May the peace, mercy and blessing of Allah be upon you,

I have a question and I hope you will respond. How do I get rid of sins I commit when I am alone, like watching shameless, pornographic films – and refuge is sought with Allah – and masturbation? Shaikh, al-hamdulillah, by the Grace of Allah (Azza wa Jall), I guard my prayers and I have been trying for four years to be a committed, practicing Muslim. The problem is in the issue of desire. Now I am engaged (I'm not married yet), which means that it still won't happen for a few months. Shaikh, will marriage help me to lower my gaze and guard my chastity? Shaikh, when I leave the house, I have no intention of looking at anything haram, but just by going out into the street, many times I see a woman and I look at her. Then I stop looking at her, and I lower my gaze from one woman, and then another, but then I go back to looking. And sometimes I'll be in the house, and I'll remember anything, or even without remembering, I'll get up and go to pornographic sites or sites that aren't pornography, but they have unclothed women or whatever. Shaikh, there are so many temptations, and I know that this isn't any excuse for me: temptations - like music, women and a lot of stuff, but the women are a real problem for me. Shaikh, I can sit for hours watching these things, and I feel that my desire is unaffected, but after that I  masturbate, and when I've finished, I regret it so much, and I feel how pathetic it was. Then I decide to repent, but inside, I still feel like saying that, every so often, I repent, but I go back and do it again anyway. I wish, shaikh, that my soul was pure and chaste. Shaikh, I ask you by Allah to answer me. I have read dozens of questions and advice, and I know the steps. I have read about lowering the gaze, and I have listened to tapes. I have read fatawa and advice, shaikh. Whenever I think about my fiancée (who is a good, chaste, committed, practicing sister), I say that by being like this, I am not doing right by her and that I don't deserve her. Shaikh, I wish you would explain this point. I wish I could find myself married. I wish I could stop looking at what is haram for me, quit masturbating, and be a nice, decent person. I hope I will be satisfied with my wife and live a life of faith. Shaikh, I am speaking to you now, just a little while after doing this deed, and now I do not intend to ever do it again, but I'm afraid of my self which is ever inclined to evil. Shaikh, I beg you in Allah's Name to make duaa for me that Allah forgive my sin, purify my heart and protect my chastity.

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful,

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessing be upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his family, his companions and those who have followed him. To proceed:

We ask Allah to cleanse your heart, to preserve your chastity and to forgive your sin. We have already answered you on this issue of masturbation in an earlier fatwa. We mentioned to you that this is one of the prohibited matters, due to the Saying of Allah Most High (interpretation of the meaning):

{And those who guard their chastity * Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess – for then, they are free from blame; * But whoever seeks beyond that, those are the transgressors.}

[Al-Mu'minûn 23:5-7]

Therefore, every release of desire other than these two outlets is sin and transgression! Make a concerted effort to stop this. Besides duaa, you should seek help in this through lawful means, such as getting married as soon as possible, for verily, it is more conducive to lowering the gaze and more protective of chastity. This is what was prescribed by the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and therefore, this is the most effective way to treat your situation, insha'Allah. Then, if you are not able to do that, you should fast, avoid bad company and go frequently to the masjid, Islamic study circles, gatherings for the remembrance of Allah and recitation of Qur'an. And before all else, beseech Allah (Mighty & Majestic) sincerely and express your brokenness between His Hands! Watch for the moments when duaa is certain to be answered: when you are alone, in the early hours of the morning before the break of dawn, when you break your fast, optional or obligatory, the last hour on Friday, and the like. Once again, we ask Allah to cleanse your heart, to preserve your chastity and to forgive your sin. Ameen.

And Allah Almighty is the Most High, and He knows best.