‘Ā'ishah raḍhiyallāhu ‘anhā said:

((نِعْمَ النِّسَاءُ نِسَاءُ الأَنْصَارِ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَمْنَعُهُنَّ الْحَيَاءُ أَنْ يَتَفَقَّهْنَ فِي الدِّينِ)) ‏ “The best women are the women of the Anṣār. Shyness would not prevent them from inquiring & learning the Deen.” [Muslim 332] ___________________________ 📝 QUESTION: There is a doubt regarding masturbation during periods. If a person stimulates themself to the point of reaching orgasm during periods, is it still ḥarām? As orgasm can relieve period cramp, which is at times unbearable, due to contractions. ✅ ANSWER: It is not permissible to cure a sickness through Ḥarām means. Abū Dardā’ raḍhiyallāhu ‘anhu said: “The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: ‘Allāh has sent down the disease and the cure, and has made for every disease a cure. So treat sickness, but do not use anything harām.’” [Reported by Abū Dāwūd (3376), Sheikh Albāni raḥimahullāh said it's meaning is correct due to the corroborating narrations - see التعليقات الرضية على الروضة الندية (3/154)] Masturbation is ḥarām because Allāh said: {وَٱلَّذِینَ هُمۡ لِفُرُوجِهِمۡ حَـٰفِظُونَ} “and those who guard their chastity” {إِلَّا عَلَىٰۤ أَزۡوَ ٰ⁠جِهِمۡ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَیۡمَـٰنُهُمۡ فَإِنَّهُمۡ غَیۡرُ مَلُومِینَ} “except with (1) their wives or (2) those ˹bondwomen˺ in their possession, for then they are free from blame.” {فَمَنِ ٱبۡتَغَىٰ وَرَاۤءَ ذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡعَادُونَ} “but whoever seeks beyond that are the transgressors.” [Sūrah Al-Ma‘ārij (29 - 31)] In these Āyāt, Allāh tells us that whoever fulfils their desires through a means outside of the two above-mentioned, then they are transgressing Allāh's boundary. Therefore, one has to look for alternative pain relief methods which are permissible; such as black seeds, honey, ruqya, massage, hot baths, hot water bottles, eating lots of banana, hot drinks, ginger, consulting health professionals and seeking advise from experienced elders. Remember, the Prophet ﷺ said: ((مَا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ دَاءً إِلاَّ أَنْزَلَ لَهُ شِفَاءً)) “Allāh has not sent a disease except that He has also sent its cure.” [Bukhāri (5678 )] The person in question should also hasten to get married❗️ Masturbation might offer temporary pain relief, but it carries many side effects and has a negative impact in the long run. Research shows that addiction is a common side effect; and once a person becomes addicted, they tend to seek other methods (usually more shameless) to stimulate themselves. Also, once the person eventually gets married, it will be difficult for the husband to satisfy them naturally, leading to marital problems.