Distinguishing a Blessing from Gradual Enticement and Trial - islamweb.com

Distinguishing a Blessing from Gradual Enticement and Trial

Question: How can I avoid being among those whom Allah grants worldly pleasures only to punish them in the Hereafter? In other words, how can I avoid being among those whom Allah blesses in this world only to punish them in the Hereafter, so that they gain the world but lose the Hereafter

Answer: Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his companions.

The way to discern this is by distinguishing between a blessing that aids in attaining eternal happiness and a blessing that serves as a gradual enticement (istidraj) from Allah to the heedless servant.

A key indicator is that when a servant receives good things while persisting in sins, this is a sign of istidraj. As stated in the hadith: "If you see Allah granting a servant worldly pleasures despite his sins, know that it is istidraj." Then, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) recited: "So when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We opened to them the doors of every [good] thing until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly, and they were [then] in despair" [Qur’an, 6:44]. This hadith was narrated by Ahmad, Al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman, and Al-Tabarani in Al-Kabir, and it was authenticated by Al-Albani.

This hadith highlights one of Allah’s established ways: granting respite to the disobedient, enticing them with what they love until they become elated and heedless, only for Allah’s punishment to come upon them unexpectedly. Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Madarij al-Salikin: "Distinguishing a blessing from a trial: One must differentiate between a blessing through which Allah’s kindness and favor are evident and which aids in achieving eternal happiness, and a blessing that is a means of istidraj. How many are enticed by blessings without realizing it, deluded by the praise of the ignorant, and deceived by Allah fulfilling their needs and concealing their faults!"

Thus, the servant must repent to Allah, maintain good expectations of Allah’s acceptance of their repentance, and frequently ask for goodness. As stated in the Qudsi hadith: "I am as My servant thinks of Me. If he thinks well of Me, it is his; if he thinks ill of Me, it is his." This was narrated by Ahmad and authenticated by Al-Arna’ut and Al-Albani.

And Allah knows best.

The original Fatwa here

Popular posts from this blog

The Indication of Revelation to Contemporary Vehicles - إشارة الوحي إلى المركبات المعاصرة

Note: This was originally a Fatwa, came to IslamQA.com and they've answerd it, but it was only in Arabic, so this is its translation : Question No. 316870: Did the Prophet (peace be upon him) truly predict modern vehicles? Answer: Praise be to Allah. «Firstly»: Some Islamic texts allude to contemporary vehicles.   Certain Islamic texts contain references that hint at modern vehicles.   For example, Allah the Almighty says:   " And [He created] horses, mules, and donkeys for you to ride and as adornment. And He creates that which you do not know. " (Quran 16:8)    Sheikh Abdur-Rahman As-Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him) commented:   " And He creates that which you do not know " refers to things that will come into existence after the revelation of the Quran, such as vehicles that people will use on land, sea, and air for their benefits and interests. Allah did not specify these things by name because He only mentions in His Book what pe...
Read more

The etiquette of naming children - آداب تسمية الأبناء

Note: This was originally a Fatwa, came to IslamQA.com and they've answerd it, but it was only in Arabic, so this is its translation : Question No. 7180: I want to name my son. What are the Islamic etiquettes for naming? Summary of the Answer: The general rule for names is that they are permissible unless there are specific Islamic prohibitions to avoid. These include: 1) Names that imply worship of anyone other than Allah, 2) Names that are exclusive to Allah, 3) Names specific to disbelievers, and 4) Names of idols or false deities. Answer: Praise be to Allah. The Importance of Names in Islam: There is no doubt that the issue of names is significant in people's lives. A name is a title, an identifier, and a necessity for communication. It serves as an adornment, a container, and a symbol by which a person is called in this life and the hereafter. It reflects one's religion and signifies belonging to the Islamic faith. Names hold cultural and social significance, much like...
Read more

Ruling on spending on parents - Shk Bin Baz

Ruling on Spending on Parents Question : This is a message from the sender Muhammad Imam Hassan, an Egyptian working in the Al-Jawf region. The summary of his message is that he says he lives in his country with a family consisting of his parents, siblings, and his own children. He works here while his siblings and father work there. He has two sons studying in secondary school, and his father covers the household expenses, farming costs, and children's expenses. His father is an elderly man who did not receive education and has not saved anything for his children. So, is it permissible for me, while I am here sending money to my father, to secretly keep some of my earnings as a precaution for my own children who are my offspring? Please advise me, may God bless you. Answer : It is your duty to spend on your father, your children, and your father's wife according to your ability until you meet their needs. Whatever exceeds their needs, you may keep for yourself. However, you mu...
Read more