Tafseer of The Heights · Al-A'raaf · 7:182
But those who deny Our signs - We will progressively lead them [to destruction] from where they do not know.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the statement of the Exalted: وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَعْلَمُونَ (182) (And those who deny Our signs, We shall gradually draw them nearer [to their destruction] from where they do not know.) (182)
Abū Jaʿfar said: The Exalted, whose mention is exalted, says: And those who have denied Our proofs and Our signs, and who disbelieved and would not let themselves be admonished thereby, We shall grant him respite in his delusion and We shall make the evil of his deed seem fair to him, until he supposes that he, in that state in which he is of his denial of the signs of Allah, is a benefactor toward himself, and until he reaches the appointed end that has been prescribed for him of respite; then He will seize him for his evil deeds and requite him for them with the punishment that He has prepared for him. And that is the gradual drawing nearer (istidrāj) by Allah of him.
* * *
And the origin of "al-istidrāj" is the deluding of the one who is gradually drawn nearer by the forbearance of [the one who draws him gradually nearer], whereby the one who is drawn gradually nearer supposes that the one who draws him nearer is a benefactor toward him, until he causes him to fall into something detestable.
* * *
And we have already set forth the manner in which Allah does that with the people of disbelief in Him in what has preceded, with that which makes it superfluous to repeat it in this place.