Giving up masturbation

Q: I have a problem (of making ghusal farz by hands) for the last 5 years. I have tried my best to leave it. Once, I have been able to leave it for 3 months but after that I was caught by it again. I have asked forgiveness every time from Almighty Allah and alhmdulillah He has blessed me every time, but I couldnt leave the sin.

I am average in ibadaat. Sometimes I perform salaah 5 times a day for a month or few months and sometimes I leave it out for a few days and sometimes I dodge a few prayers.

Kindly tell me a simple and easy solution to leave out this sin. 

A: It is not permissible for one to take pleasure from one's body (through masturbation, etc.). If one is involved in this sin, then one should sincerely repent to Allah Ta'ala and make a firm resolve that he will not repeat this sin in the future. If one is able to get married, then he should get married. If he is unable to get married, then he should fast.

You should regularly meditate over death and the events that will follow after death. Meditate at a time when your mind is at ease and you do not have any disturbances, perhaps after Esha Salaah before retiring to bed. You should commence by making wudhu and performing two rakaats of salaah and then focus deeply over death and the events that will follow after death, the loneliness of the grave, standing before Allah Ta'ala for reckoning, Jannah and Jahannum and thereafter think to yourself, can I tolerate Jahannum for a single moment. When I cannot, then how can I be brazen about matters that will take me to Jahannum.

Apart from this, you should remain in pious company at all times and refrain from all areas of doubt and sin.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

الاستمناء حرام وفيه التعزير ولو مكن امرأته أو أمته من العبث بذكره فأنزل فإنه مكروه ولا شيء عليه كذا في السراج الوهاج (الفتاوى الهندية 2/ 170)

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)