Islam and masturbation

Istimna (استمناء) is the Arabic term for masturbation.

Schools of thought

Further information: Sexuality in Islam

There are varying opinions on its permissibility. Many scholars have a lesser opinion on the permissibility of masturbation. However, according to the true beliefs of Islam, it is impermissible and therefore haram for any person to do so as it is a sexual action. All forms of sexual activity is forbidden in Islam, except a sexual intercourse between a husband and wife. According to alDin Tarbiyyah it is permissible if done out of necessity. According to Ahmed ibn Hanbal, it is permissible for prisoners, travellers and for men and women who have difficulty in finding a lawful spouse. It is forbidden in the Twelver school of the Shi'a denomination of Islam and all of its associated subdivisions. It is considered haram according to the Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali schools of fiqh - the Sunni schools of jurisprudence known as madh'hab. The Hanafi school has a more permissive outlook. Various hadiths concluding it being halal including the following:

Ibn al-Qayyim, a 14th century Sunni Islamic scholar:

Ibn Aqil said : and many of our scholars have ruled that masturbation is makruh (disliked), and never explicitly said he that it was haram.

Next, he cites the opinion of Ibn Aqil on the conditions that make masturbation halaal:

If a man is torn between continued desire or releasing it, and if this man does not have a wife, and he fears that he will suffer because of this (someone like a prisoner, or a traveler, or a pauper), then it is permissible for him to masturbate, and Ahmad (ibn Hanbal) is explicit on this.

And afterwards, Ibn al-Qayyim said:

And the right (correct) for me is that it is illegal, because the Prophet (Peace be upon him) guided one who had a desire, and could not marry, to the fast ...

Those of the view that it is haraam:

• Malik ibn Anas
• Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi`i
• Abu Hanifa an-Nu‘man
• Ibn Kathir
• Al-Qurtubi
• Shi'a

Some have quoted one (1) narration from Ahmad ibn Hanbal.

Qur'an

The Quran itself is silent on the subject of masturbation, however many scholars have quoted certain ayats that they claim states that masturbation is forbidden. Template:QuoteQuran-range

Ibn Omid Stanakzai, 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:

"Masturbation is excluded from these two types which Allah has made Halaal, viz. wives".

Under the exegis of this verse, Qadi Thanaullah Panipati writes:

"Imam Baghawi has deduced from this Aayat that masturbation is haram."

Hadith

Some hadith that are quoted to in support of masturbation being haram include: A hadith attributed to Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood reports:

We were with the Prophet while we were young and had no wealth whatsoever. So Allaah’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." Bukhari:5066.

However, Muhammad recommended fasting and did not mention masturbation.

Ibn Kathir wrote in volume 5 p. 458: A hadith 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.

1. A person who masturbates.
2. A person who performs the act of sodomy.
3. The person upon whom the act of sodomy is performed.
4. A perpetual drunkard.
5. The person who hits his parents so much that they appeal for help.
6. The person who harms his neighbors so much so that they curse him.
7. The person who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife.

It is worth pointing out that Ibn Kathir's works are an interpretative commentary and not a part of the Quran itself.

This is a Daeef(Weak) Hadith

Other quoted material include from Tafsir al-Mazhari vol. 12 p. 94: A hadith 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 hadith 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.'