Question Summary:
Are adultery and masturbation sins of the same level?

Question Detail:

Assalamoualaikoum
 
Can you please confirm that both adultery and masterbating are sins of the same level?
 
Thank you

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Adultery and masturbation are both classified as major sins in Shariah. ^{1, 2}
 
 And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Ibn Jibran Kadarkhan
Student Darul Iftaa
Mauritius  
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
                                                                                                             
[1]
Homosexuality is a grave sin. Allah speaks about the nation of Lut (عليه السلام) who were involved in this wretched act;
وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُمْ بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ {80} إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِنْ دُونِ النِّسَاءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُسْرِفُونَ {81} وَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ قَالُوا أَخْرِجُوهُمْ مِنْ قَرْيَتِكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ {82} فَأَنْجَيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ {83} وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ مَطَرًا ۖ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ {84}
Translation: And remember Lut when he said to his people, “Do you commit such immorality which none before you have ever committed?
Indeed, you approach men with lust, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people.”
Their only response was to say, “Evict them from your city! Indeed, they are men who keep themselves pure.”
So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; she was of those who remained (with the evildoers).
And We rained upon them a rain (of stones). Behold, how was the outcome of the criminals!
 
[2]
Masturbation is a major sin and an evil habit which should be abandoned. You should bear in mind that Allah sees all things even those that are done in darkness and in privacy. Fear Allah and do not commit sins as that incurs the anger of Allah.
وَهَلْ يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ ذَلِكَ إنْ أَرَادَ الشَّهْوَةَ؟ لَا يَحِلُّ لِقَوْلِهِ - عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ - «نَاكِحُ الْيَدِ مَلْعُونٌ وَإِنْ أَرَادَ تَسْكِينَ مَا بِهِ مِنْ الشَّهْوَةِ أَرْجُو أَنْ لَا يَكُونَ عَلَيْهِ وَبَالٌ» العناية شرح الهداية (2 / 330) 
 
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، قَالَ: بَيْنَا أَنَا أَمْشِي، مَعَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، فَقَالَ: كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَ: «مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ البَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ، فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ، وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ» صحيح البخاري (3 / 26)