Is Masturbation Permissible Due to Delayed Marriage and Intense Desire?

Question: I have two related questions: 1. If a person experiences a long delay in getting married due to not finding a suitable partner, and he finds it very difficult to be patient and control his desire, is it permissible for him to masturbate in such a situation? 2. And if a person is completely unable to get married, for example, due to parental refusal or obstacles beyond his control, and there appears to be no path to marriage, is it permissible for him in this case to resort to masturbation to ease the hardship?

Summary:

What is obligatory: • Sincere repentance • Lowering the gaze • Cutting off all means leading to it • Increasing remembrance, prayer, and fasting

Answer:

In the name of Allah, all praise is due to Allah, and may Peace and Blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)

Your question is very important and relates to an issue that many young men and women today are afflicted with, namely delayed marriage and the hardship of restraining desire. I will answer your two questions carefully, based on the statements of the scholars and their evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah, and the understanding of the righteous predecessors, with an explanation of what is preferred among the people of knowledge.

1. The basic ruling on masturbation (habitual self-stimulation) is that it is forbidden according to the majority of scholars, due to the saying of Allah:

    From the Qur'an:

    • Al-Mu’minun: 5,6,7
      "those who guard their chastity", "except with their wives or those ˹bondwomen˺ in their possession, for then they are free from blame,", " but whoever seeks beyond that are the transgressors;",

    From the Salaf:

    • Al-Umm 5/94
      Imam al-Shafi’i said: “Masturbation by the hand is transgression, and falls under the general meaning of the verse.”

    However: In cases of necessity or fear of committing zina: Some scholars have permitted masturbation to prevent greater harm, such as fearing one might fall into zina, or when fasting is difficult and marriage is not possible.

    From the Scholars:

    • Majmu‘ al-Fatawa 33/65
      Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said: “As for masturbation by the hand... the correct view is that it is forbidden, unless he fears committing zina, in which case it becomes permissible for him to do that to prevent harm to himself, just as eating the flesh of the dead is permissible in cases of necessity.”
    • Al-Mughni 3/156
      Ibn Qudamah (al-Hanbali) said: “If he fears zina, and is unable to marry, and cannot fast, then he may masturbate out of fear of falling into zina.”

    The preferred view: Masturbation is forbidden unless one fears falling into immorality, and marriage and fasting are not possible, in which case it is permissible to avoid a greater haram. 2. As mentioned, if overwhelming necessities prevent marriage, and the person cannot be patient and fears falling into immorality, then in this case: • He is permitted to masturbate only in cases of necessity, just as he is permitted to eat from the dead in fear of perishing. • This should not become a regular habit, but done only as needed, while feeling aversion to it and being cautious as much as possible.

    From the Scholars:

    • Adwa’ al-Bayan 5/525
      Al-‘Allamah al-Shanqiti said: “Masturbation without a wife or slave woman is forbidden by the text of the Qur’an... but if one fears hardship, some scholars allowed it.”

    Practical Advice: 1.Frequent fasting: The Prophet ﷺ said:

    From the Sunnah:

    • Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5066, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1400 cNarrated by ʿAbdullāh (رضي الله عنه):
      We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) while we were young and had no wealth. So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse etc.), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power."

    2. Lowering the gaze and avoiding temptations. 3. Keeping righteous company and engaging in acts of worship. 4. Making du‘a during times of response that Allah grant you a righteous spouse and relieve your hardship.

    reminder on the seriousness and prohibition of watching pornographic films: You must stay away from this vile practice and keep yourself occupied with something beneficial in both this life and the next. Prohibition: • Looking at private parts is clearly forbidden in the Qur’an:

    From the Qur'an:

    • An-Nur: 30
      ˹O Prophet!˺ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what they do.

    From the Sunnah:

    • Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6243, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2657 bNarrated by Ibn `Abbas (رضي الله عنه):
      I have not seen a thing resembling 'lamam' (minor sins) than what Abu Huraira 'narrated from the Prophet who said "Allah has written for Adam's son his share of adultery which he commits inevitably. The adultery of the eyes is the sight (to gaze at a forbidden thing), the adultery of the tongue is the talk, and the inner self wishes and desires and the private parts testify all this or deny it."

    Pornographic films involve multiple prohibitions: • Forbidden looking • Promoting immorality • Deriving pleasure from zina and publicizing it • Corrupting the heart and intention Dangers: • Weakens faith and corrupts the heart • Causes addiction, isolation, and anxiety • Leads away from marriage and chastity • Weakens focus and degrades dignity • Brings about the wrath and displeasure of Allah

    And Allah knows best.

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