I am a Muslim man, not married yet, never committed adultery. I live in Canada and I am exposed to Fitna a lot. When I get a sexual urge, I don't masturbate but I use a pillow as a substitute to fulfil my desire. Is this behavior Haram?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Self-induced ejaculation without having contact with one's wife is forbidden in the Sharee’ah. There is much evidence in the Quran and in the Sunnah of the Prophet about this.  Allah Says (what means): {And they who guard their private parts. Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors.} [Quran 23:5-7]

There is no doubt that any way other than the one mentioned in the above verse is considered seeking pleasure “beyond that (lawful means)”. As for the evidence from the Sunnah, ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas'ood  narrated:  “We were with the Prophet while we were young and had no wealth whatsoever. So the Prophet said, “O young people, whoever is able to marry should marry as it helps him lower his gaze and protect his private parts (from committing illegal sexual intercourse), and whoever is not able to marry, he should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual desires.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Had there been any other means to satisfy the youth's strong sexual desire, the Prophet would have informed us about it. But he did not guide us to anything apart from marriage or fasting. In addition, this practice [masturbation] causes much physical and psychological harm.

Finally, we would like to draw your attention to two important matters.

1. Whoever fears to be tempted to commit Zina (fornication or adultery) and he is able to marry, he is obliged to marry for the above ruling of the Prophet .

2. Living in a non-Muslim country is not permissible; for more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 81464 and 81642.

Allah knows best.