Practical solutions for the problem of pornography addiction
Fatwa No: 260788

Question

Salamu Aleikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu I would like to ask you about somethin i came across something intrieging i heard that pornography is an addiction no different than drugs so even if u resist u will eventually go back to watching porn again and i stopped watching porn for like 6 weeks and it was an amazing feeling but eventually started getting back to my old ways without even knowing how.So my friend recommended that i visit this site purifyyourgaze.com and its a very complicated site and i opened it and the guy (the owner of website posted videos for his clients to begin their rehab) kept on saying that we should not resist cause we will return to it and im like is this some reverse psychology,how am i suppose to stop if i dont resist and he was like put ur trust in Allah (SWT) but i heard that for Allah to help u u need to help urself first and he said u shouldnt resist.So i listened to his advice and i stopped resisting and eventually i started watching more than i ever did till i had no remorse watsoever of what ive done but in my heart it was burning.I was wondering how can i be patient and w8 for Allah's aid and yet im sinning more than ever (i felt some enormous guilt) i've literally lost the blessing of salah dhikr and i all that blessing of faith even though i kept away from many of my previous sins such as lying swearing backbitting slanndering etc(ALhamudillah).My question is he right with what is theory is what im going through part of the rehab plz do help i reallly dont know whre else to go

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

We implore Allaah to save and protect you and us from all evil, bless us with guidance, piety, chastity, and freedom from need, and shield us against indecencies, temptations, and whatever leads to them.

The theory mentioned here is void. In fact, it is incumbent on the person to hasten to repent of watching these pornographic films without any delay. Claiming that watching such pornographic films is an addiction and that whoever quits it would eventually go back to watching them again may be an evil diabolic scheme, enticing the person to continue watching such films. The fact that you went back to watching them after following the mentioned theory proves that it is false and groundless. On the other hand, many of those who gave up watching such films were not in need of following this gradual method suggested by that theory.

In fact, the effective and practical way for quitting such an addiction is to strengthen one’s faith by means of reciting Thikr (remembrance of Allaah), reading the Quran, evoking the greatness of Allaah (in one's heart), remembering death, and thinking of the day when one would be held accountable (for his deeds) before Allaah, The Almighty. Moreover, another means for redressing that addiction is to have firm determination to adhere to repentance, seeking refuge in Allaah, and supplicating Him to get rid of such an addiction.

For more information please, please refer to Fataawa 82882, 83829 and 89267.

Allaah Knows best.

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