10Quitting Porn and Masturbation
Two things can not remain simultaneously with a muslim; strong eemaan (faith) and addiction to sin. Some sins are so detrimental to eemaan that a muslim does not remain a muslim while in the state of committing the act. So the faith of a muslim while he is committing zina (fornication/Adultery) or stealing for instance leaves him and hovers above him like a cloud and only returns to him after he stops the act! Imagine if he died in that state!
So, does the one who watches porn realise the urgent need to quit the filthy act? Does he not think that Allaah is oft-forgiving (forgetting He is also severe in purnishment)? Does he even fear he could die in that state? What a disgraceful end that would be!
Untill a muslim realises the need to maintain a strong eemaan he would continue to find sins fair seeming! While the one with a strong eemaan feels saddened and remorseful when he falls into sin and hastens to repentance, the one with a weak faith finds excuses to justify his sins and delays repentance!
What follows are just suggestions which are hoped will help the one who genuinely wishes to quit porn addiction (and masturbation) by Allaah's will.
1. Some need therapy.
Some porn addicts need professional counsel and monitoring. They may have lost the self control and discipline to stop on their own. Such are those whom if they find internet access (or any other source) and privacy, there is a 95% certainty they will view pornographic material! Such need medical help or the help and guide of a scholar with experience in dealing with such .
2. Eliminate all links and triggers.
Links are people, things, places and actions that increases your tendency to watch porn. It is important to mention here the need to keep the company of the pious; people who remind you of Allaah and what is good, rather than those who make fitnah and haraam seem attractive and call you to it. If you are trying to quit porn addiction, you have to quit bad company!
Triggers are things that may cause you to relapse back to watching porn after having tried to quit. Chief among triggers are movies with sex scenes and nude displays. They may also include erotic novels and magazines, sex chats, free mixing with opposite sex, keeping girlfriends - anything that is likely to incite your urge and cause you to seek for a way to satisfy the urge unlawfully!
3. Get Married at the earliest convenient time.
There is nothing more beautiful than being able to satisfy your urge in a halal manner! Once, the prophet peace be upon him informed the companions saying "it is considered charity for a man to have sexual relations with his wife"! The companions were stunned beyond words! So they asked if a man gets rewarded while he satisfies his urge (through intercourse with his wife)? And the prophet peace be upon him replied "أرأيتم لو وضعها في حرام أكان عليه فيها وزر ؟ فكذلك إذا وضعها في الحلال كان له أجر "
"Do you think if he had satisfied his urge by unlawful means he wouldn't have had a sin for it, such it is that if he satisfies it by lawful means, he gets a reward!"
Allaahu akbar! It's a win win for the married man! He satisfies his urge and he gets a reward, but the unmarried one who resorts to porn and masturbation gets a sin instead and may be disgraced if he doesn't stop. May Allaah make marriage easy for those who need it.
