AS-SALAM-ALAIKUM ONE OF MY FRIEND HAD SEVERE PAIN IN HIS TESTICLES, DOCTOR ADVISED HIM TO MASTURBATE. PLEASE CLARIFY.

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

We have already issued Fatwa 81150 clarifying that masturbation is forbidden. However, it is Islamically established that necessities make what is forbidden lawful, and that a necessity is valued according to its proper value. On the other hand, some scholars permitted masturbation for whoever fears for his health.

Even though masturbation is permitted in case of necessity, one must distinguish between the person who does that when fearing for his heath and when he predominantly thinks he would otherwise become sick, and the one who does that to enjoy himself and fulfil his desires. Nonetheless, it is feared that such a person would confuse the two matters, and consequently he will get accustomed to committing this prohibition and enjoy himself while doing it, and not just restrict himself to removing the harm and adhering to the necessity.

We ask Allaah to protect us and save us from the whispers of the devil. 

Allaah Knows best.