The Authenticity of the Hadith Cursing One Who Masturbates

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner asks: What is the authenticity of this hadith regarding the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Cursed is the one who masturbates"?

Answer:
This is not established. It is not established from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). However, masturbation is forbidden, because it is seeking pleasure by means other than what Allah has made lawful. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: He has not made seeking pleasure lawful except through one of two things: either a wife or what the right hand possesses. Therefore, He said: "So whoever seeks beyond that, meaning other than a wife and what the right hand possesses, then those are the transgressors," meaning those who cross the boundary from what is lawful to what is forbidden. Among such things is masturbation by hand, which is a transgression because it is seeking pleasure other than through a wife or what the right hand possesses, so it is forbidden. As for the hadiths, I do not know of any authentic hadith in this. Ibn Hajar al-Haythami mentioned the issue in his book *Al-Zawa'ir* and stated that masturbation is among the major sins, and he cited reports on it, but nothing of them is established to my knowledge.