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Know that the meaning of karâmât is the exact opposite of that of istidrâj. For karâmât, like a miracle, is an act of Allah. The one endowed with it is acutely aware that it is bestowed by the Subhân, and does not arise from his nafs; finding his heart at ease in the knowledge that Allah is his Protector and Guardian Who wills what is khayr for him, his certainty (yaqîn) and tawakkul increase. Sometimes, he may be conscious of the fine details of these karâmât with Allah’s permission, sometimes he may not, and the latter is safer and better.

For example, Allah grants him speech expressing what is in someone’s heart, or causes a haqiqah to be visualised before a person in a state of wakefulness (yaqadhah) so as to be the means for his hidâyah — yet the one honoured with such karâmât remains unaware of what Allah is effecting through him for His ‘abds.

As for istidrâj, it consists the unveiling of matters of the ghayb to a person while he is in a state of ghaflah, or his performing extraordinary acts. Yet he attributes these to his nafs and power. Consequently, his distance from Allah, his ananiyyah and his pride only increase. Then he says,

اِنَّمَا اُوتِيتُهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ1

and, "It was unveiled to me by virtue of the purity of my nafs and the illumination of my heart!" Yet, there is no confounding between those subject to istidraj and the people of walâyah in the intermediate degrees of ma’nawî ranks.

As for those who have reached total annihilation (al-fanâ’ al-atam) among the highest ranks, to whom matters of the ghayb are unveiled by Allah’s permission, they perceive these realities through their senses and feelings, which are dedicated entirely to Allah — in accordance with the noble hadith

فإذا أحببته: كنت سمعه الذي يسمع به، وبصره الذي يبصر به، ويده التي يبطش بها، ورجله التي يمشي بها2

Here, the distinction is even more manifest, for the inner luminosity of their hearts, which overflows into their outward demeanor, is far too elevated to ever be confused with the darkness of one who acts out of ostentation and calls others to his own ananiyyah.