Does Masturbation Break Your Fast?

Question: 2571

I happened to had masturbated while I was fasting during ramadan. Then I read in one of islamic question/answer column in a newspaper that the act of masturbation invalidate the fasting but no "kaffara" is required i.e. freeing a slave or fasting for 60 days. Is this true?

The other question is that at that time I did not know that kaffara is not required so I ate (I though my fasting is invalid so I ate). does this will make me do the kaffara or not. JazakaAllah for the response.

Summary of answer

Masturbation breaks the fast and the one who does that has to make up for the day that he broke his fast. He must also repent from this great sin.

Answer

Table Of Contents

Is masturbation haram?
Does masturbation break your fast?

Is masturbation haram?

No doubt masturbation is haram according to most of the scholars, as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said. If this happens in Ramadan, this is worse, and if there is ejaculation of sperm because of the masturbation , the violation of the sanctity of the fast is even more severe in sin.

Does masturbation break your fast?

From the time the maniy (semen) is ejaculated, the fast is broken, but the person should still fast for the rest of that day. It is not permissible for him to stop fasting, because of the sanctity of the month.

You have to repent for breaking your fast by deliberately ejaculating, and you also have to repent for not keeping the fast for the rest of the day and for violating the sanctity of the fast by doing something else that broke the fast, namely eating food.

You also have to fast one day to make up for breaking your fast. Increase the number of good deeds (hasanat) you do and observe nafl (supererogatory) fasts, for good deeds (hasanat) cancel out bad deeds (sayyiat). And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

And Allah knows best.

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Source:

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid