The Churning in the Flogging of ʿUmayra: Or, Towards a History of Masturbation in Premodern Islamic Law

Abstract This article traces juristic debates on the ethics of masturbation from formative period Islamic law to early nineteenth century. I document appearance discussions practice in earliest extant sources and explore how figures Sunnī Šīʿī ḥadīṯ corpora with attention regional patterns dissemination. also address terminology used by jurists point material encyclopaedias, adab other works where relevant, include some comparative observations cultures. My overall findings fact clear opinion across amṣār (garrison cities) an unmistakable increase “conservatism” sexual matters consolidation legal schools ( maḏāhib ), as well a distinction between views practice. conclude attempting explain relatively low visibility account for doctrinal shift more generally.