Is masturbation allowed in Islam?
Please be advised that my answer supporting masturbation only reflects my personal opinion. The list of the Islamic links below show from their Islamic resources and interpretations that masturbation is not allowed. But however, more was added below that showed from the same Islamic resources and interpretations that masturbation is allowed.
My Answer: Well, since Allah Almighty completely detests the act of zina (fornication or adultery) (Noble Verse 17:32 and Noble Verse 24:2), and He is the one who created the sexual desires in men and women, then therefore, it would make perfect sense for those who are weak to use masturbation as a shield for them from committing an act of zina.
Semen and female orgasm, which are generated from either masturbation or sexual intercourse are a must for the body to output. It is beyond our human control to prevent sexual desires from rising within us. GOD Almighty created semen to be ejaculated from the human body while experiencing a sexual experience. No human can hold his/her semen in their body. Therefore, it is safe to use masturbation as a shield to protect you from the act of zina (fornication) until you get married.
Sister Nicole's Answer: The following sites were forwarded to me by sister Nicole Woods; may Allah Almighty always be pleased with her:
Ruling on masturbation and how to cure the problem(329)
Masturbating when fasting(2571)
What is the punishment for masturbation in Islam?
Is masturbation is haram in Islam? What are the things to control this act.
My Answer: These sites prove Islamicly that masturbation is PROHIBITED in Islam. Although most of the Noble Quranic Verses and the Sayings of our beloved Prophet peace be upon him that were mentioned weren't mentioned with references, but I am giving the author of the above sites the benefit of the doubt.
But however, I have a personal belief regarding this issue. Back during our beloved Prophet's times, 1400 years ago, this is the time when all of the revelations of the Noble Quran and the Sayings of our beloved Prophet were revealed/recited. The Muslim society was a very conservative one. We did not have the ridiculous sexual openness that we currently have today. The Muslim women covered all of their bodies except for their faces, hands and feet.
The women in the Islamic ruling gain their respect from their intelligence, education and morals. Not through their breasts size and their thin legs as it is the case in the Western societies.
Please visit Women have the right for education in Islam.
Now since the Muslims 1400 years ago under the Islamic laws didn't have a sexually open society, men and women were not sexually intimidated. Unless the man or the woman was really sick in his/her mind, there is no reason for him/her to be masturbating! There is no reason for them to be looking at the other gender LUSTFULLY!
But today, and especially for those Muslims who live in the West, the cloths that women wear here are considered almost naked compared to the cloths the real Muslim women would wear. And the cloths some men wear might be sexually exciting for women.
Women look very LUSTROUS. Men must deal with these women in their daily lives at work, school, etc... They are all over the place. It is hard, almost impossible for any man to avoid them! Same applies to the women who see "sexy" men or men dressed improperly, such as very tight pants that would display an improper image of their private parts for instance.
Depending on the man or the woman and how strong his/her sexual desires are, he/she would have no choice but to masturbate. It is beyond his/her control! That is why I don't believe that any man or woman who lives in the West didn't masturbate before. It is because the ridiculous sexual openness that they are living in forces them to do such act.
I would rather have a Muslim brother or sister masturbate than to commit zina (fornication or adultery) which is considered a crime against Allah Almighty in Islam, or even end up having a brother raping some female!
Why do you think the West has by far the highest number of cases for rapes? It is because of the social intercourse among men and women that is too sexually open.
And Allah Almighty knows best about my intentions and everyone else's.
Brother Rached's Answer: The following answer was sent to me by brother Rached Blili; may Allah Almighty always be pleased with him:
"Salaamu Aleikum, brother Osama.
May Allah always be pleased with you for the work you do every day.
Regarding Sister Nicole's response to your position on masturbation, my reading of the
Qur'anic verse she has quoted goes to prove your point more than hers.
"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[...]"
To me the implication is clear. One guards something from OTHERS, not from one's self. The above instructs us to guard our chastity from OTHER people, EXCEPT our wives and concubines.
Also...
"And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste[...]"
It says that we should keep ourselves chaste. How should we keep ourselves chaste? It does not say, but masturbation is not excluded as a valid means. (That is, of course, assuming that chastity means having no sex with OTHERS, as discussed above).
Surely if touching our own bodies in a certain way was haraam, Allah would have been more specific. Allah does not say that we cannot scratch our heads, He does not say that we cannot lick our lips, and He does not say that we cannot stroke our genitalia. We do all of the above to satisfy a physical urge: an itch, dry lips, sexual arousal.
My concern is not with the act of masturbation. It is with the thoughts we have while masturbating. Many of these thoughts are very impure. We fantasize about other women, sometimes even married women! In my opinion, THAT is where the evil lies, not in the act.
As for your argument that we simply can't help it in the West, I must respectfully disagree. A more accurate way to say it is that the temptation is too great for you to resist. But that's what it remains: temptation. Allah commands us to resist temptation. The fact that you cannot resist it does not make it impossible, it only makes *you* too weak. You must ask Allah for strength and guidance.
May Allah bestow His Blessings upon you.
Your brother Rached"
More from Harris: The following was sent to me by Harris; a non-Muslim reader, may Allah Almighty guide him to Islam:
"Sir,
I was going through your article about masturbation, and wanted to point out to you that
the verses mentioned in the anti-masturbation sites talk about guarding chastity, which is
abstention for SEX and not from masturbation. Here's Merriam Webster dictionary's
definition of chastity:
chas·ti·ty
Pronunciation: 'chas-t&-tE
Function: noun
Date: 13th century
1 : the quality or state of being chaste : as a : abstention from unlawful
*sexual intercourse* b : abstention from all *sexual intercourse*
In fact, Yousaf ali has translated the verse in the following way:
"''...Who abstain from **sex**, Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess"
Just thought I'd point it out. I don't see any valid point against masturbation in any religious scripture of Islam.
sincerely,
Harris."
Further sites to research:
The Islamic cure for masturbation.
X-Rated Pornography in the Bible.
Christianity of today is the real cause for the sexual sinning.
A story about a 16-year-old Muslimah girl in Texas.
Please email me at Osama Abdallah
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