Fatwa ID:05347

Answered by: Mufti Jamal Ahmed

Question

We all know that masturbation has great side effects in one’s life and it should not be practiced because it is prohibited although it is not beneficial for human health.

So my question is, why this act is to be done between husband and wife in the married life of each other?

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

Answer

In principle, to gain pleasure from one’s spouse in whatever manner is permissible except what is prohibited by Allah and his messenger. From Quran and hadith, we learn that it is prohibited to have sex through the anus at all times and through the front passage during menses. Thus, a wife to masturbate her husband will be permissible.

In Ahsanul Fatawa it is mentioned “It is permissible if it is done to gain relief from sexual desire, otherwise, it is makrooh tanzeehi.”  (slightly disliked). Vol.8, pg. 264 HM Saeed Company.

In Raddul Muhtar it is mentioned that the reason for the sin in masturbation is arousing the desire and spilling the semen in a place other than the permissible place without a valid reason. The main source for this is the ayah in Surah Muminoon “and those who guard their private parts (against all things) except their wives and slave girls.”  Ayah 5-6. So we learn that gaining sexual pleasure from a wife is permissible and masturbation is included in the general ruling of the ayah.

You mentioned that it has side effects so why should it be done between husband and wife. Firstly, it is not necessary for them to do it, however, if they decide to do it, they are not prohibited. Secondly, there are no absolute proofs that masturbation has a direct effect on health unless if it is done excessively.

However, one should remember that masturbation with one’s own hand or by any other means besides one’s wife, is haram due to the above-mentioned ayah; “and those who guard their private parts (against all things) except their wives and slave girls, for indeed they will not be blamed., but whoever seeks beyond that then those are the transgressors.” Surah Muminoon, Ayah 5-6.

زَادَ فِي مِعْرَاجِ الدِّرَايَةِ وَعَنْ أَحْمَدَ وَالشَّافِعِيِّ فِي الْقَدِيمِ التَّرَخُّصُ فِيهِ وَفِي الْجَدِيدِ يَحْرُمُ وَيَجُوزُ أَنْ يَسْتَمْنِيَ بِيَدِ زَوْجَتِهِ وَخَادِمَتِهِ اهـ

Raddul Muhtar,  vol.2, pg.399, Darul Fikr

بَقِيَ هُنَا شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ أَنَّ عِلَّةَ الْإِثْمِ هَلْ هِيَ كَوْنُ ذَلِكَ اسْتِمْتَاعًا بِالْجُزْءِ كَمَا يُفِيدُهُ الْحَدِيثُ وَتَقْيِيدُهُمْ كَوْنَهُ بِالْكَفِّ وَيَلْحَقُ بِهِ مَا لَوْ أَدْخَلَ ذَكَرَهُ بَيْنَ فَخِذَيْهِ مَثَلًا حَتَّى أَمْنَى، أَمْ هِيَ سَفْحُ الْمَاءِ وَتَهْيِيجُ الشَّهْوَةِ فِي غَيْرِ مَحَلِّهَا بِغَيْرِ عُذْرٍ كَمَا يُفِيدُهُ قَوْلُهُ وَأَمَّا إذَا فَعَلَهُ لِاسْتِجْلَابِ الشَّهْوَةِ إلَخْ؟ لَمْ أَرَ مَنْ صَرَّحَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَالظَّاهِرُ الْأَخِيرُ؛ لِأَنَّ فِعْلَهُ بِيَدِ زَوْجَتِهِ وَنَحْوِهَا فِيهِ سَفْحُ الْمَاءِ لَكِنْ بِالِاسْتِمْتَاعِ بِجُزْءٍ مُبَاحٍ كَمَا لَوْ أَنْزَلَ بِتَفْخِيذٍ أَوْ تَبْطِينٍ بِخِلَافِ مَا إذَا كَانَ بِكَفِّهِ وَنَحْوِهِ وَعَلَى هَذَا فَلَوْ أَدْخَلَ ذَكَرَهُ فِي حَائِطٍ أَوْ نَحْوِهِ حَتَّى أَمْنَى أَوْ اسْتَمْنَى بِكَفِّهِ بِحَائِلٍ يَمْنَعُ الْحَرَارَةَ يَأْثَمُ أَيْضًا وَيَدُلُّ أَيْضًا عَلَى مَا قُلْنَا مَا فِي الزَّيْلَعِيِّ حَيْثُ اسْتَدَلَّ عَلَى عَدَمِ حِلِّهِ بِالْكَفِّ بِقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى {وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ} [المؤمنون: ٥] الْآيَةُ وَقَالَ فَلَمْ يُبَحْ الِاسْتِمْتَاعُ إلَّا بِهِمَا أَيْ بِالزَّوْجَةِ وَالْأَمَةِ اهـ فَأَفَادَ عَدَمَ حِلِّ الِاسْتِمْتَاعِ أَيْ قَضَاءِ الشَّهْوَةِ بِغَيْرِهِمَا هَذَا مَا ظَهَرَ لِي وَاَللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ أَعْلَمُ.

Raddul Muhtar, vol.2, pg. 399, Darul Fikr

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Mufti Jamal Ahmed

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham