If they neglect bidding good and forbidding evil and...

If they neglect bidding good and forbidding evil and following the pious men of my household, Allah will give authority to their evilest people over them, and when the righteous people among them supplicate to Him, they will not be answered[^6].” Imam as-Sadiq (a) said: “My father used to say: Allah decided conclusively that He will not seize the favor that He confers upon a servant unless that servants commits a sin due to which he exposes himself to the punishment of the Lord[^7].” Imam ar-Rida (a) said: “Whenever the servants commit unprecedented sins, Allah creates unprecedented sorts of misfortunes for them[^8].” The Devil may seduce some people by the false idea that if sins had been fatal and destructive, they would have destroyed those who commit sins incessantly while they are living in full luxury.

To answer this false conception, we say that nothing at all can overcome God Who does not anticipate the escape of anyone. He only respites the disobedient and postpones the penalties that are decided for them out of His care for their interests, expecting that they may recover their senses and turn to Him in repentance, or that He gives them respite out of His sympathy with the innocent and weak individuals whom may be injured by such punishments.

Finally, God may respite those who commit sins so that they will increase in acting disobediently to Him, and He then inflict them with severe punishment: “The unbelievers must not think that Our respite is for their good. We only give them time to let them increase their sins. For them there will be a humiliating torment. (3:178)” “Were Allah to punish people for their deeds immediately, not one creature would have survived on earth.

However, He has given them a respite for an appointed time and when their term comes to an end, let it be known that Allah watches over His servants. (35:45)” Imam as-Sadiq (a) said: “If Allah intends goodness to a servant, He inflicts him with a punishment after each sin he commits, and reminds him of seeking forgiveness.

If Allah intends evil to a servant, He confers upon him with a grace after each sin he commits, so as to make him forget seeking forgiveness and exceed the limits in committing sins. This is the meaning of His saying: “I shall lead them step by step to destruction, without their being aware of it.