What is your verdict on body massage for bodily pleasure?

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.

Body massage for bodily pleasure and relaxation is permissible provided that it is performed by yourself or by your spouse. It is permissible for two persons of the same sex to apply massage to the body of each other on condition that the ‘Awrah (those parts of the body which must be covered) is not exposed.

It is prohibited for persons of the opposite sex to massage the body of each other unless they are married. As it is not lawful to look at a person from the opposite sex (if they are not in loco parentis relationship) therefore, it is prohibited to touch the body of that person from the opposite sex, as touching is more exciting than looking.

Allah knows best.