Arabiq Online - Arabic of the Qur'an

Sūra al-Isrāʾ 17:18

Our word today is the adjective ʿājila, which means ‘instant, quick, immediate’ and only occurs in the feminine in the Qur’an, used to describe only one thing - the dunya - this worldly life, and often contrasted with al-ākhira ‘the next life’. 

It comes from the root عَجِلَ ‘to be ready, immediate, instant’ and would usually be used to describe goods or merchandise that was readily available and present to buy right there and then. In other words, Amazon Prime compared to international shipping, literally by ship from China.

In this juz', in ayah 18 of Sūra al-Isrā', Allah describes the people who prefer the ājila:  the instant gratification that this world offers, and simply do not have the patience to reap rewards for good deeds in the Hereafter. What does He do with them? He lets them have their instant gratification very fast and immediately - he uses the same verb:

مَنْ كَانَ يُرِيْدُ الْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُ فِيْهَا مَا نََشَاءُ لِمَنْ نُرِيْدُ

If anyone desires the life of instant gratification, We speed up whatever We will in it, for whoever We wish

This seems desirable, but then they’ll lose out in the Hereafter, because the Hereafter is where the greater ranks and greater favours are kept - if only they can bear delayed gratification.