Masturbation

Q: What is the ruling on masturbation?

A: According to the Hanbali school, masturbation is prohibited for both men and women. It is regarded as an act of disobedience and may warrant discretionary punishment (taʿzīr).

A narrow concession is recognized when a person genuinely fears falling into fornication, sodomy, or suffering bodily harm, and is unable to marry. In such a case, it is permitted out of necessity as a means of preventing the greater harm. Outside of these conditions, the original ruling of prohibition remains.

The General Ruling

The jurists’ mention of discretionary punishment indicates the seriousness of the offense. It is not treated merely as an undesirable habit, but as a punishable act of disobedience.

The concession is not based on desire alone, nor on the ordinary struggle to remain chaste. It applies only when there is a genuine fear of falling into a greater prohibition or suffering bodily harm, and the person is genuinely unable to marry. It should therefore be understood as a limited concession arising from necessity, not as a general license.

Between Spouses

It is permissible for one spouse to bring the other to ejaculation by hand. This falls within the realm of lawful intimacy between husband and wife and is not included in the prohibition discussed above.

A Word to Those Who Struggle

A person who falls into this sin should neither surrender to despair nor use the existence of a narrow concession to normalize the act outside its proper conditions.

The appropriate response is sincere repentance, continued struggle against temptation, avoidance of what inflames desire, and pursuit of lawful marriage when able. Repeated failure does not close the door of tawbah. The believer continues to return to Allah, seek His forgiveness, and strive for greater chastity.

Sources:

Kashshāf al-Qināʿ

Sharḥ Muntahā al-Irādāt

Maṭālib Ūlī al-Nuhā