Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

assalamu alaikum

i am 28yrs old..insha allah my marriage will be on next year.past few years i did masterbation..in recently my friend says in islam masterbation is haram...pls clarify its haram or makrooh

i hope u clear my doubts

allah hafiz

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Masturbation makrooh or haraam

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: recently my friend says in islam masterbation is haram...

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 33:

33 (O Prophet (saws)) Say: ‘The things that my Lord hath indeed forbidden (declared haraam) are: shameful deeds whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah for which He hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have no knowledge.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 90:

90 Allah commands justice the doing of good and liberality to kith and kin and He forbids (declares haraam) all shameful deeds, and injustice, and rebellion: He instructs you that ye may receive admonition.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 151:

151 (O Prophet (saws)) Say: "Come I will rehearse what Allah hath (really) prohibited you from": join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents: kill not your children on a plea of want; We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not nigh to shameful deeds whether open or secret; take not life which Allah hath made sacred except by way of justice and law: thus doth He command you that ye may learn wisdom.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verses 32:

32 Nor come close to or even approach ‘zina’: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil opening the road (to other evils)!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 53 Surah Najm verses 31-32:

31 Yea to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth; so that He rewards those who do evil according to their deeds and He rewards those who do good with what is best.

32 Those who avoid great sins and shameful deeds, Only (falling into) small faults--verily thy Lord is ample in forgiveness. He knows you well when He brings you out of the earth and when ye are hidden in your mother's wombs therefore justify not yourselves. He knows best who it is that guards against evil.

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, although the evil and abhorred act of masturbation is not mentioned by name, each and every act of ‘fahisha’ or shameful or indecent deeds are absolutely prohibited and declared haraam in Islam. Without an iota of a doubt, the evil and abhorred act of masturbation is an act of ‘fahisha’, and every ‘fahisha’, shameful and indecent deed is declared ‘haraam’ and absolutely prohibited by Allah Subhanah for His believers.

Your Question: pls clarify its haram or makroohi hope u clear my doubts

‘Makrooh’ in Islamic terminology means something that is absolutely despised, hated and abhorred in the Sight of Allah Subhanah, the Lord of the Worlds. Some people falsely assume that it is fine to do or indulge in something which is ‘makrooh’ as long as it is not specified as ‘haraam’ by Allah and His Messenger (saws), whereas nothing could be further to the Truth! If one reads, understands and comprehends the list of deeds which Allah Subhanah has Himself listed as ‘makrooh’ in His Sight and Law, one would be able to comprehend what it really means for a thing to be ‘makrooh’!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verses 23-38:

23 Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life say not to them a word of contempt nor repel them but address them in terms of honor.

24 And out of kindness lower to them the wing of humility and say: "My Lord! bestow on them Thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood."

25 Your Lord knoweth best what is in your hearts: if ye do deeds of righteousness verily He is Most Forgiving to those who turn to Him again and again (in true penitence).

26 And render to the kindred their due rights as (also) to those in want and to the wayfarer: but squander not (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift.

27 Verily spendthrifts are brothers of the Evil Ones; and the Evil One is to his Lord (Himself) ungrateful.

28 And even if thou hast to turn away from them in pursuit of the Mercy from thy Lord which thou dost expect yet speak to them a word of easy kindness.

29 Make not thy hand tied (like a niggard's) to thy neck nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach so that thou become blameworthy and destitute.

30 Verily thy Lord doth provide sustenance in abundance for whom He pleaseth and He provideth in a just measure: for He doth know and regard all His servants.

31 Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you: verily the killing of them is a great sin.

32 Nor come close to or even approach ‘zina’: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil opening the road (to other evils).

33 Nor take life which Allah has made sacred except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully We have given his heir authority (to demand Qisas or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life: for he is helped (by the Law).

34 Come not nigh to the orphan's property except to improve it until he attains the age of full strength; and fulfil (every) engagement for (every) engagement will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning).

35 Give full measure when ye measure and weigh with a balance that is straight: that is the most fitting and the most advantageous in the final determination.

36 And pursue not that of which thou hast no knowledge; for every act of hearing or of seeing or of (feeling in) the heart will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning).

37 Nor walk on the earth with insolence: for thou canst not rend the earth asunder nor reach the mountains in height.

38 Of ALL such things the evil is ‘MAKROOH’ (absolutely hateful) in the Sight of thy Lord.

• To associate any god with Allah is ‘Makrooh’ in the Sight of Allah!
• To be undutiful to one’s parents is ‘Makrooh’ in the Sight of Allah!
• To spend one’s wealth like a spendthrift is ‘Makrooh’ in the Sight of Allah!
• To be niggardly and miserly with one’s wealth is ‘Makrooh’ in the Sight of Allah!
• To kill one’s children is ‘Makrooh’ in the Sight of Allah!
• To come even near or approach any thing or path that leads to the evil of ‘zina’ is ‘Makrooh’ in the Sight of Allah!
• To kill or murder someone intentionally without right is ‘Makrooh’ in the Sight of Allah!
• To unjustly usurp the property of orphans is ‘Makrooh’ in the Sight of Allah!
• To cheat or be dishonest when measuring or weighing or doing any transaction, is ‘Makrooh’ in the Sight of Allah!

In light of the guidance of the absolutely clear guidance of the Quran, if one even believes that the evil act of masturbation is ‘makrooh’, then just by studying the list of things which are ‘makrooh’ in the Sight of Allah, one should fear the enormity of their sin in the Sight of Allah their Lord and certainly abstain from coming even close to it!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan