Fatwas Part Eighty-Eight

Issued by: Dr. Ahmed Subhy Mansour, translated by: Ahmed Fathy

Quoting Meanings of Quranic Verses

Published in July 16, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … Is it OK since I cannot memorize the Quranic text that I'd quote meanings of verses I cannot remember? What do you think? … Thank you …    

Answer:

 It is OK but you should refer to the Quranic-verse number and the Quranic Chapter if you are quoting the meaning of this or that verse in your writings and speeches.

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Killing Insects during Pilgrimage

Published in July 16, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … What is the penalty for those pilgrims in Mecca who killed insects or mice, in violation of the Ihram state when they are at the Sacred Kaaba Mosque? Would they slaughter sacrificial animals to atone for this sin? … Thank you …  

Answer:

 This is not necessary; these pilgrims can atone for this violation also by paying charity money or fasting for some days.

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Human Development

Published in July 16, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … Some Sunnite sheikhs in my country prohibit working in the field of human development (and teaching its branches of knowledge) since its notions and concepts are 'imported' from the West! How could their silly fatwa be refuted? … Thank you …

Answer:

 It is obligatory – as per Islam – that the State should work hard on developing citizens as human beings by ensuring the application of human rights, religious and religious freedom, free speech, freedom of thought, social justice and solidarity, fighting and combating corruption and injustice, etc.

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Beaches and Semi-Nudity

Published in July 17, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … I live in a coastal city; I cannot enjoy going to the beaches and I stay at home every summer because women wear bikinis and I must never look lustfully at them … Am I doing the right thing by avoiding going to beaches? But I feel so sad as I love swimming! What do you think? Are mixed beaches prohibited in Islam? Would we impose segregation of sexes in beaches? … Thank you …    

Answer:

 You are in the wrong by depriving yourself; you have the right to enjoy the sea and the beach; those women who sin by getting semi-naked have nothing to do with you; do not look at them; you should restrain your lustful looks anywhere all the time; it is very wrong to prohibit going to beaches; we ourselves enjoy sitting by the sea and we restrain our looks; those extremists who prohibit going to beaches because of making women avoid seeing semi-nude men and men avoid seeing semi-nude women are violating God's Right to be the Only Legislator in Islam; one is never add to the list of prohibitions mentioned in the Quran; one is never to commit the grave sin of prohibiting legal/lawful/permissible things. What is prohibited is to leer/ogle or look lustfully at people anywhere; in beaches, in restaurants, in hotels, in means of transportation, etc.

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Online Agreements and Terms of Use

Published in July 17, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, …I feel that I'm a deceitful liar! When I'm online or use a software for the first time; I have to click or activate buttons that show I've read terms of use and agreements etc.; of course, in most cases, I never read them as they are too long or too difficult to understand; besides, they are sometimes written in an unknown language; what do you think? Is this part of telling lies? Am I sinful? … Thank you …      

Answer:

 The Lord God never punishes except those who intentionally commit sins and violate His laws mentioned in the Quran; God pardons  those who make mistakes unintentionally or are forced to sin. In your case, you are not a sinful liar; God will forgive you. May God pardon you and us. 

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We Congratulate You

Published in July 17, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … I feel that I never worship God as best as I can; I spend most of my day at work and then at home with my wife and kids; I never like to mingle with people so as not to commit the sins of hypocrisy, cheating, telling lies, ridiculing others, backbiting, etc. Of course, I perform the five daily prayers and donate charity-money to the poor; I browse your great website regularly to understand what True Islam is; I watch TV and try to please my family as much as I can; I avoid sinning all the time as much as I can; I feel I need to exert more efforts to earn Paradise in the Hereafter; any advice?  … Thank you …      

Answer:

 We congratulate you; may God bestow His mercy upon you; we hope to be like you; of course, you can perform extra prayers at night and read the Quran for more time daily and to glorify/praise the Lord more all the time; you can perform many good deeds all day long; this will make you among the Forerunners in Paradise (see the Quranic Chapter 56).

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After Moses!

Published in July 18, 2018

Question:  … Dear Sir, … Why is Moses mentioned in particular in the context of these verses about jinn: "Recall when We dispatched towards you a number of jinn, to listen to the Quran. When they came in its presence, they said, "Pay attention!" Then, when it was concluded, they rushed to their people, warning them. They said, "O our people, we have heard a Book, sent down after Moses, confirming what came before it. It guides to the truth, and to a Straight Path." (46:29-30)? Why did not the jinn mention Jesus and Gospel? Why did not they mentioned other Scriptures? Were those jinn Jewish or something?! Why is the phrase (after Moses) and not (after Jesus)? … Jesus was the penultimate prophet before Muhammad; no prophets came between both Jesus and Muhammad as you know; any ideas? … Thank you …        

Answer:

 Of course, as per the Quran, jinn are created from fire and they are tested and will be judged by God in the same way like humanity; the jinn heard the Quran as per the Quranic Chapters 72 and 46; there is nothing called Jewish jinn; they have mentioned Moses as the Book/Scripture given to him has a special stature among all Divine Books given to prophets/messengers of the Israelites before and after Moses, as we infer from these verses: "We gave Moses the Book after We had annihilated the previous generations; as an illumination for the humankind, and guidance, and mercy, so that they may remember." (28:43); "And before it was the Book of Moses, a model and a mercy. And this is a confirming Book, in the Arabic language, to warn those who do wrong - and good news for the doers of good." (46:12); "Is he who possesses a clear proof from his Lord, recited by a witness from Him, and before it the Book of Moses, a guide and a mercy? These believe in it. But whoever defies it from among the various factions, the Fire is his promise. So have no doubt about it. It is the Truth from your Lord, but most people do not believe." (11:17). Of course, the Quran is the Last Message of the Lord God to humanity and jinn till the end of days; its verses are described as insights in the similar way as verses of the Book given to Moses: ""Insights have come to you from your Lord. Whoever sees, it is to the benefit of his soul; and whoever remains blind, it is to its detriment..."" (6:104). 

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Winners and Losers Will Be Decided on the Last Day

Published in July 18, 2018

Question: … You are nothing but an inveterate liar and a charlatan who love to play on words! How dare you name your website as Ahl Al-Quran (i.e., literally, people of the Quran) while you are the archenemy of the Holy Quran and of the Holy Sunna and Hadiths; you are nothing but a pagan worshiper of Mammon who receive money from the West powers to destroy the Holy Religion of Islam! You write in your website nothing but lies and falsehoods to misguide people and make them embrace atheism like you! You use decontextualized parts of Quranic verses and you insult and undermine the hadiths of our Holy Prophet Muhammad! Disbelievers and infidels like you who reject Islam must be put to death for apostasy! You are misleading hundreds of people on purpose! Repent before you die and enter into Hell and be tormented in your grave! Apostates, wine-drinkers, married fornicators, and practicing homosexuals/lesbians must be put to death as per several  hadiths; it is illogical of you to refute putting them to death for merely saying that their penalty is exclusively in the Hereafter as the Quran never mentions the death penalty except for murderers and killers! Do not you have a sense of shame left?! You are the enemy of the Lord Allah and of His Quran! … No one can understand the Quran without hadiths! How idiotic you are to reject hadiths! … Sunna is part and parcel of Islam even if cursed disbelievers like you hate Sunna and use venomous words against it! … God gave the Muslims the right to fight infidels/apostates who rejected Islam, as per these hadiths.............. How dare you insult the Holy Prophet Muhammad by rejecting his hadiths?! Your other views are refuted by our revered sheikhs of Islam in several websites! You are too arrogant to read their refutations and reconsider your stances! Of course, the Holy Companions put the renegades and rejecters of faith to death; they understood Islam better than you do now! In every era, human devils like you cast doubt on the Holy Sunna to misguide the believers! As Islamic sharia laws have not been applied yet, no one can apply the penalty for apostasy now in the Arab world! … I thank God that no TV channel in the Arab world have you as a guest so as not to misguide more among those whose faith is weak! You will rot in hell, I'm sure! May God curse you! …   

Answer:

 Firstly, we feel bound to say that we regularly receive such email messages of verbal abuse and insults (or hate mail) by vulgar Sunnites who cannot refute Quranism; this male sender of the above message assumes that the so-called Sunna is nothing but 'holy' inspiration; he is unable to realize that Sunna hadiths are nothing but balderdash, fabrications, lies, and falsehoods inspired by Satan to polytheists in several eras; his Sunnite religion contains doubted 'right' and 'wrong' notions; in fact, all notions and hadiths of the Sunnite fiqh are nothing but falsehoods that have nothing to do with the Quran. Even Sunnite authors differ about and dispute over the authenticity, veracity, number, and texts of hadiths and their so-called Isnad (i.e., series of narrators) which certainly include liars and imaginary/fictional persons. The sender of the above message forgets the fact that hadiths contradict one another within all topics; some hadiths of Al-Bokhary written in one page refute one another! The Quran is never distorted or incomplete; God protects it as the only source of Islam till the end of days; in contrast, hadiths express the whims of their authors/fabricators and the dominant culture of their eras; hadiths are the primary cause of the backwardness and obscurantism of the Muhammadans, past and present; the clergymen of the Muhammadans (and the nations of the Muhammadans) are the laughing-stock of the modern world; we see this in worldwide media now; the Muhammadans are the worst nation that has emerged on the surface of the globe; it is no use that such Sunnite people like the sender of the above message would be guided by Quranism one day; Satan and devils control their minds. God says in the Quran: "As for those who disbelieve - it is the same for them, whether you have warned them, or have not warned them - they do not believe. God has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and over their vision is a veil. They will have a severe torment." (2:6-7); "What of him whose evil deed was made attractive to him, and so he regards it as good?..." (35:8). Lastly, we say the following to the sender of the above message:Winners and losers will be decided on the Last Day; we feel glad you have chosen for yourself polytheism; we respect religious freedom for all human beings; God will settle our religious differences and disputes on the Day of Judgment; we forgive you for insulting us; we expect to be rewarded by God when we pardon those who trespass against our person; God says in the Quran: "And say to those who do not believe, "Act according to your ability; and so will we." "And wait; we too are waiting."" (11:121-122).

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Read our Archive First

Published in July 21, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … I am a new Quranist and since this is my first email message to you, I seize this chance to thank you for your great Quranism website whose articles and books are very useful to me; I have a couple of questions about politics, esp. about Hamas, Palestine, Israel, the USA, the KSA, Bin Laden, etc. and I would like to know your answers within a Quranist vision:......................, and lastly, what is your view of caliphate? Is it part of Islam or not? … Thank you …   

Answer:

 Since you are a novice, it is clear you have not read our entire archive of fatwas, articles, and books yet; please give yourself the chance to dedicate more time to read our archive of writings; you will find answers to all your questions. In general, we are against theocracies/caliphates and Islam has nothing to do with them; we support secular democracies which protect freedom of religion and observe and apply human rights; we have written a lot about these topic; our articles (in English) that will provide answers to your questions  include this one titled "We Say the Following about the USA, Israel, and the KSA" found on this link: (http://www.ahl-alquran.com/English/show_article.php?main_id=16733). Hamas is a terrorist group; we refer you to our book, in English, titled "Our Journey to Israel and Palestine" found on this link: http://www.ahl-alquran.com/arabic/book_main.php?main_id=126   

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The Religion of Abraham, Again

Published in July 21, 2018

Question: …  Dear Sir, … I cannot comprehend how Muhammad followed thereligion of Abraham? No Scripture given to Abraham existed at the time in Arabia during Muhammad's ministry, right? Any ideas? What do you think? … Thank you …     

Answer:

 The Quranic command to Muhammad, and consequently to all Quran-believing people, to followthe religion of Abraham means to dedicate acts of worship to the Lord God within monotheism; i.e., without the polytheism of devoting them to deities/saints/mausoleums. Thus, pilgrimage, prayers, fasting, etc. should be dedicated 100% to God only; thisreligion of Abraham has been known and applied by Arabs at the time; yet, most Arabs inserted polytheistic practices and notions within their acts of worship, inside their mosques, etc. and they deified mortals as saints/gods; thus, the Quranic command to follow the religion of Abraham means piety within monotheism by devoting one's religion, faith, glorification, and all acts of worship ONLY to the Lord God, with no other deities/partners/associates or allies/saints alongside with Him. You should bear this in mind as you ponder on the Quranic Chapter 39 when you read it slowly within deep reflection while reverently seeking guidance from the Lord God. 

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The Term (Muhammadans)

Published in July 21, 2018

Question: …  Dear Sir, … I am a new Quranist … I beg you to stop using, in your videos and articles, the term (Muhammadans) to describe Sunnites, Shiites, and Sufis; this is very offensive to me; this turn new viewers/readers off; besides, Prophet Muhammad has nothing to do with his being deified after his death; it is not his fault, you know; why would you use a term coined from his name to describe the polytheistic Sunnites, Shiites, and Sufis? … Why do not you call them Bokharists as they follow a deity named Al-Bokhary? …  Thank you …        

Answer:

 One should call a spade a spade; one should be bold and courageous enough to express the whole truth; the derogatory term (Muhammadans) used by our person to describe Sunnites, Shiites, and Sufis is intended to offend and ridicule them, because they deify an imaginary figure who never existed whom they name as Muhammad; such a false deity has nothing to do with the mortal, historical Muhammad found exclusively in the Quran; the Sunnites, Shiites, and Sufis have made their deity 'Muhammad' as the leader/imam of their Umma/nation and they attribute divine (i.e., God-like) qualities to him. The term (Muhammadans) is employed in our writings and videos to indicate the fact that they deify Muhammad in the same way as Christians deify Christ and as Buddhists deify Buddha, etc. We will continue using this derogatory term to wake readers/viewers up from their state of heedlessness and to make them aware of such polytheism to avoid it in order to become real monotheists to save themselves. Thank you.   

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The Quran Is Not Distorted

Published in July 21, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir,  … After I've studied all your writings, videos, and fatwas, I converted to Quranism months ago; yet, I'm troubled by some YouTube videos made by Arab atheists about possible 'distortions' in the Quranic text! How could their views be refuted by Quranist thinker like you? The former Muslim who converted to Christianity, Mr. Rasheed, has uploaded several episodes about distortions of the Quranic text; you have been his guest at one time in this TV show, he assumes that Quranists cannot defend the Quran; what do you think?! I feel at loss and in a muddle! … Thank you …

Answer:

 We have nothing to do with other episodes of Mr. Rasheed; within his episode with us, he never dared to pose any questions about any distortions in the Quran; besides, we have refuted all his attacks against the Quranic text; this episode is the most watched among his TV show and it has caused an increase in the number of Quranists in the Arab world. As for refuting views of atheists who cast doubt on the Quran, our entire archive of books, articles, videos, etc. prove that the Quran contains no distortions and that it is the Word of God; no human being(s) authored the Quran. we advise you to read articles by our fellow Quranists about numerical miraculous features of the Quran.

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Balderdash within Social Media!

Published in July 21, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … Will God reward those who share religious content like prayers/supplications, hadiths, or Quranic verses via social media (e.g. Facebook and Twitter)? What do you think? … Thank you …    

Answer:

 Of course not; social media and emails are filled with balderdash of the Muhammadans who share their nonsensical notions and demand that people would share and like and to spread their posts; the intention is to revive Wahabism, hijab, etc. and polytheistic notions among the skeptic youths. It is better to spread Quranist facts and Quranic verses with one's own Quranist reflections and ponderings to warn and preach the Muhammadans; it is better to spread links of our website and YouTube videos; it is sinful to spread false notions of polytheism of the Muhammadans; it is rewarding to spread (without imposing oneself on others) links related to Quranism, which is Real Islam. God will judge us as per what we read, hear, utter, etc.; this means that we should never participate in the spread of lies and falsehoods in religion to misguide people; true believers should be careful in this respect.     

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Sister of Aaron, Again!

Published in July 22, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … God says in the Quran: "O sister of Aaron, your father was not an evil man, and your mother was not a whore."" (19:28) … Why did the Israelites here in 19:28 address Mary as the sister of Aaron? Any ideas? What do you think? … Thank you …

Answer:

 In a previous fatwa of ours, we have inferred that the phrase (sister of Aaron) is a statement of reproach uttered typically by the Israelites at the time to refer to the piety of Aaron, as they preferred and loved Aaron more than Moses as the latter rebuked them severely more often than not.

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Bounty of the Messenger

Published in July 22, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … God says in the Quran: "If only they were content with what God and His messenger have given them, and said, "God is sufficient for us; God will give us of His bounty, and so will His messenger; to God we eagerly turn."" (9:59) … What is meant by the messenger (i.e., Muhammad) giving any bounty to anyone? … Thank you …     

Answer:

 God says in the Quran: "And among them are those who criticize you in regard to charities. If they are given some of it, they become pleased; but if they are not given any, they grow resentful. If only they were content with what God and His messenger have given them, and said, "God is sufficient for us; God will give us of His bounty, and so will His messenger; to God we eagerly turn." Charities are for the poor, and the destitute, and those who administer them, and for reconciling hearts, and for freeing slaves, and for those in debt, and in the path of God, and for the traveler in need-an obligation from God. God is All-Knowing, Most Wise." (9:58-60). In this Quranic context, some hypocritical contemporaries/companions who never deserve alms/charity as they were rich desired to receive shares from the alms/charity money collected by the Yathreb city-state and distributed by Muhammad; real believers should never be greedy, envious, or stingy; alms/charity money should be given to the poor in a given Quran-based country regardless of the religious affiliation of the poor ones; i.e., hypocrisy and belief are not factors here; the only factor here is citizenship; citizens of the Yathreb city-state enjoyed religious and political freedom and peaceful protest. 

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Tree of Progeny/Family of Muhammad's Descendants!

Published in March 2, 2015

Question: … Dear Sir, … Is it part of Islam to obey and revere those who have papers proving that they are descendants of the tree of progeny/family of Prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima and her husband Ali? …  … Thank you … 

Answer:

 There is nothing in Islam about deified mortal beings; Muhammad is not holy and this applies to his alleged progeny and to all mortals; polytheists invent religious notions that has nothing to do with Islam and God never authorized such polytheistic notions at all. Such fabrications about deified beings are typical within man-made, earthly/terrestrial religions of Satan. We refer readers to this article, in English, titled "The Notion of Descendants of Muhammad's Household Is a False, Hateful, Racist One of Disbelief" found on this link:  http://www.ahl-alquran.com/English/show_article.php?main_id=16080

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Declaring the People of the Book as Infidels

Published in May 6, 2007

Question: … Dear Sir, … Sunnite clergymen misuse this verse: "They disbelieve those who say, "God is the Messiah the son of Mary"..." (5:72) to assume that Christians are infidels and not among the People of the Book; how can this erroneous view be refuted? What do you think? … Thank you …

Answer:

 Those Sunnite clergymen are in the wrong; the Quran deems Jews and Christians as (The People of the Book); some of them have been real monotheists and some have been sinners and polytheists; the same division applies to Quran-believing people; those Sunnite clergymen and sheikhs are polytheists who deify Muhammad and his household members and his contemporaries; instead of attacking Christians, they should reconsider their stance and return to real monotheism in Quranism; in general, we are not to argue with the People of the Book about their religious beliefs; our concern should be to adhere to piety and good deed within monotheism to be among the winners in the Hereafter. We are not to focus on declaring others as infidels or believers; this is none of our concern. For more details, we refer you to our book titled "The Penalty of Apostasy" found in English on this link: http://www.ahl-alquran.com/arabic/book_main.php?main_id=91

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Good Life

Published in April 4, 2015

Question: … Dear Sir, … "Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while being a believer, We will grant him a good life..." (16:97). Is this good life in this world or the next one in the Hereafter? What do you think? … Thank you …    

Answer:

 Paradise in the Hereafter is the intended meaning in the verse you have quoted; the context asserts this meaning: "What you have runs out, but what is with God remains. We will reward those who are patient according to the best of their deeds.Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while being a believer, We will grant him a good life - and We will reward them according to the best of what they used to do." (16:96-97). Hence, Paradise in the Hereafter is the reward for adhering to patience, faith, and piety within monotheism in times of adversity and tests ordained by God. Good life is not in this world which is filled with tragedies and little, genuine happiness, but in Paradise for eternity. God says in the Quran: "O you who believe! Seek help through patience and prayers. God is with the patient ones...We will certainly test you with some fear and hunger, and some loss of possessions and lives and crops. But give good news to the patient ones.Those who, when a calamity afflicts them, say, "To God we belong, and to Him we will return."Upon these are blessings and mercy from their Lord. These are the guided ones." (2:153-157); "So that God may prove those who believe, and eliminate the disbelievers. Or do you expect to enter Paradise, before God has distinguished those among you who strive, and before He has distinguished the patient ones?" (3:141-142); "God promises the believers, men and women, gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever, and fine homes in the Gardens of Eden. But approval from God is even greater. That is the supreme achievement." (9:72); "He will forgive you your sins; and will admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow, and into beautiful mansions in the Gardens of Eden. That is the supreme success." (61:12).    

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Lengthening Their Garments

Published in September 7, 2007

Question: … Dear Sir, …What is meant by lengthening of garments of women mentioned in this verse: "O prophet! Tell your wives, and your daughters, and the women of the believers, to lengthen their garments. That is more proper, so they will be recognized and not harassed. God is Forgiving and Merciful." (33:59) … Thank you …  

Answer:

 This command means that believing women are to cover their legs; this does not mean to cover their hair or heads at all; this means that at the time, lewd or licentious women bared their legs to draw attention of men/customers who lustfully chased those who follow certain fashions of revealing clothes; covering the legs means that the women are chaste and not lewd ones or sex workers; chastity and modesty within dress-codes are recommended for all Muslim women; this does not mean the cursed veil or niqab at all. Revealing clothes were worn by women in Yathreb during Muhammad's lifetime; the piece of advice in 33:59 means that they were free to do so and no one forced them to do otherwise; they were free to apply Quranic commands or not. Believing women were dressed in decent clothes that never showed their chests or legs; before Arab readers would accuse us of insulting women of Yathreb at the time and saying that some of them were lewd, we remind readers that the commands of covering the chest and legs meant that the opposite was common at the time, and even some men forced their female slaves to be sex workers; freedom of dress-codes in the Yathreb city-state coincided with the freedom of speech and religions; hypocrites of both sexes were free to preach against Islam but peacefully without raising arms against innocent, peaceful believers; see 9:67-71. Thus, personal freedom has been protected at the time. 

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Masturbation Is Sinful

Published in May 23, 2007

Question: … Dear Sir, …  Is masturbation a sin as per Islam or not? … Thank you …        

Answer:

 Preserving one's chastity is part of the description of real monotheistic believers; this include those who never masturbate or commit the sin of illicit sex. God says in the Quran: "Those who guard their chastity. Except from their spouses, or their dependents - for they are free from blame. But whoever seeks anything beyond that-these are the transgressors." (23:5-7). Hence, the only permissible sex is with one's spouse and one's freed slaves to whom one is married. This is about heterosexual marriages only, of course; i.e., when free men marry their freed female slave(s) and when free women marry one freed male slave; the term (spouse) also refers ONLY to heterosexual marriage partner (men who are married to women and vice versa) within written contracts. The verses in the Quranic Chapter 23 about descriptions or qualities of real believers apply to both women and men of course. Hence, as per 23:7, we can say that masturbation is a sexual transgression and a sin for men and for women as well. Yet, it is a small mistake/sin or a mishap; it is not a grave one like fornication and other forms of illicit sex; this is because it involves imaginary sex within a fantasy that never took place and then stimulation or rubbing of genitals until ejaculation and/or orgasm occurs; this coming nearer to illicit sex within your imagination is forbidden in Islam as a small sin; God says in the Quran: "And do not come near fornication..." (17:32).