A 12-step guide to fight pornography addiction | SoundVision.com

A 12-step guide to fight pornography addiction

Pornography consumption is not something that can easily be stopped. Once the appetite for it has developed, it actually increases.

In his 1988 study Pornography Effects: Empirical and Clinical Evidence, Victor Cline, then with the University of Utah's Department of Psychology noted that studies show pornography is progressive and addictive for many. It often leads to the user acting out his fantasy - often on children.

For those who have been trained from a young age to lower their gaze and practice Islamic principles of modesty, this may not even be an issue.

But for those who have sadly fallen into pornography addiction, there is a way out.

Alcoholics' Anonymous is an organization that has fought the battle against alcohol addiction since 1935. Its "Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous" provides a clear, general guide on how to get out of the addiction of alcohol, which has killed people, ruined families and led to health problems.

Sound Vision has adapted the 12 steps from this guide to offer some guidance on how those addicted to pornography can get out of it.

Step One-Admit that you can't give up

Admit that you are unable to get a grip on your consumption of pornography. It is uncontrollable. Every time you turn on the internet, go to the video store, turn on the television, you cannot say NO to yourself. You cannot NOT surf porn sites, or stop watching. You are no longer in control of your life.

Step Two-Admit only God can get you out of this

You know, after trying using so many different ways to control your addiction and subsequently failing, that only Allah can help you out of this. You may have known it before, but you are convinced of it now without a shadow of a doubt.

Step Three-Your life and death are all in Allah's control

You have decided to put your complete trust in Allah, who is in control of all aspects of your life and your death. You have chosen to seek His Help first and foremost.

Step Four-You have completed a self-analysis

You have done an honest, sincere, but often painful self-evaluation of your good points and bad points, analyzed your addiction, and tried to understand how you reached this point.

Step Five-Made a specific repentance to Allah

You have admitted to Allah, to yourself, and to another trusted Muslim (if possible) exactly where you went wrong. You did not make a general request for repentance. You specifically listed your mistakes, and in particular, your addiction to pornography.

Step Six-You were open and ready to receive Allah's help to change

You know that your Tawbah (repentence to God) and being sincere, must be followed by action. You are ready to do what is necessary to change, no matter how difficult or painful. Even if it means not even watching television for the news or never surfing the internet alone.

Step Seven- You have asked for the removal of faults

You have asked Allah, with sincerity, humility and regret, to help you never repeat this action (i.e. looking at pornography) again and to help you avoid repeating sins committed in the past again.

Step Eight-You have decided to seek others' forgiveness

You have made a list of everyone you had hurt through your addiction, whether it was your spouse, children or parents, and made the intention to approach them seeking forgiveness. You must not, however, disclose your addiction since whatever Allah has kept hidden must remain hidden. You just seek forgiveness for any possible act of harm and hurt. Allah does not like a sin to be advertised.

Step Nine-Seek forgiveness of God

Seek the forgiveness and protection of Allah. Do sadaqah (charity) and fast as kaffarah if possible.

Step Ten-You have completed nightly self-evaluations

You continually, every night, have done an honest self-evaluation of your behavior, and were ready to admit your mistakes and thank Allah for the good you did that day.

Step Eleven-You have prayed for greater God-consciousness

You prayed and continue to pray five times a day, seeking closeness to Allah, and a consciousness of Him (Taqwa) wherever you are. You increase your reliance on Him to help you with this addiction to pornography and with all other matters in your life.

Step Twelve-You preached and practiced

You have not just "moved on" after Allah blessed you to get out of this addiction. You helped others you knew with this problem with regular contact and  sincere advice. By the grace of Allah, helping others helped you maintain control over your addiction and you helped another person get out of this destruction and misery.

Comments

AlhamduLILLAAH Wasolatu Wasallam Ala RosuliLLAAH: thank so much my brothers in Inslam, Jazzakum LLAAH Hairan.......its really helps a lot
May ALLAH ease everything for Us....

Location

Nigeria

may Allah strengthen us all. Amin thumma amin

Location

Nigeria

I have suffering from this illness for many years now although I'm not married yet.. I believe I need to cure the haram before the Halal satisfies me. I have been extremely good at times leaving it off for a period of 4 months or so .. but the addiction often returns..and back to square one.
Some tips for myself and those suffering from this .
1. Avoid boredom..especially with internet around.
2. Restrict internet use .. to only in public..
3. Avoid tv.. one of the greatest leaders to this sin..
4. Have daily Quran reading with translation routine.
5. Think of the favours of Allah the Exalted upon u. And remember that every sin has a consequence! Either u will loose something in dunya (exam result,job, marriage proposal, etc) or worse loose ur standing in Akhira.
6. Remembrance of akhira . Keep in mind whatever is forgone here for the pleasure of Allah is replaced with something far better. Don't b of those to whom it will be said ' you had your fun' no hur ul ayn for u.
7. Lasting pleasure , remember the feeling you had afterwards, was it worth it? How long did the pleasure last ? Was it worth the thousands of good deeds u lost ?
8. Magnitude of the sin. If the sahabah were told about this sin they would consider out to be from the kabaira! (Great sins) after all how disgusting is watching others performing these acts and taking pleasure in that.

Lastly know in your heart that u don't want to meet Allah with this sin. Repent now.

Location

Pakistan

Brother all what you said are right.may Allah help all those that are suffering from porn to over come it.i'm happy with your post.

Location

Cameroon

Jzk khair for your good work, this write-up has been very beneficial as we all know porn addiction is always the talk of the day and it's effect can never be over exaggerated.
There is this shaitan whispering telling people that porn addiction is negligible and something that can be taking care of with time may be after marriage bt the fact is it's not and when you watch any haram video you are probably feeding the animal in you (nafs) and this animal in you is growing big every split second to the extend he controls your body and you can barely say no to your desires. As reported from one of the hadith of the prophet(S.A.W) “Verily, when the believer commits a sin a black spot appears
upon his heart. If he repents and abandons the sin and seeks forgiveness,
then his heart will be polished. If he increases in sin, then the blackness is
increased.....

Location

Nigeria

salamalaiku. I appreciate d writer 's effort, the write up has been of immense benefit to me. But isn't there special prayers that one can indulge in to stop this problem?

Location

Nigeria

Selam aleikum. I am very happy to meet this article. I am also used to it. I have been trying to draw back from it and yet not working. In fact sometimes i feel as a hipocryt because i pray five times and fast and dont engage in any other immoral act apart froM this Pornografy issues. May Allah help us all. It is affecting the memorization of the quran i am doing. Allah help us. I really hate it in my heart but because of its Addiction its difficult for me to stop but I beleive In shaa Allah we will all put stop to that

Location

Ankara-Turkey

Thanks for sharing such a valuable sets of information and Abu adam your comment is very rich ,It will help all those who are suffering from all these kind of things.

I request Sound vision and all of you to spread all this messages on various blogs. I will try to have it there on mine too.

Jazakallah

Location

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