Answered by Shaykh Muhammad Qaylish
Why is masturbation haram? Don’t doctors state that there is no harm in it?
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
Allama Ibn Abidin mentioned in his Hashiya in the investigation on the ruling of masturbation’ that the reason for the established prohibition of masturbation is that it entails a waste of sexual fluids and a stirring up of sexual desires in other than its permitted ways without excuse. Ibn Abidin then confirmed this citing proof from what Zayla`i mentioned as evidence from Allah Most High’s words,
“And those who preserve their chastity,
Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy;
But whoso seeks more than that, those are they who are transgressors.”[Qur’an, 70.29-31]
He then stated that, “Thus, Allah has only permitted sexual enjoyment with those two, namely one’s spouse and lawful slave girl.” Therefore, it is not permitted to seek to satisfy one’s sexual desires in any other way.
When we learn the Divine Command regarding something our duty is to obey, regardless of whether we understand the wisdom behind it or not.
As for contemporary doctors saying that there is no physical harm in it, their not finding proof that it is harmful is not proof that it is not harmfulhow many a medical opinion has changed with advances in knowledge.
As for its intangible or spiritual harms, know that falling into any sin darkens the heart, and veils the soul from ascending in the spiritual worlds to the extent of the sin.
And Allah alone gives success.