Fatwa ID: 08593

Written by Maulana Kawsar Ahmed

Question:

I recently found out that fondling one’s own breasts for sexual pleasure is a sin. I wanted to ask, is it counted as masturbation?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Al-Muminoon, whilst mentioning certain praiseworthy characteristics of the successful believers: And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts), except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed, but whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors (Al Qur’an, chapter: 23, verse: 5 -7). From these verses we understand that in order to attain success in this life and the next, then a Muslim must strive towards keeping themselves chaste by not engaging in any form of extra marital relations.

The scholars have also pointed out that, attaining sexual pleasure/satisfaction by utilising one’s own hands is also impermissible[1] due to Allah’s statement: “but whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors”.

So in summary, to attain sexual pleasure through any means outside of marital relationships is not permissible and should be avoided at all costs.

References:

[1] {فَمَنِ ابتغى وَرَاء ذلك} طلب قضاء شهوة من غير هذين {فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ العادون} الكاملون في العدوان وفيه دليل تحريم المتعة والاستمتاع بالكف لإرادة الشهوة

ص460 – كتاب تفسير النسفي مدارك التنزيل وحقائق التأويل – – المكتبة الشاملة

[2] Al-Muminoon (23:7)

فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْعَادُونَ

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Kawsar Ahmed

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham