Plagued By Sin

QUESTION:

I am currently experiencing a great difficulty within myself. I am involved in sin and although I feel a lot of regret, I fear that I will not resist committing the sin again, which leads me to not make Taubah. From a young age I have tried to deter myself from sin and to be punctual on Salaah, understanding all of the severe consequences, but I am struggling to remain firm against sin. I used to be heavily inclined to listen to music, which was enabled by scrolling on Instagram and Youtube. This eventually led me to start watching romance movies which has become somewhat of an addiction. At the same time, I have accumulated many Qadhaa Salaah due to laziness. Everyday I make an intention to get rid of these apps and to become steadfast on my Salaah, but the cycle continues. Please guide me to a solution.

ANSWER:

Firstly, Jazaakillahu Khayran for having the courage to share what is in your heart. May Allah Ta’ala reward your honesty and your sincerity.
The greatest trick of Shaytaan lies not in him making us sin, but rather, his greatest victory is making us believe that there is no point in returning to Allah Ta’ala because we will just sin again. Allah Ta’ala says:

۞ قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٥٣

“Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said:

عَنْ أَبي هُرَيْرَةَ، رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ، عَنِ النَّبَيِّ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ ، فِيما يَحْكِي عَنْ رَبِّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ، قَالَ : أَذْنَبَ عَبْدٌ ذَنْبًا ، فَقَالَ : اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبي . فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالى: أَذْنَبَ عَبْدِي ذَنْبًا، فَعَلِمَ أنَّ لَهُ رَبّاً، يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ ، وَيَأْخُذُ بِهِ . ثُمَّ عَادَ فَأَذْنَبَ، فَقَالَ : أَيّ رَبِّ ، اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي ، فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وتَعَالى : عَبْدِي أَذْنَبَ ذَنْباً . فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبّاً يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ، ويَأْخُذُ بِهِ . ثُمَّ عَادَ فَأَذْنَبَ، فَقَالَ : أَيّ رَبِّ ، اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي : فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى : أَذْنَبَ عَبْدِي ذَنْباً ، فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبّاً ، يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ ، ويَأْخُذُ بالذَّنْبِ . اعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ، فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكَ . رواهُ مسلم (وكذلك البخاري)

“A servant committed a sin and said, ‘My Lord, forgive me.’ Allah Ta’ala said, ‘My servant has committed a sin but knows that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and punishes for them; I have forgiven My servant.’ Then he sinned again and sought forgiveness, and Allah Ta’ala forgave him. This happened repeatedly…”
(Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

This does not mean that we should intentionally plan to commit sin. It means that, as long as your Taubah is sincere each time, Allah Ta’ala’s door remains open until death.

Knowledge is a light, but every person has their own Jihaad with their Nafs.

The Prophet Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam said:

حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏: ‏ ‏”‏ كُلُّ بَنِي آدَمَ خَطَّاءٌ وَخَيْرُ الْخَطَّائِينَ التَّوَّابُونَ ‏”‏

“Every son of Adam sins, and the best of those who sin are those who constantly repent.”
(Jami’ at-Tirmidhi)

Regarding the romance videos, you already identified the root of the problem. The heart becomes attached to what the eyes repeatedly consume. Allah Ta’ala says:

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity… And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity.”
(Surah An-Nur 24:30–31)

Lowering the gaze is not only outside the home. It also includes what enters our hearts through our phones. Every romantic scene plants expectations, desires and fantasies that no real marriage can fulfil. The more these videos are watched, the stronger the addiction becomes. So instead of only deleting Instagram, YouTube also needs to be deleted.

Allah Ta’ala says:

“As for those who strive for Our sake, We will surely guide them to Our ways. Indeed, Allah is with those who excel.”
(Surah Al-’Ankabut 29:69)

Lastly, we advise that you align with some pious person or Sheikh who will be able to guide you and help create the fear of Allah Ta’ala in one’s heart.

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Ahmed Saeed

Date: 11 Safar 1448 / 27 July 2026

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb