Why Do I Face Hardships While Others Succeed in Haram

I have a close friend, a 19-year-old Muslim, who is deeply religious. He prays regularly, follows his faith with dedication, and his entire family is also very devout. He participates in all the right practices, including attending congregational prayers and striving to live a righteous life. Yet, despite his commitment to religion, he also engages in gambling and earns money through haram (forbidden) means online. To my disbelief, his life seems to be going exceptionally well. Nothing bad has happened to him, and he even manages to make substantial money from gambling. Everything seems to be working out in his favor.

On the other hand, my life has taken a drastically different path. While I too used to gamble, I would still perform my prayers, though admittedly not as diligently as my friend. But my involvement with gambling has destroyed my life. I am now buried in debt—90,000 INR to be exact—and nothing seems to be going right. In just one year, I had to take a drop year, and everything I worked for has fallen apart. It feels like Allah (SWT) has punished me for my wrongdoings, and yet, my friend continues to live a seemingly blessed life, unaffected by the same actions that have led to my downfall.

The other day, he showed me his gambling account balance, and I was stunned to see it was 2 lakh INR. I felt a sense of deep frustration and confusion. How can someone who is involved in such haram actions be so prosperous, while I am struggling to rebuild my life after making similar mistakes? It feels unfair, and I cannot comprehend why Allah (SWT) has allowed this disparity. It’s been hard for me to reconcile the fact that my life has been filled with consequences, while he seems untouched by any repercussions. I feel lost and heartbroken, unsure of why things have turned out this way for me.