The World Federation One Stop Fiqh
Search
Menu

Ask an Alim

Why is mastrubration haram in islam. I believe it stops you from zina nowdays. Is there any hadees e nabwi or quranic verse clearly mentioning it as haram?

Q:

Why is mastrubration haram in islam. I believe it stops you from zina nowdays. Is there any hadees e nabwi or quranic verse ckearly mentioning it as haram?
If a person isn’t feeling well due to high labido or it is causing discomfort then is it allowed
( Person can’t get married for a while due to some reasons)

A:

As-salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

thanks for your question

First there are many Wajibs and Harams that we don’t know the reason for them, yet we must do them or avoid from them, like the reason for 5 times prayer daily etc. we do that because we accepted ISLAM and we know that ALLAH swt knows the best for our guidance.so we obey his orders and our personal thoughts shouldn’t affect our obedience.

Second, actually Quran and prophet commands us to avoid it.

Allah swt in surah Al-Mu’minun (5-8) and Al-Ma’arij (29-31) says:

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

 

Here the verses are clear in forbidding all sexual acts (including masturbation) except for the wives or what they possesses. {And whoever seeks beyond that is the transgressor.}

About those who can’t get married Quran says:

{And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allah enriches them of His bounty.} (Al-Nur 24:33)

 

This verse also clearly orders whoever does not have the financial means to marry to keep himself chaste and be patient in facing temptations (including masturbation) until Allah enriches them of His bounty.

 

In Hadith (there are many ahadith on this topic but here we mention a few from prophet sawa):

 

Prophet sawa said “who marries with his hand is cursed and out of Allah’s mercy.”

mustadrak al wasail, V.14, p356

 

Clearly the “cursed and out of Allah’s mercy” shows that this action is a sin and Haram.

 

‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ud said, “We were with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while we were young and had no wealth whatsoever. Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) 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.’” (Al-Bukhari 5066)

 

The hadith orders men who are not able to marry to fast despite the hardship encountered in doing so, and not to masturbate despite the ease with which it can be done.

 

 regards

Sheikh Mahdi Mosayyebi