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 condi