What is the ruling on my prayers and fasting during the years I practiced masturbation with water, and must I make up the prayers given that I do not know their number?
The act mentioned is considered masturbation, which is forbidden by Sharia. The one who commits it must repent and seek forgiveness. Regarding prayer and fasting:
- If you were certain that semen was discharged and you did not perform ghusl due to ignorance, there is a difference of opinion regarding the necessity of re-performing the prayers. You may follow the opinion that re-performing them is not obligatory, which is a strong opinion, or act more cautiously by re-performing the prayers.
- If you were not certain of semen discharge, then your prayers and fasting are originally valid.
- Fasting remains valid even if masturbation was performed during fasting due to ignorance, because a fasting person does not break their fast except with three conditions: knowledge, remembrance (not forgetfulness), and intention.
- The easiest solution in this case, after repentance, is to adopt the view of those who believe that re-performing prayers and fasting is not obligatory when done out of ignorance.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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