been released, breaks one's fast if performed during the daylight hours and requires a major ablution if any seminal or vaginal fluids were released.
According to Sheikh Hamed Al-Ali [citation needed]:
| Masturbation during the daytime of Ramadan breaks the fast, based on the Hadith that a fasting Muslim gives up eating, drinking, and sexual desire for the sake of Allah. Since masturbation is a kind of sexual desire, a fasting Muslim must avoid it. Therefore, masturbation invalidates the fast as does food and as it is one of the sins that if someone does it he or she would be violating the sanctity of this month." |
