❖ Ruling on “Nākiḥ al-Yad” (Masturbation) and Clarification of the Weak Hadith
Source: Ahkam wa Masail – Tafsir ka Bayan, Vol. 1, Page: 484
❀ The Question
Please explain the statement: “نَاکِحُ الْیَدِ مَلْعُوْنٌ” (The one who marries his hand is accursed).
❀ The Answer
Alhamdulillah, was-salatu was-salamu ‘ala Rasoolillah, amma ba‘d!
✿ No Authentic Hadith with These Exact Words
There is no authentic hadith found with the exact wording “نَاکِحُ الْیَدِ مَلْعُوْنٌ”.
However, discussions of this subject are found in tafsir and fiqh references.
✿ Hafiz Ibn Kathir’s Tafsir
Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله), while explaining Surah al-Mu’minun, Ayah 7:
﴿فَمَنِ ٱبۡتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡعَادُونَ﴾
“But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors.”
writes:
Imam al-Shafi‘i (رحمه الله) and those who follow him used this verse as evidence for the prohibition of masturbation (istimna’ bi’l-yad).
The reasoning is that seeking sexual gratification by hand lies outside the two lawful means (a wife or slave woman), and Allah ﷻ has clearly stated:
﴿فَمَنِ ٱبۡتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡعَادُونَ﴾
— meaning such a person has transgressed the limits.
✿ The Weak Hadith Mentioned
A narration is attributed to the Prophet ﷺ through Imam al-Hasan ibn ‘Arafah, reported from Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه):
That the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Seven people there are upon whom Allah will not look on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, nor will He gather them with the righteous. Instead, they will be among the first to enter Hellfire—unless they repent. And whoever repents, Allah accepts his repentance. Among them is the one who marries his hand (i.e., the one who masturbates).”
✿ Ibn Kathir’s Comment
Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) comments on this hadith:
“هذا حديث غريب واسناده فيه من لا يعرف لجهالته.”
“This hadith is ghareeb, and in its chain there are narrators who are unknown due to their obscurity.”
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Vol. 3, p. 239)
❀ Summary
✔ No sahih hadith exists with the exact phrase “Nākiḥ al-Yad Mal‘oon”.
✔ Imam al-Shafi‘i (رحمه الله) and other scholars derived the prohibition of masturbation from the Qur’anic verse ﴿فَمَنِ ٱبۡتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ﴾.
✔ The narration mentioning “Nākiḥ Yadih” is weak due to the presence of unknown narrators in its chain.
✔ However, the fiqhi ruling of prohibition established by scholars on the basis of Qur’an is sound and reliable.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is what I hold, and Allah knows best what is correct.)
