Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Answer

Yes. Deliberately stimulating the clitoris (or any part of the body) to achieve sexual gratification/orgasm is masturbation (istimnāʾ) and is ḥarām in the Hanafi school,

Definition

In fiqh, istimnāʾ (masturbation) refers to seeking sexual pleasure/orgasm by means other than lawful intercourse — whether by hand, by rubbing, by an object, or by any self-stimulation. Clitoral stimulation to reach gratification falls squarely within this definition. The organ used or the method employed does not change the ruling; what matters is the purpose — seeking sexual release outside of lawful marriage.

The Qur'anic Prohibition

Allah says:

"And those who guard their chastity (i.e., private parts) — except from their wives or those whom their right hands possess, for then they are not blameworthy. But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors." (Sūrah al-Mu'minūn 23:5–7; also Sūrah al-Ma'ārij 70:29–31)

The verse restricts lawful sexual gratification to the spouse (and, historically, the slave-woman). Any gratification beyond that is described as transgression (ʿudwān). Masturbation is gratification outside the lawful avenue, hence it is included in the prohibition.

Hadith Evidence

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"O young men, whoever among you can afford to get married, let him marry, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity. And whoever is unable, then let him fast, for fasting will diminish his desire." (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5065; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1400)

The Prophet ﷺ directed the unmarried who cannot afford marriage to fasting — not to masturbation. This is a clear indication that self-gratification is not the prescribed outlet. The jurists (fuqahāʾ) derived from this that the default ruling of istimnāʾ is prohibition.