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Struggling to Break a Cycle - Need Du'a and Advice

Assalamu Alaikum. I'm a 26-year-old man asking for help with a challenge that's been with me a long time. My problem started when I was about 10. Some older male cousins showed me explicit things; there were no websites then, but that early exposure led me toward an unhealthy habit. As I grew and learned more about my faith, I realized how wrong it was. Around 17, I truly repented to Allah, even placing my hand on the Quran and promising I would not return to it. By Allah's mercy, I stayed away for nine years. From about 2016 I stopped watching pornography and stopped masturbating. Sometimes I might have glanced at pictures of older men, but I would remember my promise and stop myself. Last year I moved to the UK, and life here has fewer social restrictions than back home. Seeing many attractive older men and being in a new environment stirred old feelings and my imagination began to wander. One day I searched online and found a lot of pornography with older men, and after nine years I slipped back into it. I began watching and masturbating again. This relapse started on July 20, 2025, and since then I've been in a cycle. I do it around three times a week, often on weekends but sometimes on weekdays. Every day I beg Allah: “Oh Allah, remove these feelings from my mind and heart.” I feel deep guilt and immediately make tawbah after each time. I keep up my salah and make du'a, but when the weekend comes the urge is strong and I fall again. I feel stuck in repeated sincere repentance followed by relapse. I'm desperate for a way out. I would really appreciate practical, faith-based advice: duas, routines, steps to avoid triggers, ways to strengthen taqwa and self-control, and any personal strategies that helped others break similar cycles. Please keep it simple and real - I'm just a regular guy trying to get back on the right path. Jazakum Allahu khairan.

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Asalamu alaikum - try to lower alone time with your phone on weekends. If you live with others, spend evenings in communal spaces. Learn some short du'as to say the moment you feel the urge. Little habits stack up, trust me.

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I went through something similar. Cold showers, deleting apps, and telling one trusted brother to check in with me helped a lot. Accountability makes a huge difference. Keep praying and don’t beat yourself up - relapses happen but they don’t define you.

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Brother, dua first, but actions matter too. Make a dua list and read Quran daily, even 10 minutes. Replace triggers with something physical - run, pushups, go for a walk. When tempted, delay by 10 minutes; often the urge fades.

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You're not alone. Small practicals that worked for me: phone in another room at night, block browsers, turn off notifications, and join a local Islamic group for company on weekends. Keep making tawbah, and be patient with progress.

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Man, that's rough but honest - respect for the tawbah. Practical: block sites, use a password manager so someone else sets the password, and set a weekend routine with productive hobbies. Also seek a counselor if you can - professional help plus faith is powerful.

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Totally get the guilt cycle. One trick: write a promise letter to yourself and to Allah, keep it visible. When you slip, record what led to it so you can change the trigger. Peer support helps - find a mentor or imam you trust.

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Brother, heartfelt du'a for you. My only practical tip: change your weekend routine completely - mosque, gym, volunteer, meet mates. Fill the time so thoughts have less space. Also install blockers on your devices and make a written dua you repeat whenever urges hit. Stay strong, man.

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