Hadrat Uqbah bin Aamir R.A. narrates that when you notice that a person is blessed with the beloved things of this world in spite of his sinning, then understand that this is ‘Istidraaj’ (respite). Then Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam recited this verse,

فَلَمَّا نَسُواْ مَا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَتَّى إِذَا فَرِحُواْ بِمَا أُوتُواْ أَخَذْنَاهُم بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْلِسُونَ

When they forgot the advice given to them, We opened to them the doors to all (good) things. Until the time came that they rejoiced over what was given to them, We suddenly gripped hold of them (punished them), leaving them despondent (having no hope of ever recovering the bounties they lost).

“Istidraaj” means to take one thing to another thing gradually. For example, there are many stages of a ladder, when a person starts ascending he climbs from the bottom floor to the next floor. Similarly, when a sinner does not repent from his sins yet Allah c showers upon him the enjoyable things of the world, the foolish person starts to think that Allah Ta'ala has opened up the doors of bounties upon him, he remains negligent of Taubah, then suddenly he is caught by the punishment of Allah Ta'ala. This type of a gradual consequence is termed as ‘Istidraaj’ in Arabic. Allah Ta'ala says in the Quraan,

سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ

As for those who reject Our Aayaat, We shall gradually grant them respite (we shall postpone their punishment) in a manner (so subtle) that they do not realise .