Mucahid Cihad Han: Men Who Masturbate Will Find Their ‘Hands Pregnant’ In The Afterlife, According To Islamic Preacher
An Islamic televangelist has come under fire on social media this week after appearing on a television program and proclaiming that according to Islam, masturbation is forbidden, and will lead to pregnant hands in the afterlife.
Mucahid Cihad Han, an Islamic preacher based in Istanbul who appeared on private television station 2000 TV on May 24 to answer viewer questions, was left momentarily stunned after one caller admitted to masturbating, despite being married. The viewer called the television station and told Han that he “kept masturbating, although he was married, and even during the Umrah [a Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca].” After a stunned silence, and asking the caller to repeat his question more than once, Han replied that masturbation was a haram (forbidden) act in Islam.
“Moreover, one hadith [instructions or sayings by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)] states that those who have sexual intercourse with their hands will find their hands pregnant in the afterlife, complaining against them to God over its rights. If our viewer was single, I could recommend he marry, but what can I say now?”
Mucahid Cihad Han finished by advising the caller to “resist Satan’s temptations.”
Naturally, once word of the absurd pregnant hands statement hit the internet, social media had a field day, with one Twitter user asking “Are there any hand-gynaecologists in the afterlife? Is abortion allowed there?” Another asked “So you think that being pregnant is a God-given punishment?”
Just to be safe, I suggest you use somebody else's hand. http://t.co/KSiZIblWzB
— Venkatesh "Venky" Iyer (@venkyiyer58) May 26, 2015
According to Turkish Televangelist Mücahid Cihad Han, Men gonna get Pregnant hands in #Afterlife
We all know what #Popeye has been upto!— ???-??? ????-&-?? (@ashshanuferns) May 26, 2015
How does Islam really feel about masturbation, though?
The Hurriyet Daily News, which is Turkey’s leading news source, and the first to break the story online about Han’s pregnant hands, had this to say on the subject.
“‘Istimna,’ the Arabic term for masturbation that Han also referred to, is a controversial issue in Islam, as there have been varying opinions on its permissibility throughout history. The Quran has no clear reference to masturbation and the authenticity of many hadiths is questionable.”
Like the Christian Bible, there are many different interpretations of the Quran, as well as the hadiths, and while some do claim masturbation is haram, others consider it merely “makruh” (a disliked act), while still others — mainly the mainstream Islamic interpretations — consider it “halal” (acceptable) in certain situations, such as if it will stop the masturbator from committing adultery, or if the perpetrator doesn’t have the means to marry.
Mucahid Cihad Han has over 12,000 followers on Twiter, and seems to be enjoying all the press he’s getting, even if it is negative, as he’s been retweeting every article written about his pregnant hands statement since May 25.
[Image Credit: @mucahid_han/Twitter]
