Your Wealth is increasing and so are your Sins; You should be scared!

If your wealth and success are growing, but so are your sins, it’s time to pause and reflect. Allah is indeed Merciful and always ready to forgive, but at first we must take the first step toward Him. if not then remember He is also Severe in Punishment.

As Allah says in Quran:

“Indeed, Allah is severe in punishment, and indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” – Al-Imran (3:2)

I want to present a hadith that addresses the concept of istidraj, where Allah grants worldly benefits to a person despite their persistent sins, for leading them gradually toward bigger punishment.

عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَ اللَّهَ يُعْطِي الْعَبْدَ مِنْ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى مَعَاصِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ اسْتِدْرَاجٌ ثُمَّ تَلَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَلَمَّا نَسُوا مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَتَّى إِذَا فَرِحُوا بِمَا أُوتُوا أَخَذْنَاهُمْ بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ مُبْلِسُونَ

17311 مسند أحمد بن حنبل

28/547 المحدث شعيب الأرناؤوط خلاصة حكم المحدث حسن في تخريج المسند لشعيب

‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “If you see Allah giving a servant what he loves in the world, despite his disobedience, it is gradually increasing his punishment.” Then, the Prophet recited the verse, “When they forgot that of which they had been reminded, We opened for them the doors of every good thing until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly and they were in despair.” (6:44)

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 17311.
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Arna’ut

This is a warning that continuous indulgence in sin, accompanied by an increase in worldly blessings, may be a form of gradual entrapment rather than a sign of divine favor. It’s crucial to remain vigilant and seek repentance and to do good to avoid such a fate.

What Does Istidraj Mean?

Istidraj is when Allah gives a person more blessings in this world, like wealth, power, or success, even though they continue to sin and disobey Him. Instead of being a reward, these blessings can be a way to lead the person gradually toward destruction if they do not repent.

Allah mentions this concept in the Qur’an:

“So when they forgot what they had been reminded of, We opened to them the doors of everything, until they became proud of what they were given. Then We seized them suddenly, and they were left in despair.” (Surah Al-An’am 6:44)

The Message of the Hadith

The hadith reminds us that growing wealth or success does not always mean Allah is pleased with us. If a person’s sins increase along with their wealth, they should be cautious. These blessings could be a test or even a punishment in disguise.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) explained this so we can reflect on our actions and avoid being among those who are deceived by worldly gains.

Why Should This Concern Us?

It is human nature to feel happy when life is going well. However, we must ask ourselves:

• Are we using our wealth and success to please Allah?
• Are we grateful for these blessings?
• Are we avoiding sins and seeking forgiveness when we fall short?

The danger of istidraj lies in becoming so consumed by worldly success that we forget our ultimate purpose: worshiping Allah and preparing for the Hereafter.

Some Practical Steps to Avoid this Istidraj

Here are some simple ways to protect yourself from falling into this trap:

1. Stay Grateful: Always thank Allah for your blessings. Gratitude helps keep pride away.
2. Repent Regularly: None of us are perfect, so ask Allah for forgiveness daily.
3. Check Your Actions: Use your blessings in ways that please Allah, like helping others, giving charity, and avoiding sinful behavior.
4. Stay Humble: Remember, everything you have is from Allah, and it can be taken away at any time.
5. Reflect on Your Life: Take time to think about whether your actions are bringing you closer to Allah or farther away.

A Reminder for All

This hadith serves as a wake-up call for everyone. If your wealth and success are growing, but so are your sins, it’s time to pause and reflect. Allah is merciful and always ready to forgive, but we must take the first step toward Him.

Let us use our blessings to do good and seek Allah’s pleasure, so our wealth becomes a means of reward in this life and the next, rather than a test we fail.

May Allah guide us all to the straight path and protect us from istidraj. Ameen.