Query on Fornication

Question:

In a society in which sexual references are everywhere we go. Question is that is masturbation allowed in Islam according to the sunnah and quran, along with fornication (sex outside of marriage).

Answer:

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-raḥmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

A believer has his Imaan with him all the time. The consciousness of his Imaan should repel the evil influences from him.

He cannot be swayed with the different evil references. It is precisely for this reason that Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala) says:

و لا تقربوا الزنا

“And do not come close to Zina”

Not getting close includes being guarded against sexual references. Allah will never order us to do things we cannot do. Chastity is the corner stone for a person’s spirituality. The simple solution is to avoid going to immoral places. Stay in the company of the pious. That will generate a spiritual light in the heart which will fight of evil temptations. If by any chance one sees anything immoral, lower the gaze and make Istighfaar. One should not give in to the temptations of the Nafs if one is caught up by societal practices and immoralities.

Moulana Ismail Desai,
Durban, South Africa

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.