مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُۥ فِيهَا مَا نَشَآءُ لِمَن نُّرِيدُ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا لَهُۥ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَىٰهَا مَذْمُومًا مَّدْحُورًا 18
Translations
Whoever should desire the immediate - We hasten for him from it what We will to whom We intend. Then We have made for him Hell, which he will [enter to] burn, censured and banished.
Transliteration
Man kana yuridu al-'ajilata 'ajjalna lahu fiha ma nasha'u liman nurid, thumma ja'alna lahu jahannama yaslaha madhmuuman madhhurah.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who seek only the immediate gains of this worldly life (al-'ajilah); Allah grants them swiftly what He wills in this life as a test, but then prepares for them Hellfire as their final destination. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a warning against prioritizing worldly desires over the Hereafter, noting that temporary worldly success is not a sign of Allah's favor but rather a trial, and such people will enter Hell disgraced and rejected from Allah's mercy.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Isra, a Meccan surah revealed during the early Meccan period. It appears within a passage addressing various categories of people and their orientations toward the Hereafter, providing contrast between those seeking the next life and those seeking only worldly pleasures. The broader context of the surah emphasizes spiritual journey and accountability before Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who have the best character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), and in another context: 'This worldly life is cursed, and all that is in it is cursed, except the remembrance of Allah and what leads to it' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2322), both relating to the theme of not being deceived by worldly pursuits.
Themes
Key Lesson
Seeking only worldly gains, though it may appear successful temporarily, ultimately leads to spiritual ruin and divine punishment; believers should balance their worldly responsibilities with sincere devotion to Allah and preparation for the Hereafter, understanding that true honor lies in divine pleasure, not material accumulation or social status.
Related Ayahs
۞ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ قَادِرٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَهُمْ أَجَلًا لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ فَأَبَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ إِلَّا كُفُورًا
Do they not see that Allāh, who created the heavens and earth, is [the one] Able to create the likes of them? And He has appointed for them a term, about which there is no doubt. But the wrongdoers refuse except disbelief.
رَّبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِى نُفُوسِكُمْ ۚ إِن تَكُونُوا۟ صَـٰلِحِينَ فَإِنَّهُۥ كَانَ لِلْأَوَّٰبِينَ غَفُورًا
Your Lord is most knowing of what is within yourselves. If you should be righteous [in intention] - then indeed He is ever, to the often returning [to Him], Forgiving.
وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّكَ لَن تَخْرِقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَن تَبْلُغَ ٱلْجِبَالَ طُولًا
And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height.
قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ أَوِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنَ ۖ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُوا۟ فَلَهُ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَلَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَٱبْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا
Say, "Call upon Allāh or call upon the Most Merciful [ar-Raḥmān]. Whichever [name] you call - to Him belong the best names." And do not recite [too] loudly in your prayer or [too] quietly but seek between that an [intermediate] way.