EVIL PEOPLE PROSPER WHILE THE INNOCENT SUFFER?
THE DECEPTION OF THE WRONGDOER’S SUCCESS (ISTIDRAAJ):
Have you ever sat in silence, questioning why life feels so painfully unfair? Why those who lie, deceive, and harm others seem to sleep peacefully at night, while you someone who never wished harm upon anyone keep facing one storm after another? Why every time you begin to heal, another wave of hardship strikes sometimes through people, sometimes through unseen forces? You might find yourself wondering, “Why me? I’ve never hurt anyone. I pray, I recite Qur’an, I try to stay away from sin so why do I keep becoming a target for sihr, for the evil eye, for jinn possesion that disturb my peace, touch my thoughts, and shake my emotions?”
This question doesn’t come from doubt it comes from exhaustion. It comes from hearts that have carried too much, too long. From people who have spent endless nights in tears, begging Allah for relief while feeling as though the world is closing in on them. It’s the quiet sob during sujood when you whisper, “Ya Allah, I can’t do this anymore,” and yet still rise to pray again because somewhere deep down, faith refuses to die.
Those who suffer from spiritual afflictions know a unique kind of pain one that is invisible to others, yet heavy beyond measure. It’s not just physical exhaustion; it’s spiritual suffocation. You feel unseen attacks strange pains, confusion, whispers in your thoughts that aren’t yours, sudden fears, anxiety that appears from nowhere. You try to explain it, but people dismiss it as imagination. They don’t see the unseen battle that happens when the sihr renews, when your enemies send harm again and again, when the jinn try to cloud your mind, drain your energy, and silence your peace.
You start feeling isolated not just from people, but from yourself. You remember the old you: peaceful, full of energy, full of hope. And now you wonder, “Will I ever feel normal again?” You go through cycles a few good days where your recitations feel strong, then suddenly, heaviness returns. Your chest tightens, your heart races, your sleep breaks, and you wake up feeling like you’ve been fighting in dreams. You wonder if you’re cursed, if Allah is angry, or if you’ve done something wrong to deserve this.
But let this sink deep into your heart this emotion you feel is not weakness. Your tears are not a sign that Allah has abandoned you. This pain is not punishment. What you’re feeling is the cry of your soul longing for divine justice, the ache of a heart chosen for purification, and the whisper of a believer being drawn closer to Allah through unseen trials.
You are not suffering because Allah has forgotten you. You are suffering because Allah sees your heart worthy of His special attention. Not everyone is chosen to battle through unseen wars. Those who face repeated sihr, constant spiritual attacks, or the pain of unseen enemies they are being tested at a level of the soul, not the body. Allah is allowing the unseen world to test you because your light threatens it. Every attack you survive, every ruqyah you recite, every moment you refuse to give up it shakes the world of darkness.
And yes, it’s tiring. You see people living carefree lives while you’re fighting just to get through the day. You see sinners laughing while you struggle even to pray without distraction. You see those who harmed you walking free, while you’re left healing wounds that no one can see. It feels unfair but it’s not. Because what you don’t see is that your suffering is being recorded, your patience is being multiplied, and your every sigh is turning into light in the unseen realm.
Allah knows how many times you broke down but still picked up the Qur’an. He knows how many times you felt hopeless but still said Alhamdulillah. He knows how many nights you cried alone but still made dua for others. You’re not losing you’re being polished. You’re not cursed you’re being chosen. And the very pain you think is destroying you is actually building the strongest version of your soul one that no sihr, no jinn, no enemy can break once Allah completes your purification.
So, if your heart feels heavy reading this, let it cry. Let it release. Because your emotions are not rebellion, they are prayers without words. Allah is listening even when you can’t speak. Your pain has meaning. Your patience has value. And your unseen battle is not unnoticed the angels know your struggle, and your Lord is watching with mercy far beyond what you can imagine.
You are not fighting alone. Every time you recite Ayatul Kursi, every time you whisper La ilaha illa Allah through tears, you are striking the unseen. The light inside you is stronger than the darkness around you. And one day, insha’Allah, you will look back and say that pain was the reason I found my purpose, that hardship was the door that led me closest to Allah.
The truth that often goes unnoticed in the middle of pain is that this life was never meant to be easy. It was never meant to be fair or free of struggle. It is a place where the pure are tested, where faith is refined through fire, and where the most beloved to Allah are given the heaviest burdens. When Allah loves someone, He purifies them, sometimes not through comfort, but through difficulty. Sometimes through enemies who harm again and again, sometimes through unseen forces that shake your peace, and sometimes through silence where He seems absent but is, in reality, closest to you.
THE TEST OF THE BELIEVERS
When your life feels like one endless battle, it is not a sign that Allah has turned away. It is a sign of test from Allah and that He is preparing your soul for something much greater. The Prophets themselves were not spared from hardship they faced rejection, betrayal, loneliness, and relentless opposition. If you are going through repeated spiritual afflictions, it is not because Allah dislikes you, but because He sees strength in you that others cannot carry. He is allowing you to fight unseen wars because your heart carries a light that threatens the darkness of this world.
To solidify this reality, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) asks the question that cuts through all despair: “Or did you think that you would enter Paradise while such [trial] had not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even] the Messenger and those who believed with him said, ‘When is the help of Allah?’ Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:214)
Allah says: “Do you suppose that you will enter the Garden without first having suffered like those before you? They were afflicted by misfortune and hardship” Recall that the previous verses were addressing the children of Israel who thought that they would enter Paradise without being tested. They distorted the religion to match their whims and wishes. They did not respect the words of faith. Allah is warning the nation of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w to be prepared for tests and trials and to hold firm to their faith and true to their words. Let’s take an example from the Quran.
When the Bedouins heard this, they said: ‘we praise Allah, there is still hope that we will become believers.’ Allah wanted the Bedouins to be true to themselves. Some scholars say that this verse was revealed specifically for the tribe of Asad. They came to Medina during a year of famine and proclaimed before the Prophet (peace be upon him): “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger.” Then they asked for the zakat charity and reminded the Prophet of their kindness as they did not fight the Muslims like others did. Thus, this verse was revealed to clarify to them that faith is much more than saying “I am Muslim.” The verse does not mean that they were hypocrites; rather, it is a reminder that faith is the work of the heart that has to be reflected in every aspect of the believer’s life.
This brings us back to the verse: “Do you suppose that you will enter the Garden without first having suffered like those before you?” Allah is informing you not to expect to enter heaven unless you have suffered trials like those who preceded you of nations. You and I must be tested and afflicted by adversity and tribulation, and whoever stays firm deserves Allah’s reward. We must not think that we are special over other nations when it comes to life’s tests and trials. To the contrary, because the nation of Muhammad has been granted the great blessings of Islam, their tests would be proportional to the bounties they enjoy. We have been blessed with the final message that was sent to entire humanity until the end of time, and we have to expect great tests to assure that each generation is worthy of this gift. The phrase: “…without first having suffered like those before you” signifies that afflictions similar to what struck the previous nations before will continue happening to each generation of believers.
Let’s study the phrase “and were so shaken.” It is translated from the Arabic origin “zulziloo” and it shows the beauty of the Arabic language where even the way a word sounds help express its meaning. “Zalzala زلزلة” means earthquake, and this word has two sections Zal, Zal “زل,زل”. The word “Zal” means to fall from one’s place. Thus, both sections of the word put together reflect a fallback and forth in opposite directions just as in an earthquake. It is a series of repeated jerks forwards and backward, left and right, that occur repeatedly.
The phrase “and were so shaken” expresses the great tribulations and succession of tragedies our beloved prophet and his companions endured. Harsh events tested their faith, their family ties, and their physical endurance. Such difficulties continued until the Prophet (peace be upon him), and those who believe with him said: ‘When will Allah’s help arrive?’ Allah –The All-Merciful- answers: “Truly, Allah’s help is near.”
Here we should ask: Did the believers ask first, and then return to their senses and respond to themselves with “truly, the help of Allah is near?” or did their feelings go back and forth between “when will Allah’s help arrive?” and “truly, the help of Allah is near”? Regardless of how difficult and stressful Allah’s trials were, regardless how badly they were shaken, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his followers continued to hold firm to faith. The question “when will Allah’s help arrive?” gives us insight that help was delayed at first, and then Allah gave them the good tidings of: “truly, the help of Allah is near.” There was no doubt or suspension of aid, rather, this delay was part of God’s trial. People had all sorts of thoughts, some of them would say “when will Allah’s help arrive?” while other voices from the community would answer “unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.” The context of the verse suggests that those who said: “when will Allah’s help arrive?” were the companions, and the reply “truly, the help of Allah is near” came from the Prophet (peace be upon him).
There are times when you will question why people who harm you seem to move forward in life while you keep fighting invisible storms. It will seem like injustice, like your prayers are unheard, and like your patience has no end. But the unseen truth is that their ease is not a blessing, and your suffering is not a curse. The comfort of the wrongdoer can be a trap from Allah, a silent delay before accountability, while your pain is a form of divine cleansing. You are not being destroyed, you are being elevated. Every sigh that escapes your lips is recorded, every tear that falls is seen, and every night you struggle to recite is being written in your book of patience.
The ease of your enemies may seem endless, but it is only temporary. When Allah gives them rope, it is not because He is pleased, but because He is waiting for the perfect moment of justice. Their laughter will fade, their plots will collapse, and their time will come. As for you, every hardship you endure is adding to your reward. Every attack that fails against you increases your protection. Every ruqyah you recite strengthens your light and weakens the chains of those who wish to harm you.
You may not realize it, but your patience in the face of unseen torment is one of the highest forms of worship. When you fight sihr with Qur’an, when you respond to pain with dua, and when you face darkness with tawakkul, you are walking the same path as the Prophets and the righteous before you. They too were mocked, accused, and harmed, yet they stood firm because they knew that Allah never abandons His servants even when the world does.
Your battle is not meaningless. The sleepless nights, the heaviness in your chest, the strange pains that come and go all of them have purpose. They are polishing your soul until it shines enough to carry the light that Allah intends for you. What you are facing now may be breaking your body, but it is also freeing your spirit. It is detaching you from everything that is temporary and anchoring you closer to the One who is eternal.
ONE DAY, you will wake up and realize that what once scared you now strengthens you. The same whispers that once shook your heart will no longer affect you. The same enemies that once frightened you will no longer matter. Because every trial has an end, and every night has a dawn. The pain you feel now is not forever; it is simply part of your soul’s journey toward healing, purification, and divine elevation.
Hold on to your faith with everything you have. Keep reciting even when it feels heavy. Keep calling upon Allah even when your voice trembles. Keep believing that every test has wisdom, and every hardship hides a mercy you cannot yet see. You are not fighting alone, and you are not forgotten. The very pain you are living through today is building the strength you will thank Allah for tomorrow.
The apparent success of those who harm you can sometimes hurt more than the pain they caused. It feels unbearable to see the very people who spread sihr, who spoke evil behind your back, who rejoiced at your pain, living in comfort as if nothing ever happened. You watch them smiling, traveling, building wealth, gaining recognition while you’re still trying to recover, still fighting unseen battles, still feeling the weight of what they did. Your heart whispers, “Where is justice? Why does Allah allow them to live in peace while I’m the one shattered and struggling to breathe?”
THE DECEPTION OF ISTIDRAAJ
This feeling is REAL, and it’s one that Allah acknowledges. But what most people do not understand is that the comfort of the wrongdoer is often not mercy it’s deception. It is what the scholars call ISTIDRAAJ when Allah allows a sinner to enjoy ease and success, not because He loves them, but because He is letting them wander further into their arrogance before they are seized. Allah does not forget; He delays. Every moment they enjoy without repentance is a rope being given and when that rope tightens, there will be no escape.
When a person wrongs others and still finds everything in life going smoothly, it should not be seen as a blessing. It is a sign that their reckoning will be heavier.
Allah says in the Qur’an, establishing this principle:
And He warns us specifically about the appearance of success:
Sometimes Allah opens every worldly door for them wealth, status, followers, happiness because He is allowing them to exhaust all the illusions of this life before taking it all away at once. They live in heedlessness, blind to the unseen reality that their comfort is temporary and their judgment is certain. They may sleep peacefully, but that peace is shallow; deep inside, their hearts are hollow. No amount of luxury can fill the emptiness that grows when the soul drifts away from Allah.
So, when you see the wrongdoers thriving, do not envy them. Feel sorry for them, for what awaits them is heavier than anything they could imagine. The wealth they misuse, the harm they caused, the spells they cast, the tears they made others cry all of it is being recorded. Their life may look beautiful now, but their ending may be filled with darkness that no one can see until it’s too late.
Your patience, on the other hand, is not wasted. The reason your trials continue while theirs seem to fade is because Allah is purifying you while letting them sink deeper into heedlessness. You are being refined through pain; they are being deceived through comfort. The difference between you and them is that your suffering is temporary and full of purpose, while their ease is temporary and full of delusion.
Allah sometimes withholds comfort from those He loves because He knows that comfort would distract them from their spiritual growth. He allows your enemies to walk freely so that they can accumulate their own destruction through their arrogance. The same people who smile today might cry in regret tomorrow, and the same ones who hurt you might one day wish they had your patience, your light, and your closeness to Allah.
There are people whose ease is the beginning of their downfall and people whose pain is the beginning of their elevation. If you could see the unseen, you would not wish for their peace, and you would never trade your trials for theirs. What they are living now is not success it is ISTIDRAAJ, a slow unfolding of consequences disguised as blessings.
So, the next time you see someone who wronged you living without worry, remind yourself that Allah’s delay is not His neglect. He gives them time so that they may either repent or fall by their own hands. And as for you, every tear, every hardship, every moment of resistance against despair is bringing you closer to the mercy of Allah. The test is your proof that He still sees you, still wants to cleanse you, and still believes in your strength.
You are not losing by being patient. You are winning in silence. While they rise in arrogance, you rise in sincerity. While their hearts darken with sin, your soul brightens with faith. And when Allah decides to act when the unseen decree unfolds you will stand protected by your patience, and they will fall by the weight of their own actions.
Their worldly success is not proof of Allah’s love it is a veil covering their spiritual downfall. Your suffering, however, is not proof of Allah’s anger it is a sign of His deep care. So, hold your heart firm. Their joy is borrowed, but your reward is eternal.
THE STORIES OF THE PROPHETS
Look back at the stories of the Prophets in the Qur’an. Prophet Musa (عليه السلام) stood against Firaun, the most arrogant king who lived in palaces, claimed divinity, and commanded nations yet one command of Allah drowned him in the sea he once used to oppress others. Musa was homeless, hunted, and spent years in exile yet Allah made him victorious, remembered, and honoured till the end of time.
Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام) was thrown into a blazing fire for standing firm on tawheed, while Namrud, the tyrant king who boasted of his power, sat on his throne claiming he could give life and death. But the fire became cool for Ibrahim, and Namrud perished, forgotten except as a symbol of arrogance destroyed by a single mosquito from Allah’s army.
Prophet Yusuf (عليه السلام) was betrayed by his brothers, sold as a slave, and unjustly imprisoned for years. Yet Allah raised him from a prison cell to the throne of Egypt, showing that sincerity may suffer for a while, but it never remains defeated.
Prophet Ayub (عليه السلام) lost everything wealth, family, health yet his sabr made him beloved to Allah. Those who mocked his illness and turned away were forgotten, but his story still heals broken souls to this day.
And think of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the most beloved of Allah, who buried his children with his own hands, faced hunger, betrayal, and the cruelty of people who threw stones at him. Yet Allah raised his name higher than all.
So, when you, too, facerials that feel never-ending repeated sihr, constant jealousy from people, unseen attacks that drain your mind and heart remember, you’re walking the same path the Prophets walked. Allah has chosen you not to punish you, but to strengthen you, to purify your soul until it shines like gold refined by fire.
THE WISDOM BEHIND YOUR PAIN
And maybe just maybe Allah allowed your pain to awaken something greater within you. You weren’t chosen to be broken; you were chosen to be awakened. Every repetition of sihr, every attack, every sleepless night was Allah’s way of telling you, “I see you; I’m purifying you, and I’m preparing you.”
Because when He loves a soul, He doesn’t let it remain ordinary. He allows storms to hit so that you learn to walk through thunder with His name on your tongue. He allows people to betray you so that you stop depending on creation and find strength only in the Creator. And when the world can’t understand your pain, Allah Himself becomes your comfort.
So, if you’ve been crying silently, wondering when relief will come know that it’s closer than you think. The same Allah who split the sea for Musa a.s, cooled the fire for Ibrahim a.s, raised Yusuf a.s from prison, and healed Ayub a.s from his suffering is watching your patience, your dhikr, your sujood, your tears.
And soon, when your time of victory arrives every wound will make sense, every hardship will turn into a story of divine power, and your heart will whisper, “SubhanAllah… it was all worth it.”
Because the people who are chosen for the hardest battles are also chosen for the highest ranks both in this world and the Hereafter.
But this journey doesn’t end here. There’s still a question that lingers in many hearts “Why does sihr or evil eye return again and again even after it’s removed?”
If Allah wills, that’s what we’ll uncover in the next article a deep dive into “Why spiritual afflictions repeat and how to permanently break the cycle.”
Insha’Allah, we’ll explore the unseen wisdom behind recurring sihr, hidden emotional doors jinn use to re-enter, and how to strengthen your spiritual shield so your soul no longer bleeds from the same wound twice.
Because your healing is not just about survival it’s about TRANSFORMATION.
