Advice on treating obsessive thoughts and excessive looking at women

Question:
This questioner says: I bear witness to Allah regarding my love for you, and my question is: I am a man who loves good, prayer, and reading the Qur'an, along with other acts of obedience. However, I complain of excessive obsessive thoughts (waswas) in many matters of religion and worldly affairs, and I have not been able to get rid of them. This has been the case for fifteen years. I am in a struggle against these obsessive thoughts, but I often feel very tired. I also complain of excessive looking at women. I have tried many times to get rid of this, but I have not been able to. I cry a lot, I repent and seek forgiveness, then I return to it, I repent and seek forgiveness, then I return to it, and so on. I feel that this has taken strong hold of me. What is your advice?

Answer:
This person is complaining about two issues: the issue of obsessive thoughts (waswas) and the issue of his looking at women. The first issue is obsessive thoughts (waswas). It goes away with the remembrance of Allah, with seeking refuge in Allah from Satan, and with reciting the Qur'an. Reciting the Qur'an frequently will make this go away, by the permission of Allah. Also, do not pay attention to the obsessive thoughts; do not let them concern you at all. Leave them alone and do not let them concern you; they will not harm you, if Allah wills.
As for looking at women, this is forbidden (haram). It is not permissible for you to continue with it. Stay away from gatherings of women and women's markets. Stay away from places where women are, and stay away from mixing with women. If you stay away from them, that will cause you to forget these matters and to dislike them, by the permission of Allah. But if you pursue women, go to women's markets, and attend gatherings of women, there is no doubt that this will overcome you, even if you dislike it; it will overcome you.