Islamic Ruling on Masturbation

Introduction

I have not been asked to write down any thing about this topic by anyone, because many people already know that masturbation is haraam (prohibited) in Islam. Still, it is the misconception of some youth that it keeps them away for rape, adultery, etc.

Evidence from Qur'an and Hadith

Here I will briefly discuss the evidence from the Qur'an and Hadith that proves masturbation to be Haraam (unlawful). 

Masturbation for men and women, both, is unlawful in Islam. 

Evidence from the Qur'an:

In the Holy Qur'an, Allah has said concerning the true Believers in Surah Al-Muminun (THE BELIEVERS - Surah 23):

And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts). Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, - for them, they are free from blame. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors.

(Verses 5-7)

Here, Allah has clearly explained us every thing we want to know. The believers can only have sex with those whom they possess legally, other than that, going beyond this is a sin. Going beyond this would include pornographic movies, pornographic photos, masturbation, etc.

Secondly, Allah has said in the Qur'an, in Surah 24:

And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allah enriches them of His bounty.

(Verse 23)

Once again, Allah has clearly explained to us that be chaste if you can't marry and wait until Allah gives you of His bounty. Had their been another way, Allah would have told us about masturbation, but Allah has told us to be among those who have patience.

Evidence from the Hadith:

The ahaadith (singular: hadith) (narrations about what our great Prophet Muhammad ), make it even more clearer: Masturbation is completely haraam.

Abdullaah ibn Mas’ud said, "We were with the Prophet while we were young and had no wealth whatsoever. So Allah's Messenger said, "O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse etc.), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power."

90% of people masturbate when they can't have sex. Or else, who needs to masturbate? If you can have sex with your wife, then there is no need to masturbate. But if you don't have a wife and especially when you're not allowed to commit illegal sex, and when you are tempted, then this is the spot where you would most probably start masturbating. In the Hadith quoted above, the Prophet said that to avoid temptation don't masturbate, but fast. Had masturbation been lawful in Islam then the Prophet (peace be upon him) would have recommended it at this point, because masturbation is a lot more easy to do then to fast.

Answer to the Youth which regards Masturbation as Halaal (lawful) as it keeps them away from illicit relations, adultery, rape, homosexuality, etc

Such young people obviously say the wrong thing. 

Masturbation will indeed keep you away from these things temporarily, but it will also:

1. give you a sin to be written in your record. Remember that one day you will have to face your Lord and answer for it. Will you say: "It kept me away from illegal sexual acts" whereas Allah's Prophet had already told you about fasting?

2. will make you more sinful and wicked. It will make you watch women with bad intentions.

3. be able to make you a Homosexual or a lesbian. When you won't have any one to have sex with, you may ask someone else of your own gender to have sex with you. This may well seem ridiculous, but I know that some addicts to masturbation do this and they testify to it as well.

4. spoil your health if you masturbate regularly.

5. make your mind obsessed with sex. Once this starts, all day you will be thinking about sex and women, and nothing else. And once when this starts, your chances of committing rape, illegal sex, sodomy, etc will increase all the more.

6. push you to watch more and more pornographic web sites and movies. Why? Because when you masturbate you won't have any one to have sex with, and in a lot of cases, people start watching the obscene web sites and movies.

7. make you masturbate again after watching the obscene movies and web sites, because they will tempt you.

8. make your second nature to be sinful (masturbation). Once if you are addicted, it will be hard and extremely difficult for you to live without it.

9. make you a very indecent, and immodest personality.

10. make your character fall in your own eyes, if you believe in something that is called "self-respect."

11. Take you away from Allah's mercy.

And a lot more. I know that those who say that masturbation is a shield that can be used to guard one's own self, are usually who have just started masturbation and masturbate rarely. These people don't know that it will eventually lead them to all the points mentioned above... and even more.

Conclusion

Masturbation is unlawful in Islam and it does not keep anyone away from other illegal sexual acts. In fact, masturbation is itself an illegal act!

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