According to an Islamic televangelist, men who masturbate will find their hands “pregnant in the afterlife”.

The Istanbul-based preacher Mücahid Cihad Han, who uses social media and has a YouTube channel, made the claims at the weekend on the 2000 TV channel.

A viewer said he had “kept masturbating”, despite being married to a woman, and during hils Umrah, or pilgramage to Mecca.

Starting by saying that masturbation was “Haram”, the televangelist went on to say that the man’s “pregnant hands” would demand rights in the afterlife.

According to Hurriyet Daily News, he said: “Moreover, one hadith states that those who have sexual intercourse with their hands will find their hands pregnant in the afterlife, complaining against them to God over (their) rights.”

Going on, he said: “If our viewer was single, I could recommend he marry, but what can I say now?” finally advising the viewer to “resist Satan’s temptations”.

Han was mocked on social media following reports on his comments.

One user asked: “Are there any hand-gynaecologists in the afterlife? Is abortion allowed there?”