Clarification
In Prophet's (pbuh) time, marrying a slave-girl and "Mutah" marriage was allowed in the beginning; however, the latter practice was annulled later. Although slavery is illegal in most if not all countries (I am not sure), the provision of marrying a slave-girl has not been declared annulled by religious scholars based on Ijma. The reason I am saying that is Muslims now do not have these options, and most are getting married in their 30s, masturbation has become so prevalent in Muslim society. Although Allah forbade us to be transgressors in the Holy Quran, the verses in Surah Miraaj are Ayah 29: And those who guard their chastity, Ayah 30: Except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (then) they are not to be blamed, Ayah 31: But those who trespass beyond this are transgressors;- Now, here as I understand it is talking about "guarding chastity" from others except wives and slave-girls. The Meriam-Webster dictionary defines "chastity" as a : abstention from unlawful sexual intercourse b : abstention from all sexual intercourse c : purity in conduct and intention d : restraint and simplicity in design or expression. When a man/woman masturbate he is not doing sex with other and the word "guarding" of chastity implies guarding it from someone other than self. If the term were 'modesty' or 'decency' then one could remotely link that to masturbation, as the person himself/herself is considering it indecent or immodest often times. Besides, when Quran and/or hadith wants to make something unlawful (Haram), it has been mentioned directly without any ambiguity (for example, drinking alcohol, blood and eating pigs, marrying mothers, sisters, sister of a wife, and aunts, remarriage of Prophet's (pbuh)wives, anal sex, etc.) So, whatever that has not been directly mentioned in Quran and/or Sahih hadith, cannot be declared by someone as haram. At best, religious scholars based on their consensus can call it Makruh. If they cross that boundary, then by innovating something as haram, they can be considered as transgressors. Partly for this reason, religious scholars have not tried to ban marriage to a slave-girl. It is always a good practice to provide sound information in terms of Islam, but one should not try to propagate his personal idea about an issue as 'right Islamic information". If s/he desires to do so, then it has to be based on Quran/Hadith/Ijma/Kiyas in that order. Hope this clarifies some concerns that other may have on this issue.
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