The term “masturbation” refers to the act of releasing one’s sexual energy through the act of orgasm. Masturbation is not explicitly forbidden in the Koran or hadith. Although some Muslims believe that masturbating is haram, this is not a universally held view. There are a variety of viewpoints on this issue. There are many schools of thought on whether or not it is acceptable, with some saying it is haram and others saying it is disliked (makruh). There are those who believe that protecting one’s own private parts is a form of self-defense (masturbation). Oral sex is another topic that is frequently referred to be haram, however, there are no explicit directives stating that oral sex is haram.
Is masturbation haram?
Only anal sex and intercourse during menstruation are considered haram by the Prophet. Oral sex and masturbation may have been left unsaid since they need interpretation based on context if the Prophet got that explicit and didn’t address them. Allah is the only one who truly understands what is best.
The Islamic view on masturbation is complex, and it is not fair to assert that all incidents of masturbating are haram. There are a plethora of Islamic viewpoints, therefore I advise you to dig further.
Masturbation is permitted in particular situations, such as when committing zina is preferable to masturbation. Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Ibn Qayaam al Jazawi, for example, had this view.
As a result, it is a matter of context. Personally, I do not consider masturbation to be haram, and I feel that it can be a means to safeguard many young people from exposure to pornography, overly sexualized media, and other forms of zina that are readily available in various communities.
If you take the position that masturbation is permissible, then take heed of the following points:
1 – As with anything, too much of a good thing may be harmful. Do not overindulge or make it a habit to the point that you become reliant on it. It may become an addiction, and some individuals grow furious and irritated if they do not masturbate on a daily basis for the delightful release. It can develop the same drug dependence.
2 – Do not masturbate with blatantly haram objects like as pornography.
3 – Masturbation between couples does not qualify as masturbation. This is a sort of foreplay in which couples touch or arouse each other’s private areas. Again, married spouses are free to do whatever they wish to fulfil their sexual desires as long as it is agreeable between the two of them and not one of the two plainly prohibited activities expressly mentioned by the Prophet, peace be upon him.
4 –In his book (the prophetic medicine), Ibn Qayum al Jawazi stated that the discharge of sperm is beneficial and should not be ignored for extended periods of time since it might alter emotions badly and helps produce better sperm. Of course, contemporary medical results must be researched as well, and viewpoints should not be based solely on medical sciences from the past.
5 – Some Islamic scholars believe that masturbation is allowed in tough situations if one fears zina or cannot marry.
We should also fast when feasible, but this does not exclude the use of both fasting and masturbation to protect ourselves against zina and pornography. Because masturbation breaks your fast, you cannot do both at the same time, but you can alternate if your situation is severe and necessitates both.
6 – Recognize that many Islamic viewpoints were established centuries ago, and that concerns are sometimes not addressed in the contemporary context. As a result, one should seek information and investigate not just historical stances, but also modern perspectives, because periods and conditions change.
Tips on how to give up masturbation
In terms of curing/treating the habit of masturbation, we prescribe the following:
1- The primary reason for seeking a treatment for this condition should be to obey Allah’s commandments and to avoid His wrath.
2- Marriage, as soon as the individual is able, is a permanent and speedy solution for this condition, as demonstrated by the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) hadeeth.
3Keeping oneself busy with what is good for this world and the Hereafter is vital in breaking this habit before it becomes second nature, which is exceedingly difficult to eradicate.
4- Lowering one’s eyes (from staring at forbidden items like images, movies, etc.) will assist suppress the urge before it leads to the haram (forbidden). According to the following two passages and the Prophet’s hadith, Allah commands men and women to lower their eyes.
5- Investing one’s free time in praising Allah and expanding one’s Islamic understanding.
6- Being cautious not to acquire any of the medical symptoms associated with masturbation, such as poor vision, a weakened neurological system, and/or back discomfort. More crucially, emotions of guilt and worry, which can be exacerbated by skipping required prayers due to the necessity to shower (ghusl) after every occurrence of masturbation, especially in the winter, as well as the invalidation of the fast.
7- Avoiding the misconception that some young people have that masturbation is allowed because it keeps them from engaging in illicit sexual activities like as adultery or even homosexuality, even though they are not at the threshold of such immorality to begin with.
8- Strengthening one’s willpower and resisting the shaytan, as suggested by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he stated, “Do not spend the night alone.” Ahmad’s number is 6919.
9- Following the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) aforementioned hadeeth and fasting whenever feasible, because fasting will temper and moderate one’s sexual drive. However, one should not overreact and pledge by Allah not to return to the act, since if one does not keep one’s word, one will face the repercussions of failing to live up to one’s oath to Allah. It’s also worth noting that taking medicine to suppress one’s sexual urge is legally forbidden because it might permanently impair one’s sexual capacity.
10- Attempting to follow the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) advice on bedtime etiquette, such as reciting the well-known supplications, sleeping on the right side, and avoiding sleeping.
11- Striving hard to be patient and chaste, because persistence, Allah willing, will eventually lead to attaining those qualities as second nature, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explains in the following hadith: 12. If one falls into this sin, they must hasten to repent, asking forgiveness from Allah, doing good deeds, and not losing hope and feeling despair; these are all prerequisites to curing this problem. It is important to note that losing hope is one of the primary crimes punished by Allah.
Conclusion
Finally, Allah is the Most Merciful, and He always answers those who call on Him. So, by Allah’s will, praying for forgiveness and assistance will be accepted.
Masturbation is forbidden in Islam and must be avoided by all Muslims. To put things in perspective, the sin of masturbation is not as serious as the sin of zina (adultery or fornication). But it is undeniably a sin and a terrible deed that believers must shun.
