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:

Dear Burhan Bhai

Assalaamu alaikkum wr wb
Hope evrything is well with all of you. Jazak Allah Khair.
My question is a little detailed. Please bear with me.

I know about the hadiths where Prophet Muhammad SAWS has mentioned that if we can guarantee him what is between our jaws and what is between our legs, he will guarantee us paradise. Also, if we sincerely repent and ask for tauba from Allah we will forigiven since Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.
My question is about masturbation. I try my best to stay away from masturbation (im not into zina Alhamdulillah) as much as i can. Whenever i get aroused by anything (pics or women not dressed properly), i try my best not to look at them, but some days my Imaan is a little low and i just sit and look at them knowing the fact that what i`m doing is wrong. Inside i`ll be feeling bad but somehow i`m not able to resist, and after that in order to get off the continuous thoughts that keep bothering me wherever i go, i have to masturbate. Its only then that i come to my senses and then fall and ask forgiveness from Allah to keep Shaitan away from me who is making me do this and probably for a day or two i`m much better and then it`ll be real good those 2-3 days. but again after 2-3 days, it starts again and im not able to concentrate on my prayers also sometimes. i want to get rid of this by getting married, but nothing has come up yet.

I`ve heard that how many ever times (say 100 times) you ask forgiveness from Allah, Allah SWT forgives with the same level of mercy even the 100th time. BUT i`ve also heard that a person who keeps repeating the same same mistake again and again and again is considered one of the worst muslims. It`s contradicting. Please explain if its within your capacity. Also, please advise me if there is any strict rule against masturbating in the light of the Qur`an and the Hadith.

Jazak Allah Khairan
Your Muslim brother 

(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 and forgiveness again

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: Also, please advise me if there is any strict rule against masturbating in the light of the Qur`an and the Hadith.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 23 Surah Muminoon verses 1-11:

1 The Believers must (eventually) win through

2 Those who humble themselves in their prayers;

3 Who avoid vain talk;

4 Who are active in deeds of charity;

5 Who scrupulously guard their modesty (private parts),

6 Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess; for (in their case) they are free from blame.

7 But those whose desires exceed those limits, are transgressors!

8 Those who faithfully observe their trust and their covenants;

9 And who (strictly) guard their prayers

10 Those will be the heirs

11 Who will inherit Paradise: they will dwell therein (forever).

The scholars of all schools of thought are unanimous in their opinion that the evil act of ‘masturbation’ would, without an iota of a doubt, fall under the category of ‘those whose desires exceed the limits’; and thus this act is absolutely forbidden to all those who sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter24 Surah Noor verse 30:

O Prophet, enjoin the believing men to restrain their gaze, and guard their private parts. This is a more righteous way for them. Allah has knowledge of whatever they do.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verse 32:

Do not even go near ‘zina’ (fornication or adultery) for it is a very indecent thing and a very evil way!

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4886 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

That he heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say: ‘The eye commits ‘zina’, and the palm of the hand, the foot, the body, the tongue and private part of the body confirm it or deny it.’

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.260 Narrated by Ibn Abbas

I have not seen a thing resembling 'lamam' (minor sins) than what Abu Huraira narrated from the Prophet (saws) who said "Allah has written for the children of Adan their share of adultery which he commits inevitably. The adultery of the eyes is the sight (to gaze at a forbidden thing), the adultery of the tongue is the talk, and the inner self wishes and desires and the private parts testify all this or deny it."

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 36 Surah Ya-Seen verse 65:

65 That Day shall We set a seal on their mouths. But their hands will speak to Us and their feet bear witness to all that they did.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah Ha-Meem verses 19-23:

19 On the Day that the enemies of Allah will be gathered together to the Fire they will be marched in ranks.

20 At length when they reach the (Fire) their hearing, their sight, and their skins will bear witness against them as to (all) their deeds.

21 They will say to their skins: "Why bear ye witness against us?" They (their skins) will say: "Allah hath given us speech, (He) Who giveth speech to everything: He created you for the first time and unto Him were ye to return.

22 "Ye did not seek to hide yourselves lest your hearing, your sight, and your skins should bear witness against you! But ye did think that Allah knew not many of the things that ye used to do!

23 "But this thought of yours which ye did entertain concerning your Lord hath brought you to destruction, and (now) have ye become of those utterly lost!"

Although in legal terminology ‘zina’ would constitute the actual penetration of the male organ into the female organ, the Messenger of Allah (saws) warned the believers regarding the minor ‘zina’ of the eyes, hands, legs, etc. Not only is the evil act of ‘zina’ prescribed as absolutely forbidden in Islam, every path or every way that leads one to this evil path is also declared as forbidden! Such is the gravity of this abomination of ‘zina’, that Allah Subhanah commands the believers in the Quran: ‘Do not even go near ‘zina’!!!

Thus if one intentionally sees and watches ‘fahisha’ (indecency), it would constitute ‘zina’ of the eyes; if one derives pleasure from talks of ‘fahisha’, it would constitute ‘zina’ of the ears and mouth, if one touches or goes towards something or someone with the intention of ‘fahisha’, it would constitute ‘zina’ of the hands and the legs! Although there is no prescribed punishment for the ‘zina’ of the eyes, mouth, ears, hands and feet in the life of this world, if one dies without seeking ‘taubah’ and repentance from their Lord, he will be held severely accountable for these acts of ‘minor’ zina in the Presence of their Majestic Lord in the Hereafter. The abomination of masturbation is a sin and an evil act, and the believers who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day must strive to absolutely abstain from this and all evil.

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

33 Say (O Prophet (saws)): ‘The things that my Lord hath indeed (absolutely) 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.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.4 Narrated by Abdullah

We were with the Prophet (saws) while we were young and had no wealth whatever. So Allah's Messenger (saws) 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."

Thus if one is unable to control his sexual desire, one should get married, rather than get involved in committing sins like masterbation and ‘zina’ (fornication or adultery). And if one is unable to marry, one should fast, as the Messenger of Allah (saws) says, that fasting reduces the person’s sexual desire, and thus help the believer to stay away from committing sin.

‘Fahesha’ or indecency is one of the strongest weapons of the accursed enemy of man, the Shaitaan; who has sworn to mislead and misguide mankind from the Straight Path of Allah Subhanah.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 268:

The Shaitaan threatens you with poverty and prompts you to adopt indecency (or acts of shamelessness). Allah promises you His Forgiveness and Bounties, and Allah cares for all, and He knows all things.

The only thing that can stop one from acts of indecency, or intentionally disobeying any command of Allah and His Messenger (saws); is the constant fear and consciousness that One Inevitable Day, everyone will be brought forth in the Presence of the All-Mighty Lord to give a full accounting of one’s deeds.

The first thing one needs to do, when he realizes that he has disobeyed any command of Allah and His Messenger (saws), is to immediately turn to the Merciful Lord and seek His Forgiveness and Pardon, and make a solemn covenant that he will not repeat the mistake again. When Shaitaan again tries to prompt the person to disobey the Merciful, the believers must immediately realize the play of Shaitaan, seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaitaan, remember the covenant he has made with His Lord, and abstain from doing any deed that will bring about the Wrath and Anger of Allah Subhanah.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verses 200-201:

200 If a suggestion from Shaitaan assail thy (mind), seek refuge with Allah; for He Heareth and Knoweth (all things).

201 Those who fear Allah, when a thought of evil from Shaitaan assaults them, bring Allah to remembrance; when lo! they see (aright)!

As soon as one feels the desire, or the avowed enemy of man, the Shaitaan suggests the person to transgress any of the boundaries of Allah Subhanah; the believers should immediately seek the refuge and protection of the All-Mighty Lord from the accursed Shaitaan by saying: “Aoodobillahe minas Shaitaan ar rajeem”. If the person is sincere in seeking refuge and protection, Allah Subhanah will protect him from the assaults of Shaitaan.

Some other things the believers may do as such a stage is do the ‘wudu’, offer prayers, or recite the 113^th and 114^th Surahs of the Quran (Surah Falaq and Surah Naas) and seek protection from the accursed Shaitaan.

The long-term remedy for keeping the Shaitaan at bay, is to constantly remember Allah Subhanah, seek and stay in the company of the righteous, recite the Quran, read good Islamic Books, listen to good Islamic cassettes and lectures, and strive to stay away from being in solitude.

If one is constantly in the face of non-mehram women, or if one regularly watches commercial television and movies, or regularly reads commercial magazines, etc. where ill-clad women are constantly portrayed; there is a greater chance the person will be swayed by the suggestions of Shaitaan towards ‘fahisah’ and indecency. If one strives to abstain from these devices of Shaitaan, and makes efforts to remain close to the Remembrance and Guidance of Allah Subhanah, he will be successful in muting the ploys of the Shaitaan.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 27:

O ye children of Adam! Let not Shaitaan seduce you in the same manner as he got your parents (Adam and Hawwa) out of the Garden, stripping them of their raiment to expose their shame: for he and his tribe watch you from a position where ye cannot see them: We made the ‘Shayateen’ friends (only) to those without faith.

Your Question: I`ve heard that how many ever times (say 100 times) you ask forgiveness from Allah, Allah SWT forgives with the same level of mercy even the 100th time. BUT i`ve also heard that a person who keeps repeating the same same mistake again and again and again is considered one of the worst muslims. It`s contradicting. Please explain if its within your capacity.

Hadith Qudsi 33

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘A servant [of Allah's] committed a sin and said: “O Allah, forgive me my sin.’ And He (Glorified and Exalted be He) said: “My servant has committed a sin and has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for them.” Then he sinned again and said: “O Lord, forgive me my sin.” And He (Glorified and Exalted be He) said: “My servant has committed a sin and has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for them.” Then he sinned again and said: “O Lord, forgive me my sin.” And He (Glorified and Exalted be He) said: “My servant has committed a sin and has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for sins. Do what you wish, for I have forgiven you.”

Without an iota of a doubt, if one who has sinned is indeed ashamed at his transgression, admits his sins to his Lord, and turns back to Him in sincere repentance seeking forgiveness from the Lord Most Gracious, it is expected he will find his Lord Merciful and Forgiving.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumur verses 53-54:

(O Prophet) say: “O My servants who have wronged their own souls….Do not despair of Allah’s Mercy! Surely, Allah forgives all sins. He indeed is the All Forgiving, All Merciful. Return to your Lord and submit to Him before the scourge overtakes you; for then you may get no help from anywhere.”

Beloved brother in Islam, such is the Mercy and Grace of the Lord Most Gracious on His believing slaves, that if one were to sin, turn back to Him seeking sincere repentance, and strive to do good righteous deeds thereafter….. the Magnanimity of our Lord Most Majestic is such that not only does the Lord Most Gracious forgive the sins of such a believer, but He has promised to change those evil deeds into good deeds in the believers Book of Records with Him!!!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 25 Surah Furqaan verses 63-71:

The (true) servants of the Merciful are those who walk humbly on the earth. When the ignorant people behave insolently towards them, they say, “Peace to you”; (And those) who pass their nights in prostrating themselves and standing before their Lord and pray, “O our Lord, save us from the torment of Hell, for its torment is killing! It is an evil abode, and an evil resting place”. (And those) who, when they spend are neither extravagant, nor miserly, but keep the golden mean between the two extremes. (And those) who do not invoke any god but Allah Alone, nor kill a soul unjustly, which Allah has forbidden, nor commit adultery… He who does this shall be punished for his sin, and his torment shall be doubled on the Day of Resurrection, and he shall abide in a state of ignominy; EXCEPT THE ONE WHO MAY HAVE REPENTED (AFTER THOSE SINS), AND HAVE BELIEVED AND DONE RIGHTEOUS DEEDS. For then, Allah will change his evil deeds into good deeds, and He is very Forgiving and Merciful. In fact, one who repents and does righteous deeds, returns to Allah as one rightly should!

Regardless of how many times one has turned to their Lord in repentance, and subsequently broken their repentance….if the person turns back to the Lord seeking forgiveness, it is expected that he will find His Lord Merciful and Forgiving.

Allow us to relate an example: Say a person happens to be in the company of evil, and swayed by his emotions he drinks some wine. Soon thereafter he realizes the gravity of his sin, feels absolutely ashamed at his transgression of the Law and Command of His Lord, immediately turns back to his Lord seeking sincere repentance, and makes a solemn covenant with Him that he will never ever approach wine again….it is expected that Allah Subhanah will accept his repentance and forgive him his sin.

At a later date, he finds himself in evil company again, and again he is swayed by his emotions and happens to drink wine….soon thereafter he remembers the covenant he made with his Lord, realizes the gravity of his sin, feels absolutely ashamed at his transgression again, and turns back to his Lord seeking sincere repentance…..it is expected that He will find his Lord Merciful and Forgiving again and again.

Regardless of how many times this slave of Allah is swayed by conditions and emotions and as a result falls into sin, provided he is sincere in his repentance each, it is expected he will find his Lord Oft-Forgiving and Merciful.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verse 135-136:

Allah likes such good people very much, who, if ever they commit a base deed or wrong their own soul by the commission of a sin, remember Allah instantly, and ask for forgiveness from Him for their shortcomings. For who, but Allah, can forgive sins? (And Allah loves those) who do not knowingly persist in the wrongs they did. These will be rewarded with forgiveness from Allah, and with Gardens beneath which canals flow, and they will reside therein forever! How excellent is the reward of those who do good deeds!

But those sinners will not be forgiven who pre-plan to commit sin with the intention that after they have sinned they will seek forgiveness; then pre-plan the sin again with the intent that they will repent later, or persist in their sin with the intent that they will seek repentance just before their death…..such sinners try to make a mockery of the Mercy and Grace of the Lord Most High with their pre-planned sinning and meaningless repentance.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verses 17-18:

17 Allah accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards; to them will Allah turn in mercy; for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.

18 Of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil until death faces one of them and he says "Now have I repented indeed"; nor of those who die rejecting faith: for them have We prepared a punishment most grievous.

Thus my beloved brother, regardless of how many times you might have turned back to your bad habit after making a promise with your Lord never to return to it….never never ever despair of the Mercy of your Lord ever and immediately turn back to your Lord again and seek sincere repentance; it is expected that you will find Him Merciful and Forgiving. Allah Subhanah is indeed the Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

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