وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَم — And Allah knows best. NoorIlm does not advocate for any particular position. These are scholarly opinions presented for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified scholar for personal rulings applicable to your situation. If you spot an error or have feedback, contact us.
Is Masturbation Haram in Islam?
This is one of those questions almost every young Muslim has but is afraid to ask. The scholars have real differences on this — it's not as black and white as you might think. Some say outright haram, some say makruh, and some say it's actually permissible if you're trying to avoid something worse. Here's the full breakdown with actual evidence, including what the scholars say about doing it without pornography.
Positions at a Glance
Masturbation is makruh tahrimi (strongly disliked, close to haram) as a general rule. However, it becomes permissible — and some Hanafi scholars say even recommended — if a person genuinely fears falling into zina (fornication) and cannot afford to marry. Without that fear, it remains sinful.
Allah describes the believers as 'those who guard their private parts, except from their spouses...' The Hanafis acknowledge this verse but argue it's not a slam dunk for full prohibition. The key phrase 'beyond that' is debated — does masturbation count as going 'beyond that' or is it a lesser category entirely?
Surah 23, Ayah 5The Prophet (SAW) said: 'O young men, whoever among you can afford to marry, let him do so, for it helps lower the gaze and guard chastity. And whoever cannot, let him fast, for it will be a shield for him.' The Hanafis note that the Prophet prescribed fasting as the alternative — not masturbation. If it were freely permitted, why wouldn't he just mention it as the easier option?
The Hanafi position is nuanced. Scholars like Ibn Abidin wrote that it's sinful when done purely for pleasure, but becomes permissible when someone is genuinely overwhelmed by desire and fears committing zina. Think of it like a pressure valve — not ideal, but better than the alternative. They also distinguish between doing it with pornography (always haram, because looking at what's forbidden is a separate sin) versus mental stimulation alone (which is where the 'fear of zina' exception applies).
Masturbation is haram. Full stop. The only exception is if someone is in genuine, extreme fear of committing zina AND has absolutely no other option — not even fasting. Even then, some Shafi'i scholars still call it haram.
The Shafi'is lean heavily on this verse. Allah says believers guard their private parts 'except from their spouses' — and then immediately says 'whoever seeks beyond that, those are the transgressors.' Masturbation isn't with a spouse. So by this logic, it falls under 'beyond that' = transgression = haram.
Surah 23, Ayah 5'And let those who cannot find the means to marry keep chaste until Allah enriches them from His bounty.' The Shafi'is argue: Allah told people who can't marry to be patient and stay chaste. He didn't say 'satisfy yourself another way.' If masturbation was a valid outlet, this verse would be the perfect place to mention it — but it doesn't.
Surah 24, Ayah 33Imam al-Shafi'i himself reportedly said it's haram based on the Quran verses above. The Shafi'i school is clear that pornography makes it even worse — you're combining two sins. But even without pornography, using mental imagery of someone you're not married to is considered sinful since the Prophet (SAW) said the eyes commit zina by looking and the heart commits zina by desiring. The only scenario where some later Shafi'i scholars budge is genuine fear of zina with zero other options.
Haram unconditionally. The Maliki school is the strictest on this — they don't even allow the 'fear of zina' exception that the other schools offer. Fasting and patience are the only prescribed solutions.
Same core verse — 'those who guard their private parts except from their spouses... whoever seeks beyond that are the transgressors.' The Malikis interpret this with zero flexibility. Masturbation is 'beyond that.' Done.
Surah 23, Ayah 5The Prophet (SAW) told young men who can't marry to fast because 'it will be a shield for him.' The Malikis emphasize: the Prophet gave exactly one alternative — fasting. Not masturbation. If it were permissible, surely the Prophet would have mentioned the easier option to young men struggling with desire. His silence on it is itself evidence.
The Maliki school doesn't buy the 'lesser of two evils' argument. Their position is: zina is haram, and masturbation is also haram — one being worse doesn't make the other permissible. You don't get to choose between two sins. The prescribed path is fasting, patience, and making dua for Allah to help you. Using pornography obviously makes it far worse since it adds the sin of looking at what's forbidden, but the act itself is haram regardless of the stimulus.
Haram by default, but explicitly permissible if someone fears falling into zina or fears physical/mental harm from unfulfilled desire AND cannot marry. Ahmad ibn Hanbal himself permitted it in that specific scenario.
The Hanbalis agree this verse establishes the general prohibition. But they add a crucial qualifier: Islamic law has a principle that 'necessity permits the prohibited.' If someone is genuinely about to fall into zina, a lesser harm (masturbation) becomes permissible to prevent a greater one.
Surah 23, Ayah 5The Prophet (SAW) prescribed fasting for those who can't marry. The Hanbalis say: yes, try fasting first. But if fasting doesn't work and the desire is still overwhelming, then masturbation becomes the next line of defense before zina. It's a practical, graduated approach.
Imam Ahmad's position is probably the most practical of the four. He's reported to have compared it to cupping (hijama) — draining something harmful from the body. Ibn Taymiyyah (Hanbali) agreed with this exception. The key conditions are: you genuinely fear zina, you can't marry or fast enough to control it, and you're not using pornography or fantasizing about a specific person. Without pornography and done purely as a physical release to avoid a greater sin, it's permissible. But doing it habitually for pleasure? That's still haram.