Masturbation in Islam ( fatwa )

How bad is it to masturbate in Islam? Masturbation in Islam (fatwa)

Assalaamu alaykum. Well, to my knowledge, it’s quite bad. However, I am in no position to give you any information in regards to this subject as I am not a scholar or person of excessive knowledge. I don’t want to lead you in the wrong direction so I found a ruling (fatwa) on masturbation that I feel is very well answered. 

1. The fiqh regarding masturbation may be found below.
2. The very meaning of Islam is submission: we submit our bodies, hearts, minds, and souls to Allah Most High, out of thankfulness for the blessing and life-giving light of His religion.
Allah tests our slave hood. Many people have ‘natural’ tendencies and urges towards that which Allah has declared unlawful. This is our test with Allah Most High.
Allah Most High said in the Qur’an,
"And the soul and He who perfected it
And inspired it (with conscience of) what is wrong and right for it.
He is indeed successful who purifies it,
And he is indeed a failure who stunts it.” [Qur’an, 91:9-10] 
The Ruling on Masturbation: Prohibitively Disliked and Sinful
Masturbation is sinful, being prohibitively disliked, because of its many personal and societal ill-effects that are known and recognized in sane traditional societies and by balanced people the world over.
As for modern ‘expert’ opinions that there is ‘nothing wrong with it,’ these are the opinions of the same people who see nothing wrong with fornication, nudity, and most other personal and social depravity.
The early Muslims used to say, “The one who weds his hand is accursed.” (Fath al-Qadir)
Its prohibition was established by Allah Most High’s words, “Those who guard their private parts, except from their spouses…” [Qur’an, 23: 5]
Thus, the general ruling regarding sexual activity is that it is impermissible, except through the particular channel that Allah permitted, out of His tremendous wisdom and mercy for His creation.
The rulings of the Shariah are for the worldly and eternal benefit of humanity, as a manifestation of the tremendous mercy of Allah, for Allah Himself is absolutely free of any need. Rather, it is we who need guidance, to give true joy and illumination to our lives in this world and the next.
So, When Could Masturbation Possibly Be Allowed?
Masturbation is only allowed in the very rare situation where: 

•  if the person did not do this, they genuinely fear that they would fall into actual zina (i.e. unlawful sexual intercourse), because of their uncontrollable desire, and
• they are unable to marry, and
• have taken all reasonable means to lessen their passion (such as fasting, lowering their gaze, avoiding meat and dairy products, avoiding those things that stir their desires, such as bad company, spending unnecessary time outdoors, especially in public places such as shopping malls where there is fitna, avoiding watching tv and surfing the internet, etc).

In such cases, it is not haram because of the principle that, “If there are only two options, but harmful, then one takes the lesser of the two harms to avoid the greater one.”
However, when there are third options, it remains impermissible to take the lesser harm, such as masturbation.
Even when the conditions outlined above are met, it would only not be impermissible to the extent necessary to quieten one’s sexual desire, not for sexual gratification. Otherwise, it would remain sinful. These conditions are extremely rare.
[derived from: Ibn Abidin’s Hashiya, al-Lakhnawi’s Naf` al-Mufti wa’l Sa’il, and al-Nahlawi’s Durar al-Mubaha, Kamal ibn al-Humam’s Fath al-Qadir]
As for fasting: masturbation that leads to ejaculation invalidates the fast.
And Allah knows best.
Sidi Faraz Rabbani

Insh’Allah, I hope the above given answer was able to clear your doubt.