Wisdom 24: Beware of Sin During Times of Abundant Blessings
This noble teaching of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) refers to the divine law of Istidraj (Gradual Divine Entrapment) and warns believers against committing sins while enjoying abundant blessings.
Abundance of blessings can occur in two different ways:
- Allah may grant blessings out of His mercy, in which case the servant should remain grateful and thankful so that these blessings continue.
- Alternatively, abundant blessings may be part of Allah’s gradual punishment for those who persist in disbelief and sin. In such cases, Allah continues to increase His favors, allowing them to become even more immersed in ingratitude until they fully deserve His punishment.
Commentary
1. The Meaning of Imlā’ and Istidraj
The Arabic word Imlā’ (الإملاء) means granting respite, delaying punishment, or extending time.
Istidraj (الاستدراج) literally means drawing someone gradually toward something, step by step.
In Islamic terminology, the divine law of Istidraj means that Allah allows a sinful person time to continue living without immediately removing blessings. Instead, blessings may even increase while the individual persists in rebellion and arrogance.
As a result, the sinner gradually moves closer to destruction without realizing it.
For this reason, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) warns us that if a person continues receiving blessings despite ongoing sins, he should not become proud or assume that Allah approves of his actions.
2. Delayed Punishment Is Not a Sign of Divine Approval
Many people expect that every sin will immediately be followed by punishment or loss.
When this does not happen, they may become bolder, more arrogant, and increasingly careless in disobeying Allah.
Some even begin to imagine that their actions are acceptable simply because no punishment has appeared.
The Holy Quran describes a similar attitude among the hypocrites:
“Have you not seen those who were forbidden from secret conversations, yet they returned to what they had been forbidden, conspiring in sin, aggression, and disobedience to the Messenger? … They say to themselves: ‘Why does Allah not punish us for what we say?’ Sufficient for them is Hell, into which they will enter. What an evil destination!”
Such people either fail to recognize the consequences of their behavior or mistakenly believe they are safe.
In reality, one of the most severe punishments for a persistent sinner is that Allah allows him to continue in sin while surrounding him with worldly comforts.
Allah also says regarding such people:
“Leave them to eat, enjoy themselves, and be distracted by false hopes. Soon they will come to know.”
Key Message
The words of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) serve as a powerful warning against heedlessness.
A comfortable life should never make us forget Allah or become careless about our actions.
Every believer should remember that Allah is always watching.
As the Quran declares:
“Indeed, your Lord is ever watchful.”
Reflection
The Story of the Owners of the Garden
Before the advent of Islam, there was a village in Yemen called Sarwan (or Darwan) that was famous for its fruitful orchard.
The owner of the garden was a generous and God-conscious man.
Each year, he took only enough fruit for himself and his family and distributed the rest generously among the poor.
As a result, Allah continuously increased the productivity and blessings of his orchard.
The needy looked forward to every harvest season because they knew they would be welcomed with kindness and generosity.
Before his death, the owner advised his children never to deprive the poor of their share.
After he passed away, however, his children became attached to worldly wealth.
Ignoring their father’s advice, they agreed that they would no longer give any fruit to the poor.
They justified their decision by saying:
“We have families of our own, and all the produce belongs to us.”
When harvest season arrived, they secretly planned to gather all the fruit early in the morning before any poor people could arrive.
But during the night, Allah’s punishment descended.
A devastating fire destroyed the entire orchard, leaving nothing but ashes and burnt trees.
The next morning, the brothers happily set out for the harvest.
Along the way they whispered:
“Be careful not to let any poor person enter the garden today.”
When they reached the orchard, they were shocked.
Seeing the destruction, they first thought they had taken the wrong path.
When they realized what had happened, they admitted their wrongdoing, glorified Allah, and cried:
“Woe to us! Indeed, we were wrongdoers.”
This story is mentioned in the Holy Quran as a timeless lesson about greed, ingratitude, and the consequences of withholding Allah’s blessings from those in need.
Self-Assessment
- What is meant by the divine law of Imlā’ and Istidraj?
- Why does Allah sometimes increase a person’s blessings? Explain the two possible reasons.
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Keywords: Wisdom 24, Nahj al-Balagha, Imam Ali, The Luminous Path, Istidraj, Divine Mercy, Gratitude, Divine Punishment, Blessings, Spiritual Awareness.