Zina, sodomy and masturbation are forbidden

Question

‘Umar says that fornication (zina) and sodomy (liwata) are sins, but masturbation is permissible. Zayd says that masturbation is also haram. ‘Umar says that masturbation is permissible at a time of compulsion. So what is the truth of the matter?

Answer

Fornication and sodomy are both haram. Masturbation is also haram, but its prohibition is somewhat less than the prohibition of these two. If someone is overcome by desire and there is a strong fear of falling into one of these two acts, and in order to remain protected from them he resorts to masturbation, by which his desire is calmed and he is protected from fornication and…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.