This excerpt is taken from Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi's book Halal and Haram in Islam, translated into Urdu by Muhammad Tahir Naqqash.
Against Nature, an Act Among Major Sins
The regulation of sexual desire that Islam has established includes an important point that just as adultery and its means have been declared forbidden, similarly the unnatural act, which people know as sodomy or the act of the people of Lot, has also been made forbidden.
This vile act is unnatural, pollutes with filth, destroys manhood, and is an injustice to women.
When this wickedness spreads in any society, it causes corruption in their lives. They become slaves to this act and then forget all morals, customs, and good taste. In this matter, the story of the people of Lot as mentioned in the Quran is sufficient for us. This nation started and popularized this filthy and shameless act; they would leave lawful and pure women to commit this vile and forbidden lust. Therefore, Allah’s Prophet, Sayyiduna Lot (peace be upon him), said to them:
أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ 165 وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَاجِكُم ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ
"Do you approach men among the worlds and leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a transgressing people."
Reference: Surah Ash-Shu'ara: 165, 166
And the Quran refutes it, declaring it oppression, injustice, ignorance, corruption, and crime. Regarding the punishment for the person who commits this shameless act, there is a difference of opinion among jurists. Whether the punishment of adultery should be applied to both the active and passive parties? Or both should be killed? Then, what method of killing should be adopted? Should it be by the sword, or by burning, or by throwing from a wall?
Such a severe punishment is prescribed to keep the Islamic society free from these corrupt and harmful germs from which only deadly elements arise.
The Ruling on Masturbation (Ejaculating by Hand)
Sometimes it happens that naturally a desire arises in the blood of young people, and they release semen with their own hand to relieve their nerves and cool down their passion. This is nowadays called "masturbation" (hidden bad habit).
According to most scholars, this is forbidden.
Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, has argued from this verse:
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ 5 إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ 6فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ
Those who guard their private parts, except from their wives or those whom their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors.
Reference: Surah Al-Mu’minun: 5 to 7
A person who releases semen with his hand commits an act of seeking satisfaction other than through a wife or a slave woman.
It is narrated from Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, that he considered semen as a waste like other bodily wastes. Therefore, he considered its release permissible, just as bloodletting (phlebotomy) is permissible. This view is supported by Allama Ibn Hazm Zahiri, may Allah have mercy on him. The Hanbali jurists have accepted its permissibility with two conditions:
◈ First, that the person fears falling into fornication.
◈ Second, that he is not capable of marriage.
The opinion of Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, can be adopted in such circumstances when the dominance of sexual desires and the fear of committing forbidden acts arise. For example, a young person who is studying or working far from home and is exposed to an environment of sexual temptation and feels distress and anxiety because of it. In such a case, if he uses this means to cool down his natural passion, there is no harm in it, provided he does not exceed limits in this matter and does not become habitual. But the better way is the one towards which the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, guided. That is, a young Muslim who cannot marry should fast frequently because fasting nurtures willpower, teaches patience, develops piety, and instills the consciousness of Allah’s watchfulness. Thus, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
يا معشر الشباب من استطاع منكم الباءة فليتزوج فإنه أغض للبصر وأحصن للفرج ومن لم يستطع فعليه بالصوم فإنه له وجاء
O young men! Whoever among you can afford to marry should marry, for it helps lower the gaze and guard the private parts. But whoever cannot afford it should fast, for fasting diminishes sexual desire.
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Marriage, Chapter: The Prophet’s Saying: Whoever among you can afford to marry, Hadith: 5065; Muslim, Book of Marriage, Chapter: Recommendation of Marriage, Hadith: 1400
