The Ruling on the Secret Habit in Cases of Dire Necessity

This is a message we received from (M. A. A.), an Egyptian working in the Eastern Region. He says: I am away from my wife for a year and do not go to her except during the vacation only. My absence from her is prolonged, and I fear for myself that Satan may lead me to commit lewd acts. So I dare to resort to the secret habit out of necessity. What is the ruling on that? May Allah reward you.
Answer: The secret habit is not permissible. It is masturbation by hand or by other devices, and it is not permissible. This is because Allah the Exalted says: EXCEPT WITH THEIR WIVES OR THOSE THEIR RIGHT HANDS POSSESS, FOR THEY ARE NOT TO BE BLAMED. BUT WHOEVER SEEKS BEYOND THAT, IT IS THEY WHO ARE THE TRANSGRESSORS. [Al-Mu'minun: 5-7]. This is other than what Allah has made permissible, so it is transgression and injustice. The knowledgeable doctors have mentioned that the secret habit has many harms and is followed by severe consequences. It may even lead a person to be deprived of offspring thereafter. The point is that it has many harms and it is not permissible for a believer to engage in it. You can bring your wife with you; ask her to come if that is feasible, or travel to her from time to time. You can take permission from your employer or stipulate in your contract with the one you contracted with that you may go to your wife during the year. Or you can seek help from Allah, then from fasting. Or you can marry a second wife at your place of work, even if the absent wife is angry, it does not harm you, because this is to repel evil and prevent corruption. If her presence is not feasible and you are able, you have a legal excuse to marry a second wife. Marriage is permissible, and praise be to Allah. You have four in the Shari'ah. And Allah says: [An-Nisa: 3]. Whoever needs to marry or has the ability to marry takes two, three, or four, and there is no blame on him. And Allah may benefit through this by making them chaste and by providing them with righteous children from him. So there is great good for him in this, and for them all. By nature, women dislike the co-wife; it is the nature of women to dislike co-wives. But a woman may dislike the co-wife and yet there is good for her in it, in terms of her husband's chastity, the presence of righteous children, and the cause of justice between her and her co-wife. So a woman should not dislike the co-wife if there is a need for her and her husband is able to be just. Praise be to Allah. As for the secret habit, no. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you and reward you with good.