Zaid Alsalami's response to If the husband does not fulfil his wife’s physical needs and avoids intimacy is the wife allowed to masturbate? If not, what should she do?

If the husband does not fulfil his wife’s physical needs and avoids intimacy is the wife allowed to masturbate? If not, what should she do?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 1 year ago

Bismihi ta'ala

In Islam, self-pleasure is forbidden and there are many mental, emotional, moral and physical harms to such practices.

The husband has a shar'i and moral obligation of physical intimacy with his wife. If he does not do so, he is committing a sin and it will be grounds for divorce.

It is necessary for the husband to realise that physical intimacy is important for both sides, and will strengthen the bond between them. When he neglects the sexual needs of his wife, not only will she not feel valued, her heart will start drifting away from him.

It is not just a matter of sexual pleasure between the husband and wife, but also to avoid any damaging effects or practices. Besides the fact that it is haram, her masturbating is no solution at all.

If husband does not change his ways, they should seek intervention and visit a marriage counsellor.

With prayers for your success.