How Do I Stop After Shamefully Watching Pornography at My Young Age?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I am a sixteen-year-old girl and I watched porn. I’m so scared and ashamed. I watched it multiple times and touched myself in the wrong ways. I read that Allah will forgive me but I don’t want to be punished for this. I regret it each time I do it and I know that our sins will be exposed on the Day of Judgment. I don’t want my parents to be disappointed and I’m scared. I’m trying to pray more and read Quran. I don’t know the right dua and I’m so scared that Allah won’t forgive me.

Answer

Thank you for your question. I am deeply troubled and heartbroken that you have taken to it to this level at your tender age. However, fear not, Allah is the Most Merciful and your sincerity is clear. Trust that He will forgive you; your job is to repent and pull yourself out of the deep end.

Despair

First of all, you should never despair of Allah’s mercy. He has told us in these very merciful words, “Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allah says,˺ “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.“ [Quran, 39:53]

Don’t make any vows or oaths, but sincerely ask for strength and guidance.

Steps

Now, you must try your hardest to get out of this habit. You have to dig deep, pull out all your strength, patience, and will to break this. You are capable and Allah is with you. That’s all you need. But it won’t be easy. Just remember that if you do keep up this habit, it will destroy your health, your marriage, your reputation, your confidence, and your happiness.

Try the steps mentioned here in the links because they consist of the best advice that I can give you:

I Am a Young Woman Addicted to Pornography. What Should I Do?
How Can I Wean Myself off From Masturbation?
Supplications for Stopping Masturbation
How Can I Overcome My Habit of Masturbation?
Is Masturbation Sinful? How Do I Stop?
What Can I Do to Stop Masturbating?

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani 

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.