Pornography Addiction

On the World Wide Web today, more than 4% of the websites contains adult content and 20% of mobile searches consist of porn. 28000 people are watching porn every minute and that includes Muslims too. Pornography and its usage is increasing in our society and they dangers that lies behind this addiction are endless.

Allah says in the Quran, “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from Looking at Forbidden things), And protect their private parts (from illegal sexual Acts e.g). That is pure for them. Verily Allah is All aware what they do” [24:30].

Dangers of Porn

Porn is a danger for our society. The staggering size of this industry and its impact on technology and media is contributing towards increasing addiction of porn among people including young generation. A strong wave of porn has the tendency to affect the world and affecting people from all walks of life affecting everyone who watches it. There are more than 75 million porn addicts, and this percentage is increasing rapidly. Porn addiction is destroying marriages, families and have a devastating effect on brain.

Pornography and Islam

The word Fa’he’sha has been repeatedly used in Quran which refers to mean vulgarity, obscenity, indecency and shamelessness. Our Prophet (PBUH) said,

“After me, I have not left any trial more severe to men than women” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4808].

At many instances in the Quran, Allah (swt) has mentioned those things which men desire and are obsessed with. Among them, women are mentioned first.

“Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world’s life; but Allah has the excellent return (Paradise with flowing rivers, etc.) with Him” [3:14]

Allah (swt) further mentions in the Quran:

“Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do. And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof… [24:30-31]

Watching porn, comes under the category of zina of the eyes. Watching something which Allah has forbidden for us, will only have a negative impact on us and our society.

Porn Enslaves You

Our religion guides us on lowering our gaze as it saves us from committing sins and protecting one’s private parts. Not practicing this leads to watching porn or zina.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (PBUH) as saying.

”Allah fixed the very portion of adultery which a man will indulge in. There would be no escape from it. The adultery of the eye is the lustful look and the adultery of the ears is listening to voluptuous (song or talk) and the adultery of the tongue is licentious speech and the adultery of the hand is the lustful grip (embrace) and the adultery of the feet is to walk (to the place) where he intends to commit adultery and the heart yearns and desires which he may or may not put into effect” [Sahih Muslim, 2658a].

Quran has instructed us to not even approach the act of fornication as such acts leads to the commission of this sin.

Allah says, “And come not near adultery for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils)” [17:32]

Getting addicted to pornography is easier and once a man is enslaved to this desire, he gets trapped in it such that nothing else will excite him/her. This means a Muslim gets away from his salah and remembrance of Allah.

Negative Effects of Pornography

Not only it has serious impact on your brain, but it has a psychological effect on the person watching it. It lowers your self-esteem, morals, shame, motivation and even confidence. Loneliness and depression is a common effect that is observed among people. As suggested by some Islamic scholars, people indulging in such acts experience anxiety, physical weakness, and hardening of hearts and masturbation which has destructive outcomes.

How Can You Save Yourself from This Addiction?

For those watching porn fully or occasionally, hope is not lost. It might seem hard to break this habit, but constant effort and sincere repentance to Allah (swt) will surely make things easier. Allah (swt) says:

“O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow [on] the Day when Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will proceed before them and on their right; they will say, “Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, you are over all things competent” [66:8].