Why It is Not Haram to Play with Your Private Parts in Islam
C.J Ahmed-04.04.2023
Playing with your private parts or in other words “masturbation” is not haram in Islam.The general Arabic term for masturbation is known simply as "istimna" meaning putting out semen but many Muslim theologians use the term "Adah al-Sirriyyah"(the secret habit) and this very term shows how disliked masturbation is among conservative Muslims.
Masturbation or istimna is the stimulation of your own sexual organ to enjoy sexual pleasure. There are varying opinions among the four main schools of thought. Some completely forbid it while the others dislike it. When it comes to the textual sources of Islam which are the Quran and the authentic hadiths, the word masturbation is not mentioned. Islam is basically silent on masturbation and this clearly indicates that masturbation was never forbidden in Islam.
Masturbation is clearly not haram in Islam because there is no clear evidence proving that it is forbidden and Islam is silent on this matter. How many times would you have been disappointed trying to search for an answer on the internet on whether masturbation is halal or not and have ended up only finding poorly written articles which lack substance. Most of the articles that are to be found on the topic of masturbation are written by individuals who are either blind followers of madhabs or are just quoting the wrong fatwas of scholars. In this article, I am inshaAllah hoping to prove that masturbation is completely halal and answer most of the misconceptions surrounding it.
Misquoting the Quran on Masturbation
The issue of masturbation has been a controversial and misunderstood topic by many Muslims. Due to the ignorance and cultural upbringing, most Muslims have started to regard masturbation as something that is wrong and sinful in Islam. There have been various fatwas by scholars among the Salaf who have mistakenly given their fatwa stating that masturbation is haram. All of these fatwas are based on one verse in the Quran which has nothing to do with masturbation. The verse is as follows:
"And those who guard their chastity. Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, - for them, they are free from blame. But whoever seeks beyond that, and then those are the transgressors."
(Al Quran23.5-7)
The above verse in the Quran is taken out of context and has been used as proof to forbid masturbation. The verse quoted above only mentions about sexual relations between persons other than ones wives and slaves and masturbation is only a thing that you engage with yourself and not others. Imam Shafi was the first person to use this verse to argue that masturbation is haram and many others have blindly taken this position of his without scrutinising what he has said. If you observe the verse carefully, you would understand that there is no mention of the word masturbation being forbidden. the word" But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors." as being taken out of context and interpreted to mean that the masturbator is a transgressor as he is seeking something beyond what his right hand possesses. This verse only means about things what Allah (swt) and his Rasool (sal) have clearly explained in the Quran and Sunnah of what is sexual transgression. In the Quran and the authentic hadiths, what are mentioned as sexual transgression are adultery, fornication and homosexuality. These are what that has being forbidden in the Quran and the Sunnah. Imam Ibn kathir in his authentic tafseer explains verses 5, 6 and 7 of chapter 23 as follows:
"means, those who protect their private parts from unlawful actions and do not do that which Allah has forbidden; fornication and homosexuality, and do not approach anyone except the wives whom Allah has made permissible for them or their right hand possessions from the captives. One who seeks what Allah has made permissible for him is not to be blamed and there is no sin on him".
Imam Ibn kathir himself explains clearly that the one who seeks what Allah (swt) has made permissible is not to be blamed and there is no sin on him. The above mentioned ayah has nothing to do with masturbation and there is no evidence whatsoever from the Quran or any authentic hadith forbidding masturbation. If Allah (swt) and his messenger (sal) have not sanctioned something in Islam, then no one has the right to make it forbidden according to their personal opinions.
Evidence That Proves Masturbation to Be Halal
Islam is a very easy religion and Allah (swt) with his mercy has not sanctioned masturbation has it would be a burden to mankind. It is clear that masturbation is completely halal. According to the Shariah, if there is silence from the Quran and the Sunnah, then it falls as something that is permitted which in Islam known as 'Jaiz' which means “allowed” in Arabic. Every single teaching in Islam falls under six main categories and they are:
Wajib-Obligatory
Sunnah-Acts of worship if done would be rewarding but is not compulsory
Halal-Things which are permissible
Makrooh-Things which are disliked but isn’t sinful
Jaiz-Things which Islam is silent hence making it permissible by default
Haram-Things which are forbidden
Islam is clearly silent on masturbation and nothing has been authentically narrated of the prophet (sal) prohibiting it. This silence in Islam means that masturbation is something that falls under the category of “Jaiz” which is allowed and permissible.
The below hadith explains this follows:
"The Prophet (sal) said, “Verily Allah has obligated the obligations – so do not neglect them. And He has limited the limits – so do not transgress them. And His silence about things is from His mercy, not forgetfulness, so do not investigate them.”
(Hasan Sahih-Ad-Darqutni No. 4/199 and also Al-Baihaqi No. 10/122).
The above hadith is clear on why masturbation is halal and why we are forbidden from investigating from things which has come as a mercy from Allah (swt) by him being silent. Masturbation falls in to the things in which Islam is silent. This hadith also clearly proves that masturbation is a gift and a mercy from Allah (swt) to ease mankind's sexual desire. It is sad to note that due to the ignorance of the general Muslim community in the world, they have started to vigorously reject masturbation by trying to prove any verse or hadith which are unrelated. Due to the widespread ignorance that is prevalent, Muslims have fallen in to the blunder of deriving meanings which has nothing to do with masturbation.
Misquoting Hadiths
Some wrongly quote the below hadith trying prove that masturbation is haram.
‘Abdullah bin Mas’ood (rali), who said: “We were with some youth not finding anything, so the Messenger of Allah, (sal) said: ‘O assembly of youth. Whoever from you is able to get married then let him do so, for it lowers the gaze and protects the privates. And whoever is unable, then it is (on him) to fast, for it is a protection”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Using this hadith some argue that masturbation is forbidden because the prophet (sal) told the youth who were unable to get married to fast and they say that if masturbation was an alternative, prophet (sal) would have mentioned it. What needs to be understood is that the prophet (sal) never made it an obligation for a Muslim who is unable to get married to fast. Fasting is only a Sunnah and whoever wants to fast can fast and whoever wants not to can definitely not fast as it is not a sin or an obligation. Just because the prophet (sal) did not mention one thing instead for the other does not necessarily mean that it’s forbidden. The Sunnah isn’t what he didn’t instruct his companions to avoid. Trying to derive something as forbidden on what the prophet (sal) didn’t instruct cannot be taken as a law in Islam Marriage is a recommended Sunnah and fasting is not an obligation.
The most important thing to be understood when knowing and understanding a verse in the Quran or Hadith is that you cannot give your wording and meaning to it. This was the methodology of the Salafus Saliheen. Deviants like the Mutazila and Asharia who went astray were the ones who interpreted verses in the Quran according to their own opinions and ending up twisting the meaning. A particular verse must be understand using all the other supporting verses and hadith and according to the understanding of the the sahabah. For an example, explaining what the major sins known as “Kabair”, The Quran says:
"Those who avoid great sins and Al-Fawahish (immoral sins) except Al-Lamam (minor sins) verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness."
(Al Quran-53-32)
The Kabair or major sins such as backbiting, adultery, fornication, murder and the evidence for them to be major sins are explained elsewhere in the Quran and several authentic hadiths. Now, if someone comes and argues that kissing a child is a major sin by quoting the above verse, will not make it a major sin because, there is no mention in the Quran or hadith stating so. Similarly, if someone is arguing that the verses 5, 6 and 7 of chapter 23 in the Quran speak about masturbation; will not prove that masturbation is haram because Islam is silent on this topic. Another example is in the verse in Surah Ahzab mentioned below:
"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful"
(Al Quran-33:59)
The meaning of this verse" draw their cloaks all over their bodies" has been falsely misinterpreted to mean that the entire body of a woman has to be covered. But, by understanding the above verse using the Quran and the authentic hadiths, and the explanation of the companions of the prophet (Sal), it is quite clear, that the true meaning for the verse "draw their cloaks all over their bodies" is to cover the body except for the face,hands and the feet. There are so many other examples available and all them prove that the verse 5. 6. And 7 in chapter 23 has been wrongly interpreted.
Playing with your private parts is not haram in Islam.
Playing with your private parts or in other words “masturbation” is not haram in Islam.The general Arabic term for masturbation is known simply as "istimna" meaning putting out semen but many Muslim theologians use the term "Adah al-Sirriyyah"(the secret habit) and this very term shows how disliked masturbation is among conservative Muslims.
Masturbation or istimna is the stimulation of your own sexual organ to enjoy sexual pleasure. There are varying opinions among the four main schools of thought. Some completely forbid it while the others dislike it. When it comes to the textual sources of Islam which are the Quran and the authentic hadiths, the word masturbation is not mentioned. Islam is basically silent on masturbation and this clearly indicates that masturbation was never forbidden in Islam.
Masturbation is clearly not haram in Islam because there is no clear evidence proving that it is forbidden and Islam is silent on this matter. How many times would you have been disappointed trying to search for an answer on the internet on whether masturbation is halal or not and have ended up only finding poorly written articles which lack substance. Most of the articles that are to be found on the topic of masturbation are written by individuals who are either blind followers of madhabs or are just quoting the wrong fatwas of scholars. In this article, I am inshaAllah hoping to prove that masturbation is completely halal and answer most of the misconceptions surrounding it.
Misquoting the Quran on Masturbation
The issue of masturbation has been a controversial and misunderstood topic by many Muslims. Due to the ignorance and cultural upbringing, most Muslims have started to regard masturbation as something that is wrong and sinful in Islam. There have been various fatwas by scholars among the Salaf who have mistakenly given their fatwa stating that masturbation is haram. All of these fatwas are based on one verse in the Quran which has nothing to do with masturbation. The verse is as follows:
"And those who guard their chastity. Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, - for them, they are free from blame. But whoever seeks beyond that, and then those are the transgressors."
(Al Quran23.5-7)
The above verse in the Quran is taken out of context and has been used as proof to forbid masturbation. The verse quoted above only mentions about sexual relations between persons other than ones wives and slaves and masturbation is only a thing that you engage with yourself and not others. Imam Shafi was the first person to use this verse to argue that masturbation is haram and many others have blindly taken this position of his without scrutinising what he has said. If you observe the verse carefully, you would understand that there is no mention of the word masturbation being forbidden. the word" But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors." as being taken out of context and interpreted to mean that the masturbator is a transgressor as he is seeking something beyond what his right hand possesses. This verse only means about things what Allah (swt) and his Rasool (sal) have clearly explained in the Quran and Sunnah of what is sexual transgression. In the Quran and the authentic hadiths, what are mentioned as sexual transgression are adultery, fornication and homosexuality. These are what that has being forbidden in the Quran and the Sunnah. Imam Ibn kathir in his authentic tafseer explains verses 5, 6 and 7 of chapter 23 as follows:
"means, those who protect their private parts from unlawful actions and do not do that which Allah has forbidden; fornication and homosexuality, and do not approach anyone except the wives whom Allah has made permissible for them or their right hand possessions from the captives. One who seeks what Allah has made permissible for him is not to be blamed and there is no sin on him".
Imam Ibn kathir himself explains clearly that the one who seeks what Allah (swt) has made permissible is not to be blamed and there is no sin on him. The above mentioned ayah has nothing to do with masturbation and there is no evidence whatsoever from the Quran or any authentic hadith forbidding masturbation. If Allah (swt) and his messenger (sal) have not sanctioned something in Islam, then no one has the right to make it forbidden according to their personal opinions.
Evidence That Proves Masturbation to Be Halal
Islam is a very easy religion and Allah (swt) with his mercy has not sanctioned masturbation has it would be a burden to mankind. It is clear that masturbation is completely halal. According to the Shariah, if there is silence from the Quran and the Sunnah, then it falls as something that is permitted which in Islam known as 'Jaiz' which means “allowed” in Arabic. Every single teaching in Islam falls under six main categories and they are:
Wajib-Obligatory
Sunnah-Acts of worship if done would be rewarding but is not compulsory
Halal-Things which are permissible
Makrooh-Things which are disliked but isn’t sinful
Jaiz-Things which Islam is silent hence making it permissible by default
Haram-Things which are forbidden
Islam is clearly silent on masturbation and nothing has been authentically narrated of the prophet (sal) prohibiting it. This silence in Islam means that masturbation is something that falls under the category of “Jaiz” which is allowed and permissible.
The below hadith explains this follows:
"The Prophet (sal) said, “Verily Allah has obligated the obligations – so do not neglect them. And He has limited the limits – so do not transgress them. And His silence about things is from His mercy, not forgetfulness, so do not investigate them.”
(Hasan Sahih-Ad-Darqutni No. 4/199 and also Al-Baihaqi No. 10/122).
The above hadith is clear on why masturbation is halal and why we are forbidden from investigating from things which has come as a mercy from Allah (swt) by him being silent. Masturbation falls in to the things in which Islam is silent. This hadith also clearly proves that masturbation is a gift and a mercy from Allah (swt) to ease mankind's sexual desire. It is sad to note that due to the ignorance of the general Muslim community in the world, they have started to vigorously reject masturbation by trying to prove any verse or hadith which are unrelated. Due to the widespread ignorance that is prevalent, Muslims have fallen in to the blunder of deriving meanings which has nothing to do with masturbation.
Misquoting Hadiths
Some wrongly quote the below hadith trying prove that masturbation is haram.
‘Abdullah bin Mas’ood (rali), who said: “We were with some youth not finding anything, so the Messenger of Allah, (sal) said: ‘O assembly of youth. Whoever from you is able to get married then let him do so, for it lowers the gaze and protects the privates. And whoever is unable, then it is (on him) to fast, for it is a protection”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Using this hadith some argue that masturbation is forbidden because the prophet (sal) told the youth who were unable to get married to fast and they say that if masturbation was an alternative, prophet (sal) would have mentioned it. What needs to be understood is that the prophet (sal) never made it an obligation for a Muslim who is unable to get married to fast. Fasting is only a Sunnah and whoever wants to fast can fast and whoever wants not to can definitely not fast as it is not a sin or an obligation. Just because the prophet (sal) did not mention one thing instead for the other does not necessarily mean that it’s forbidden. The Sunnah isn’t what he didn’t instruct his companions to avoid. Trying to derive something as forbidden on what the prophet (sal) didn’t instruct cannot be taken as a law in Islam Marriage is a recommended Sunnah and fasting is not an obligation.
The most important thing to be understood when knowing and understanding a verse in the Quran or Hadith is that you cannot give your wording and meaning to it. This was the methodology of the Salafus Saliheen. Deviants like the Mutazila and Asharia who went astray were the ones who interpreted verses in the Quran according to their own opinions and ending up twisting the meaning. A particular verse must be understand using all the other supporting verses and hadith and according to the understanding of the the sahabah. For an example, explaining what the major sins known as “Kabair”, The Quran says:
"Those who avoid great sins and Al-Fawahish (immoral sins) except Al-Lamam (minor sins) verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness."
(Al Quran-53-32)
The Kabair or major sins such as backbiting, adultery, fornication, murder and the evidence for them to be major sins are explained elsewhere in the Quran and several authentic hadiths. Now, if someone comes and argues that kissing a child is a major sin by quoting the above verse, will not make it a major sin because, there is no mention in the Quran or hadith stating so. Similarly, if someone is arguing that the verses 5, 6 and 7 of chapter 23 in the Quran speak about masturbation; will not prove that masturbation is haram because Islam is silent on this topic. Another example is in the verse in Surah Ahzab mentioned below:
"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful"
(Al Quran-33:59)
The meaning of this verse" draw their cloaks all over their bodies" has been falsely misinterpreted to mean that the entire body of a woman has to be covered. But, by understanding the above verse using the Quran and the authentic hadiths, and the explanation of the companions of the prophet (Sal), it is quite clear, that the true meaning for the verse "draw their cloaks all over their bodies" is to cover the body except for the face,hands and the feet. There are so many other examples available and all them prove that the verse 5. 6. And 7 in chapter 23 has been wrongly interpreted.
Playing with your private parts is not haram in Islam.