Advice on how to get rid of pornography and masturbation addiction

QUESTION:

I need help because i am addicted to masterbation and porn and i hate it.
But i cant stop the closer i get to becoming a good muslim that stays away from sins i just repeat the same sins but i always make tawbah not even once i did a sin without it but im still worried about my addiction and i tried searching online how to stop but nothing works. 

ANSWER:

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

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Firstly, we commend your concern for the rectification of your deeds. Indeed, this is a sign of faith (īmān), whereby one sins and immediately feels regret and repents. Consider the following Hadīth, wherein the Prophet (Peace And Blessings Be Upon Him) states,

كلُّ بَني آدَمَ خَطّاءٌ، وخيرُ الخطّائين التَّوابُون

Translation: “All of the children of Ādam are sinners, and the best of the sinners are those who repent” (Mustadrak al-Hākim)

If one makes a sincere intention to avoid sins and holds remorse for his past actions, Allah Ta’ālā will surely wipe his slate clean. With such an addiction, there comes many associated harms such as:

• Social anxiety 
• Loss of self esteem
• Stress
• Lethargy 
• Acne
• Early on-set erectile disfunction
• Desensitivity of the private parts leading to dissatisfaction
• Desensitivity of the brain leading to a need for more extreme pornography
• Loss of libido leading to asexuality
• Delayed ejaculation

These are just a few of the harms associated with pornography and masturbation addiction. It seems that you have already overcome the most difficult step which is admitting and accepting one’s mistake. Now, it is time to undertake curative measures to solve your addiction:

• Using a day counter. For every day without pornography and masturbation, it increases by one
• Getting rid of pornography that is easy to access like that which has been downloaded 
• Installing pornography blockers like OpenDNS
• Joining a support group or a forum like NoFap
• Engaging in a set amount of remembrance of Allah
• Continuously making du’ā to Allah for help to abstain from this sin
• Avoiding being alone and staying in sight of others such as friends and family
• Keeping busy in good and beneficial actions as ‘an idle mind is a devil’s workshop’
• Getting rid of any means to harām 
• Reprimanding yourself whenever you commit the sin, such as a donating a certain amount of money to charity or fasting
• Fasting regularly to restrain carnal desires
• Getting married
• Trying to stay in the company of pious people 

Some books which may be of benefit: 

1. The Harms of Casting Lustful Glances – By Mawlānā Shāh Abdul Hamīd Ishāq. PDF available here. https://ka.org.za/sites/default/files/kitaabs/The%20harms%20of%20casting%20lustful%20glances.pdf
2. Bidāyah al-Hidāyah (The Beginning of Guidance) by Shaykh Abū Hāmid al-Ghazālī. Available from Turath Books, UK – This will motivate you to build awareness of Allah and avoid sins.
3. Daily Adhkār – Ummah Welfare Trust. Available here https://uwt.org/about-us/daily-adhkar/. A great book filled with prayers that are to be said morning and evening
4. Hayātus Sahābah (Lives of the Companions) by Shaykhul Hadīth Mawlānā Zakariyyā Kāndehlawī. Available here: https://archive.org/details/HayatUsSahabah-english-ByShaykhMuhammadYusufKandhelvir.a. A great book that should be read regularly for spiritual benefit.
5. “What happens after death” By Mufti Muhammad ‘Āshiq Ilāhī – Zam Zam Publishers. This book will help you to acknowledge what is to come after death and help you stay conscious of Allah Ta’ālā.Available here: https://archive.org/details/WhatHappensAfterDeathByShaykhAshiqIlahiMadnir.a

We ask Allah to give us all the ability to stay away from harām and guide us to the straight path. Āmeen.

And Allah Ta’ālā Knows Best

Luqmaan Mohamed

Concurred by: Hanif Yusuf

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