Analytical and Descriptive Reading on the Tradition of "Divine Istidrāj (Gradual Decline)" with Emphasis on the Qurʾān and Hadiths

The divine traditions are the same laws that Almighty Allah has implemented in order to plan the universe. Holy Qurʾān, in describing the history of individual human beings as well as past nations and civilizations, mentions events that can be repeated at any time as general laws, if the conditions are provided. Istidrāj is one of these traditions. Istidrāj means a gradual and step-by-step fall and an imperceptible approach to punishment.This sunnah occurs in both individual and social spheres. The realization of this sunnah is due to factors that have a lot to do with the behavior of people in society; and knowing those factors can prevent the society from being destroyed; and at the same time, it brought the tendency towards spirituality and moving towards the desired civilization. The main goal of this essay is the semantic study of the concept of istidrāj in the Qurʾān, and the review of the opinions and views of Muslim scholars about the factors and philosophy of the sunnah of istidrāj.