An Islamic preacher has made the astonishing claim that those who masturbate will find their hands pregnant and be forced to raise the offspring in the afterlife.

Turkish preacher Mucahid Cihad Han made the comments in response to a viewer's startlingly honest query during a broadcast on live TV.

At first appearing puzzled by the caller's question, he eventually warned him to 'resist Satan's temptations'.

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Preacher Mucahid Cihad Han (pictured) claimed those who masturbate will find their hands pregnant

According to Hurriyet Daily News, Han was appearing on the TV station 2000 TV when a man rang the station to confess that despite being married, he kept masturbating - even during the holy pilgrimage to Mecca known as Umrah.

Forced to repeat the question several times to the confused preacher, he was eventually advised that the act was forbidden.

'Moreover,' Han said, 'One [saying] states that those who have sexual intercourse with their hands will find their hands pregnant in the afterlife, complaining against them to God over its rights.

'If our viewer was single, I could recommend he marry, but what can I say now?'

He later posted on Twitter an interpretation of Islam which he said proved masturbation was forbidden, adding: ' Lets keep ourselves out of trouble.'

Despite his claims, there are various interpretations in Islam regarding whether or not the act is forbidden.