1) Faith in Allah:
Faith in Allah and fear of Allah provide a safety valve and protect a person against committing haram actions and following his own whims and desires.
If the believer becomes aware that Allaah is always watching and if he ponders the meanings of His names and attributes, such as the All-Knowing, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, the Watchful, the Reckoner, the Preserver, the All-Encompassing, that will generate fear of Him in secret and in public, and will put a stop to disobedience towards Allaah, and will reduce the strength of desire that leads many people to commit haram actions.
2) Lowering your gaze:
The gaze can generate bad thoughts in the heart, which then lead to ideas and then to desires, then to will and resolve, and then inevitably to doing haram things. Think about the meaning of this verse which makes a connection between the first steps towards haram and the end result. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts). That is purer for them. Verily, Allaah is All-Aware of what they do” [24:30]
3) Warding of evil thoughts:
Bad thoughts pose a danger to the heart… If a person dwells on them and does not push them away, they will develop into an idea, then into will and resolve, then this will inevitably lead to haram actions. Beware of dwelling on passing thoughts; rather what you must do is to ward them off and crowd them out with good thoughts.
The treatment, then, is to ward off these passing thoughts and keep yourself busy with beneficial thoughts.
4) Marriage:
“O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, and whoever cannot, let him fast, for it will be a shield for him.” The Prophet Muhammad (saw)
5) Fasting
6) Do not keep bad company:
“A man will follow the way of his close friends, so let each one of you look at who he takes as a close friend.” The Prophet Muhammad (saw)
7) Make good use of your time:
Time is one of the great blessings that Allah has bestowed upon His slaves, but there are many who are not making the most of it. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Two blessings which many people do not make the most of: good health and spare time.”
8) Remember the hereafter:
Particularly appropriate in this context is remembering al-hoor al-‘iyn and their attributes, whom Allah has prepared for those who are patient and steadfast in avoiding sin. This can help the Muslim to look at these transient haraam pleasures which only lead to regret and loss.
Oh Allah.. to help us to avoid temptation, both obvious and hidden.
Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds.