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Don’t be happy if you got away with it. The dangers of delayed punishment

Don’t be happy if you got away with it. The dangers of delayed punishment
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November 22, 2024
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One should not feel happy if they did not receive punishment when they did something wrong. It is very serious.

Istidraj has been mentioned in the Quran twice – it appears in Surat al Araf and also in Surat al Qalam. What is istidraj? It is to receive blessings, wealth, success, or other worldly pleasures despite one’s disobedience or lack of faith. It is not a sign of Allah’s favour, but a period of time in which one can slip further from Allah’s grace, while thinking they have got away with it, and thus they move closer to their punishment.

Allah Almighty described this in Surat al Araf, when He says:

‫وَٱلَّذِینَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔایَـٰتِنَا سَنَسۡتَدۡرِجُهُم مِّنۡ حَیۡثُ لَا یَعۡلَمُونَ

But those who disbelieved in Our signs—We will draw them forth gradually (to punishment) from where they do not know.

(Al-Aʿrāf, Ayah 182)

In Surat al Qalam, Allah Almighty says:

فذرني ومن يكذب بهذا الحديث سنستدرجهم من حيث لا يعلمون. وأملي لهم إن كيدي متين.

Leave me alone with those who are rejecting this discourse. We will draw them on little by little (to hell) from way which they do not know. And I give them respite. Indeed, My plan is firm.

(Al-Qalam:68:44-45)

In another ayah, Allah Almighty says the fact a punishment has been delayed is not a good thing for them:

وَلَا یَحۡسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوۤا۟ أَنَّمَا نُمۡلِی لَهُمۡ خَیۡرࣱ لِّأَنفُسِهِمۡۚ إِنَّمَا نُمۡلِی لَهُمۡ لِیَزۡدَادُوۤا۟ إِثۡمࣰاۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابࣱ مُّهِینࣱ

And never should those who have denied think that We respite them for their own good. In fact, We only respite them so that they may increase in sin, for for them is a demeaning punishment.

(Āli-ʿImrān, Ayah 178)

The path of your choosing

Ibn Faris and Ibn Munzur, in their dictionaries, explained that the word “Istidraj” comes from root letters da,ra,ja, which means moving forward, or along a path.

We all choose our own paths, and Allah gives us the chance to change direction. He also gives us what we intend. This is why we see the Prophet (peace be upon him) informing us that actions are rewarded based on the intentions that preceded them. This is very scary, because Allah gives you what you are after. This is not just the case for disbelievers, but also believers when they are given what they want.

Getting what you want isn’t always a favour

In a weak hadith in Musnad Ahmed, we are warned that if we find ourselves being given what we want despite our disobedience, it is like walking into a trap.

قال رسولُ الله ﷺ: «إذا رأيتَ اللهَ يعطي العبدَ من الدنيا -على معاصيه- ما يحبُّ، فإنما هو استدراج». رواه أحمد. ضعيف.

The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: “If you see Allah giving a servant of this world for his disobedience what he likes, then it is only a lure.” (Ahmed)

Al-Asma’i gave examples to show how istidraj represents Allah’s way of giving people time and opportunities, while they are approaching their downfall. Due to the fact they are not prevented from doing what they are doing, they do not realise that they are digging their own graves.

Al-Qurtubi explained this concept in his interpretation of verse 182 from Surah Al-A’raf, which states that those who deny Allah’s signs will be gradually led to their destruction in ways they do not notice. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) related this to the people of Makkah, showing how they were allowed to prosper temporarily while heading toward their eventual ruin. The idea of “gradual leading” (istidraj) refers to taking someone step by step, appearing to advance but unknowingly moving toward destruction.

Punishment is not withheld permanently

This is why istridraj is connected to oppressors and eventually, their time is up, and then Allah Almighty takes swift action and brings their evil deeds to an abrupt end. The time frame is put in place by Him and known only to Him.

In Surat al Kahf, Allah Almighty says that He destroyed the towns when they committed injustice. Until that time, Allah leaves those towns to continue their evil practices. When the time for their destruction comes, no traces of them are left.

‫وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ذُو ٱلرَّحۡمَةِۖ لَوۡ یُؤَاخِذُهُم بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ لَعَجَّلَ لَهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابَۚ بَل لَّهُم مَوعِدٌ لَّن یَجِدُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦ مَوۡىِٕلاً

And your Lord is the Forgiver, the Possessor of mercy. Were He to call them to account for what they have earned, He would hasten the punishment for them. Rather, for them is an appointment from which they will find no escape. (Al-Kahf, Ayah 58)

‫وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰۤ أَهۡلَكۡنَـٰهُمۡ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا۟ وَجَعَلۡنَا لِمَهۡلِكِهِم مَّوۡعِداً

And those towns—We destroyed them when they committed injustices, and We set an appointment for their time of destruction. (Al-Kahf, Ayah 59)

In Surat al Isra, Allah Almighty says:

‫وَإِذَاۤ أَرَدۡنَاۤ أَن نُّهۡلِكَ قَرۡیَةً أَمَرۡنَا مُتۡرَفِیهَا فَفَسَقُوا۟ فِیهَا فَحَقَّ عَلَیۡهَا ٱلۡقَوۡلُ فَدَمَّرۡنَـٰهَا تَدۡمِیراً

And when We want to destroy a town We command its affluent ones (to be righteous) , yet they defiantly disobey (Our commands) in it, so it deserves the decree and We destroyed it completely.

(Al-Isrāʾ, Ayah 16)

عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأشعري رضي الله تعالى عنه، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: ‏”‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يُمْلِي لِلظَّالِمِ، فَإِذَا أَخَذَهُ لَمْ يُفْلِتْهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ ‏{‏ وَكَذَلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَا أَخَذَ الْقُرَى وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ‏}‏ .(سورة هود: ١٠٢). رواه البخاري ومسلم.

Abu Musa Al Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, grants respite to the oppressor. But when He seizes him, He does not let him go. Then he (the Holy Prophet) recited this verse:” Such is the seizing of Your Lord when He seizes the (people of) towns when they are transgressing. Surely, His seizing is painful, severe” (Hud:11:102). (Bukhari and Muslim)

What we are witnessing today

This interim period- between sins and punishment, is what we are witnessing now. We are seeing oppression all over the world, at a local level, national level and international level – wherever you look you find oppression.

The timing of the punishment is not in our hands. The time is set by Allah, but be assured that the clock is ticking. Out of His mercy and wisdom He concealed when it would happen. But it will happen without doubt.

We should be careful. It is warning for us all. If you do something wrong, but you receive no signs of punishment from Allah, it doesn’t mean that He is pleased with you. It might be that He has given you what you want to increase your punishment. It is better to be tested than to accumulate sins, so they pile up and increase your retribution.

One of God’s hidden punishments for the servant is to let him do whatever he wants. Ibn Ataillah al Iskandari in his renowned work, Al Hikam, said that if Allah has left someone to their own devices that is a punishment.

مِنْ جَهْلِ المُريدِ أنْ يُسيءَ الأَدَبَ فَتُؤَخَّرَ العُقوبةُ عَنْهُ، فَيَقولَ: لَوْ كَانَ هذا سُوءَ أدَبٍ لَقَطَعَ الإِمْدادَ وَأَوْجَبَ الإِبْعادَ. فَقَدْ يَقْطَعُ المَدَدَ عَنْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَشْعُرُ، وَلَوْ لَمْ يَكُنْ إلّا مَنْعُ المَزيدِ. وَقَدْ يُقامُ مَقامَ البُعْدَ وَهُوَ لا يَدْري، وَلَوْ لَمْ يَكُنْ إلّا أنْ يُخَلِّيَكَ وَما تُريدُ .

It is the ignorance of the seeker to behave disrespectfully and think that punishment will be delayed. They might say, ‘If this were bad behaviour, then the support would have been cut off and distance imposed.’ Yet, support may be cut off from them in ways they do not perceive, even if it is only the withholding of further blessings. They may be distanced without realizing it, even if it is just that they are left to pursue what they desire. (Al Hikam: 66)

Swift punishments are a blessing

Therefore when you receive a quick punishment it is a good thing, as it is Allah bringing you back on track. He is re-connecting you to Him, when you disconnected yourself from him through disobedience. He is not allowing you to go off the track. You might not like being punished, but in the grand scheme it is beneficial for you, though it may feel bitter.

The danger of accumulating sins and dragging people down with you

Allah emphasises the importance of following His commands and warns against accumulating sins. The more sins a person commits, the more severe their eventual punishment. Often, people lead themselves into their own destruction, sometimes bringing others along with them.

For example, Firaun (marched toward his doom when he pursued Musa (peace be upon him) and his followers through the parted sea. Despite witnessing the miraculous splitting of the sea, he arrogantly walked into the punishment Allah had decreed for him, taking his entire army to their destruction.

‫ فَٱتَّبَعُوۤا۟ أَمۡرَ فِرۡعَوۡنَۖ وَمَاۤ أَمۡرُ فِرۡعَوۡنَ بِرَشِیدࣲ﴿ ٩٧ ﴾‬


they followed the command of Pharaoh, and never was the command of Pharaoh prudent.

(Hūd, Ayah 97)

‫یَقۡدُمُ قَوۡمَهُۥ یَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِیَـٰمَةِ فَأَوۡرَدَهُمُ ٱلنَّارَۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡوِرۡدُ ٱلۡمَوۡرُودُ﴿ ٩٨ ﴾‬


He precedes his people on the Day of Resurrection, and he led them into the Fire, and what a miserable drinking place to be led to!

(Hūd, Ayah 98)

This pattern continues even today, as we see individuals knowingly walking into harm through their actions, dragging others with them. That is why Allah is confirming the importance of following His commands.

The arrest warrants

The International Criminal Court issued two warrants for arrest to Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant yesterday. It has been a long time coming, but now that it is done, we pray that it will be the beginning of justice taking course rather than the continuation of oppression and flouting of UN resolutions.

We ask Allah to give relief to the sick and the oppressed and the people of Gaza and Lebanon. Ameen

Based on the Khutbah of Shaykh Haytham Tamim 22nd November 2024

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Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.

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