You promised yourself yesterday would be the last time. Then a difficult day happens, you’re alone again, and you find yourself back in the same place. Afterwards comes the guilt: “Why can’t I stop? How can I keep asking Allah to forgive me?”
Whether you’re struggling with substances, gambling, pornography or another behaviour that feels out of control, it can be difficult to know where to begin.
But struggling with addiction does not mean you should give up on yourself or your relationship with Allah. You can take responsibility, seek support and begin making changes, even if previous attempts haven’t lasted.
Does Islam offer hope to someone struggling with addiction?
Allah says:
“…Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy…”
Qur’an, Surah Az-Zumar 39:53
This verse calls us back to Allah. You don’t have to become a different person before you can turn to Him. Turning to Him is part of how you begin.
Repentance means sincerely turning away from wrongdoing and seeking forgiveness. In Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:135, Allah describes people who, after doing wrong, remember Him, seek forgiveness and do not knowingly persist in it.
At the same time, addiction deserves more than being dismissed as weak faith. The NHS describes addiction as losing control over something to the point that it causes harm. Not every unwanted habit is an addiction, but repeated harm and difficulty stopping are reasons to seek help.
Here are five practical steps to start with.
1.Be honest about what’s happening
“I need to do better” is difficult to act on. Try being specific instead.
What are you returning to? When does it happen? What usually comes before it? is it the stress after lectures, loneliness, boredom, an argument or being awake late at night?
For a few days, write down the situation, the feeling and what you did next. Keep this somewhere private. The purpose is to understand the pattern so that your plan addresses what’s actually happening.
You might notice that your hardest moments come after midnight. That gives you something concrete to change tomorrow evening.
2.Change the environment around the behaviour
Make the behaviour harder to access and support easier to reach.
If online content is part of the problem, try website blockers, removing triggering accounts and charging your phone outside your bedroom. If gambling is involved, look into self-exclusion and bank gambling blocks. A trusted person can help you put these barriers in place.
Plan an alternative for the moment you usually struggle: leave the room, call someone, go for a walk or spend that part of the evening in a shared space.
These steps support a wider recovery plan. If you’re physically dependent on alcohol, get medical advice before stopping suddenly, because withdrawal can be dangerous. The NHS alcohol-support guidance explains how to get help safely.
3.Tell someone who can help
You don’t need to announce your struggle to everyone. Choose someone trustworthy who will take you seriously and help you access appropriate support.
That might be a friend, family member, university counsellor, GP or addiction professional. A trusted imam or teacher can offer spiritual guidance alongside that support.
You could start with: “I’m struggling to control something that’s affecting my life. I need help making a plan.”
The Prophet Muhammad PBUH taught us to pursue what benefits us, seek Allah’s help and not lose heart. Sahih Muslim 2664
Seeking treatment is a practical step you can take while placing your trust in Allah. For drug-related problems, a GP or local drug-treatment service can help you explore treatment options.
4.Keep worship part of your day
Sometimes guilt makes us withdraw from the very things that help us stay connected to Allah. We stop praying, avoid the Qur’an or tell ourselves we’ll return when we’ve sorted everything out.
Keep showing up for your prayers. Alongside them, choose a manageable act of worship: a little Qur’an, a moment of dhikr or a sincere du’a.
Our guide on how to reconnect with Allah explores taking that first step and building small good deeds into daily life.
Worship can support your spiritual life during recovery. Continue getting the professional help you need too; prayer and treatment can be part of the same journey.
5.Make a plan for setbacks
If you return to the behaviour, respond promptly. Seek forgiveness, contact your support person and look at what happened before it.
Was a boundary missing? Were you exhausted? Did you stop attending appointments or spend time somewhere that made things harder?
Use that information to strengthen your plan. A setback does not erase the steps you’ve already taken, but it may show that you need more support.
Recovery involves more than counting days. Notice whether you’re asking for help sooner, keeping appointments and being more honest about difficult moments.
Du’as to make when you’re struggling with addiction
You can ask Allah for help in your own words. These Qur’anic and Prophetic supplications are also meaningful companions to your efforts.
Asking for forgiveness and mercy
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Transliteration: Rabbana zalamna anfusana wa in lam taghfir lana wa tarhamna lanakunanna minal-khasirin.
Meaning: Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. Without Your forgiveness and mercy, we will surely be among those who lose.
Qur’an, Surah Al-A‘raf 7:23
Asking for guidance and restraint
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى
Transliteration: Allahumma inni as’alukal-huda wat-tuqa wal-‘afafa wal-ghina.
Meaning: O Allah, I ask You for guidance, mindfulness of You, chastity and freedom from need.
The Prophet (PBUH) used to make this supplication. Sahih Muslim 2721a
These are general supplications, not a prescribed addiction treatment. Make them sincerely while continuing your practical steps and seeking support.
Watch on YouTube
You’re not alone in this struggle
Reading is a good first step, but sometimes it helps to hear it said out loud. Watch our video on finding hope, taking responsibility and turning back to Allah, however many times it takes.
Watch the video →