How can a young man stop masturbating and what ensues from it, such as abandoning prayer and avoiding reading the Quran, and how can he mend his ways and return to Allah after repeated attempts at repentance?

Change should be accompanied by determination and diligence. Whoever strives for the sake of Allah will attain his objective, in confirmation of His saying, the Almighty: "And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good." Abandoning prayer is a grave sin, and attachment to women, masturbation, and forbidden gazes are sins that necessitate immediate repentance. What helps with this are fasting, keeping company with righteous people, frequent remembrance [of Allah], reciting the Qur'an, and contemplating death and what comes after it. Adhering to obedience to Allah Almighty is one of the greatest reasons for academic excellence, and supplication is one of the strongest weapons. Do not tire of repenting no matter how often the sin is repeated, for Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Marriage is the optimal solution for lowering the gaze and guarding one's chastity, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "O young people, whoever among you can afford to marry, let him do so, for it helps lower the gaze and guard one's chastity."