Assalaamu alaykum. My question is the following: I cannot understand the wisdom of why Allaah, The Exalted, sometimes make things easier on some people and they live a happy life despite the fact that they have harmed others by backbiting and gloating over their misfortunes? The more harm they do, the better their lives become. So what do you say about this?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Unquestionably, Allaah, The Exalted, is All-Wise. The acts of Allaah concerning His creation are not without wisdom; He does not command, create, or decree anything except with great wisdom. This is the belief adopted by Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jamaaʻah. Ibn Taymiyyah wrote, "The majority of the Muslims from among the righteous predecessors and their successors held that Allaah, The Exalted, creates with wisdom, and He commands with wisdom; this is the view of the Imaams of Fiqh and the knowledgeable scholars, and this is evidenced by the Quran, the Sunnah and sound reason. Allaah, The Exalted, is thereby confirmed as being All-Wise. If someone does not do things with wisdom, then he is not wise." [Excerpted with slight modifications]

As for your question concerning facilitating the life of the person who persistently does what incurs the Wrath of Allaah, The Almighty, as is the case with the one wronging others and the like, you should know that there are relevant facts clearly stated in the Quran and the Sunnah touching upon some of the wisdom in this regard, some of which are the following:

- Facilitation of the worldly affairs does not essentially have good indications nor is it considered good for the one benefiting; granting worldly pleasures and facilitating worldly affairs may, in fact, be a means to gradually lead that person to his own destruction and reprieving him so that he would indulge in sin more and accordingly incur graver punishment. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {And let not those who disbelieve ever think that [because] We extend their time (of enjoyment) it is better for them. We only extend it for them so that they may increase in sin, and for them is a humiliating punishment.} [Quran 3:178] He also says (what means): {Do they think that what We extend to them of wealth and children is (because) We hasten for them good things? Rather, they do not perceive.} [Quran 23:55-56]

- Bestowing worldly pleasures on an individual and facilitating his worldly affairs are not essentially an indication of earning the pleasure of Allaah, the same as the deprivation of such pleasures and facilitation does not indicate incurring His Wrath. Verily, this worldly life is nothing but an abode for tests and trials and not an abode for genuine pleasures and bliss. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {And as for man, when his Lord tries him and (thus) is generous to him and favors him, he says, "My Lord has honored me." But when He tries him and restricts his provision, he says, "My Lord has humiliated me." No! ...} [Quran 89:15-17]

- Moreover, Allaah, The Exalted, may render the worldly pleasures granted to some of His slaves the very source of their punishment. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {So let not their wealth or their children impress you. Allaah only intends to punish them through them in worldly life and that their souls should depart (at death) while they are disbelievers.} [Quran 9:55]

- In addition, the disbeliever may carry out righteous deeds in the worldly life for which Allaah, The Exalted, would reward him with conferring pleasures upon him in the worldly life, as it was reported on the authority of Anas ibn Maalik that the Prophet said, "Allaah does not wrong a believer regarding a good deed carried out by him because he is given blessings for it in this worldly life and will be rewarded for it in the Hereafter. However, the disbeliever is given in the worldly life the rewards for the good deeds that he has performed for the sake of Allaah and in the Hereafter, there is no good deed for which he can be rewarded." [Muslim]

It is important to note that even if Allaah, The Exalted, informs His slaves of some wisdoms behind His decrees and commands, this does not mean that they have inclusive knowledge of His great wisdom. Verily, Al-Qadr (the Divine decree) is one of the mysteries of Allaah, The Exalted, in His creation which He discloses to none.

At-Tahaawi wrote:

"The exact nature of divine decree is one of the secrets of Allaah in His creation; no angel near the Throne, nor a Prophet sent with a message, has been given knowledge of it. Delving into it and reflecting too much about it only leads to destruction and loss, and it results in rebelliousness. So be extremely mindful of thinking and reflecting on this matter or letting doubts about it assail you because Allaah, The Exalted, has kept knowledge of divine decree a secret from human beings and has forbidden them to inquire about it, saying in His Book (what means): {He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.} [Quran 21:23] Therefore, anyone who asks, 'Why did Allaah do that?' has gone against the judgment of the Quran, and anyone who goes against the judgment of the Quran is a disbeliever."

Allaah knows best.