What is the ruling on masturbation if one cannot get married, and is it absolutely forbidden?

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not guide youth towards masturbation, but rather to marriage or fasting. Physicians have determined that practicing masturbation leads to physical and psychological harm and causes addiction. What is medically harmful is forbidden by religious law. The majority of imams consider masturbation with the hand forbidden due to its severe harm. One can overcome it by hastening to marriage, moderating eating and drinking, avoiding everything that excites desire, directing the sense of beauty towards permissible areas, choosing upright friends, engaging in worship, integrating into society, avoiding extravagance in clothing and perfumes, not sleeping in a luxurious bed, and staying away from mixed gatherings. The Malikis and Shafi'is state its prohibition, while the Hanafis permit it under three conditions: that the man is not married, that he genuinely fears falling into adultery if he does not do it, and that his intention is not to obtain pleasure, but rather to break the intensity of lust. As for the Hanbalis, they explicitly stated the prohibition of masturbation except when necessary.