Quranic root
عجل
ʿ · j · l
The root has two principal lexical branches: rapidity and haste on the one hand, and the young of cattle on the other.
The haste branch extends to urging, seeking something before its appointed time, immediacy, premature occurrence, advance payment, and provisions prepared or taken quickly. The cattle branch is represented by عِجْلٌ, “calf,” with related animal terminology.
- Maqāyīs · row 3147
- Mufradāt · row 950
- 10
- Quran-attested forms
- 12
- Quran senses
- 47
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
عَجِلَ
ʿajila
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 5 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To hasten, hurry, or make haste; to hasten toward something or get ahead of it.
The Quranic forms describe both hurried action and hastening toward a person or objective. The meaning is not restricted to impatience; in one context the haste is directed toward seeking divine favor.
- Lane · entry 2266
- Mufradāt · row 950
Selected Quran examples
Quran 20:84word 6
“and I hastened”
Quran 7:150word 13
“Were you impatient”
عَجَّلَ
ʿajjala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- Quran occurrences
- 5 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To hasten something, cause it to come sooner, or bring it forward for someone.
A causative construction in which an event, thing, portion, or benefit is made to arrive or occur sooner; the Quran also uses it for bringing forward something requested or expected.
- Lane · entry 2267
- Mufradāt · row 950
Selected Quran examples
أَعْجَلَ
ʾaʿjala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To urge, incite, or command someone to hasten.
The construction takes a person as the one urged and may express making someone hurry away or proceed quickly.
- Lane · entry 2269
- Mufradāt · row 950
Selected Quran examples
Quran 20:83word 2
“made you hasten”
To precede, get ahead of, or anticipate someone or something.
This is a related Quran-attested construction in which the notion of hastening implies being beforehand or leaving something incomplete before its proper time.
- Lane · entry 2269
- Maqāyīs · row 3147
تَعَجَّلَ
taʿajjala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form V
- Form
- V
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To hasten, hurry oneself, or proceed quickly.
The form is intransitive or reflexive in the Quranic occurrence, presenting the subject as hurrying or making haste.
- Lane · entry 2270
- Lane · entry 2266
- Mufradāt · row 950
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:203word 7
“hurries”
اِسْتَعْجَلَ
āistaʿjala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form X
- Form
- X
- Quran occurrences
- 19 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To seek, request, demand, or impatiently expect that something be hastened.
It commonly takes a person or event as its object: asking someone to hasten something, or seeking its occurrence before its appointed or complete time.
- Lane · entry 2271
- Mufradāt · row 950
Selected Quran examples
Quran 13:6word 1
“And they ask you to hasten”
Quran 16:1word 5
“(be) impatient for it”
Quran 42:18word 1
“Seek to hasten”
عَاجِلَةٌ
ʿājilahun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 3 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
The immediate or present life; the worldly existence sought in preference to what is deferred.
The feminine active participle is substantivized for the present worldly state or its immediate goods, in contrast with the future or deferred life.
- Lane · entry 2292
- Mufradāt · row 950
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:18word 4
“the immediate”
Quran 75:20word 4
“the immediate”
عَجَلٌ
ʿajalun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Haste or impatience.
In the Quranic expression describing the human being as created from عَجَل, the noun conveys an inherent tendency toward haste and seeking things before their proper time.
- Lane · entry 2274
- Mufradāt · row 950
Selected Quran examples
Quran 21:37word 4
“haste”
Clay or black mud.
A disputed interpretation of the Quranic occurrence understands عَجَل as clay, specifically black or fetid mud. Other authorities reject this interpretation and explain the passage through the meaning “haste.”
- Lane · entry 2274
- Mufradāt · row 950
عَجُول
ʿajūl
- Part of speech
- Adjective
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Hasty, impetuous, or quick to act.
The Quranic adjective characterizes the human being as habitually prone to haste.
- Lane · entry 2276
- Mufradāt · row 950
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:11word 8
“ever hasty”
عِجْل
ʿijl
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 10 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A calf, the young of a cow.
The Quranic noun denotes the bovine young, including the calf made into an object of worship in the narratives of the Children of Israel.
- Lane · entry 2273
- Mufradāt · row 950
Selected Quran examples
اِسْتِعْجَال
āistiʿjāl
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Seeking or demanding that something be hastened.
The verbal noun describes the act of asking for an event or outcome to be brought forward before its appointed time.
- Lane · entry 2271
- Mufradāt · row 950
Selected Quran examples
Quran 10:11word 6
“(as) He hastens for them”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:51ٱلْعِجْلَthe calf
- 2:54ٱلْعِجْلَthe calf
- 2:92ٱلْعِجْلَthe calf
- 2:93ٱلْعِجْلَ(love of) the calf
- 2:203تَعَجَّلَhurries
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 49 Classical meanings
عَجِلَ
To be present or ready, especially of a price, payment, hire, or similar due.
A Classical usage contrasted with being deferred.
- Lane · entry 2266
عَجِلَ
To turn aside from someone or something.
- Lane · entry 2266
عَجَّلَ
To give, pay, or bring something promptly or in advance.
Especially used of payment, price, hire, or property made ready for the recipient.
- Lane · entry 2267
عَجَّلَ
To supply or feed people with an early portion of food.
A provision supplied before the ordinary meal is ready.
- Lane · entry 2267
عَجَّلَ
To prepare or arrange something hastily, including cooking meat quickly or hastening a marriage.
These are conventional applications of making an action occur quickly.
- Lane · entry 2267
عَجَّلَ
To form dried curd into elongated portions called عَجَاجِيل.
A technical food-preparation usage.
- Lane · entry 2267
عَاجَلَ
To hasten with someone, vie with him in being first, or anticipate him in doing or obtaining something.
The construction expresses competing or striving to get ahead in an action or attainment.
- Lane · entry 2268
عَاجَلَ
To punish someone for an offense without granting delay.
Literally, to deal with him hastily in consequence of his sin.
- Lane · entry 2268
أَعْجَلَ
To hurry something before its proper time or preempt someone so that an action cannot be completed.
The result may be preventing maturation, completion, or payment by acting or causing action too soon.
- Lane · entry 2269
أَعْجَلَ
To cause a pregnant animal to give birth before its offspring is mature.
Used of a pregnant woman or female camel and the premature delivery of its young.
- Lane · entry 2269
أَعْجَلَ
To produce ripe fruit before the usual time.
Used of palm trees that mature their fruit early.
- Lane · entry 2269
أَعْجَلَ
To leap up before a rider is firmly seated.
Used of a camel that rises or jumps as the rider mounts.
- Lane · entry 2269
تَعَجَّلَ
To come quickly or become ready promptly.
Used of such things as heat or a price becoming immediately available.
- Lane · entry 2270
تَعَجَّلَ
To occur or come before its proper time.
The subject may be an event or thing rather than a person.
- Lane · entry 2270
تَعَجَّلَ
To take or receive payment, hire, or property promptly or in advance.
- Lane · entry 2270
تَعَجَّلَ
To compel someone to hasten a payment or other due.
A transitive construction involving pressure for prompt performance.
- Lane · entry 2270
عَجَلٌ
Food prepared and brought hastily before the ordinary meal is ready.
An early or quickly prepared portion of food.
- Lane · entry 2274
عِجْلَةٌ
A small waterskin or skin used for water or milk.
- Lane · entry 2278
عِجْلَةٌ
A water-wheel used to draw water.
- Lane · entry 2278
عِجْلَةٌ
A creeping plant with jointed branches and leaves resembling those of wheat.
The plant grows along the ground and is described as good pasture.
- Lane · entry 2278
عَجَلَةٌ
A cart or wheeled carriage, especially one drawn by an ox.
The term is also used collectively for such wheeled conveyances.
- Lane · entry 2279
عَجَلَةٌ
A wooden structure or frame on which burdens are carried.
Includes a structure like a litter or burden-carrier.
- Lane · entry 2279
عَجَلَةٌ
A wheel or pulley used to draw water.
Includes a water-wheel, a large sheave, or related well equipment.
- Lane · entry 2279
عَجَلَةٌ
A transverse piece of wood over a well from which the large bucket is suspended.
- Lane · entry 2279
عَجَلَةٌ
A ladder made from a hollowed palm trunk.
The trunk is fashioned with steps for climbing.
- Lane · entry 2279
عَجَلَةٌ
A small leather water-vessel.
A small إِدَاوَة or, according to one usage, a مَزَادَة.
- Lane · entry 2279
عَجَلَةٌ
A garment made up into a bundle.
- Lane · entry 2279
عَجَلَةٌ
A rock that appears to grow by itself on hard, elevated ground.
- Lane · entry 2279
عَجْلَانُ
Quick-shooting, applied to a bow whose arrow flies swiftly.
Used in the feminine form with قَوْسٌ.
- Lane · entry 2280
عَجْلَانُ
A named bird, black with white at the base of its tail.
The bird is noted for frequent movement of its tail.
- Lane · entry 2280
عَجْلَانُ
Shaʿbān, so called for its apparently swift passing.
A traditional name explained by the month's seeming brevity before the fast of Ramadan.
- Lane · entry 2280
عَجُولٌ
A female camel distracted or agitated after losing her young; also a woman bereaved of her child.
The usage emphasizes restless coming and going caused by grief and impatience.
- Lane · entry 2281
عَجُولٌ
Death or the decree of death.
Figuratively, death hastens the one it overtakes and prevents him from reaching his family.
- Lane · entry 2281
عُجَالَةٌ
Food or provision taken hastily, especially a rider's travel food or a quick provision for a guest.
Includes dates, parched-barley meal, and other food requiring little preparation.
- Lane · entry 2284
- Lane · entry 2289
عُجَالَةٌ
Milk brought promptly from animals at pasture before the ordinary milking.
Used of milk carried to the household while the flock is still away or before its return.
- Lane · entry 2284
عِجَالَةٌ
A certain creeping plant, identified with the plant also called وَشِيجٌ.
- Lane · entry 2285
عُجَيْلَى
A quick pace.
- Lane · entry 2287
عُجَّالٌ
A hand-sized cake or portion of dates, dates mixed with parched meal, or dates mixed with dried curd, eaten in haste.
The plural عَجَاجِيلُ is also used for elongated portions of dried curd or similar food.
- Lane · entry 2289
عَاجِلٌ
Present, ready, or not delayed.
Especially applied to a price, hire, payment, or merchandise, in contrast with something deferred.
- Lane · entry 2292
أَعْجَلُ
More or most hasty, speedy, or short-lived.
A comparative or superlative adjective describing rapidity or brief duration.
- Lane · entry 2293
أَعَاجِلُ
Little ones.
Reported as a plural related to عِجْلٌ; the derivation is attributed rather than universally established.
- Lane · entry 2295
مُعْجَلٌ
A young camel born before completion of the year and still living.
The description concerns premature birth with survival of the young.
- Lane · entry 2296
مُعْجِلٌ
An animal that gives birth before the full term, or a female camel or cow with its young.
The word may refer to a prematurely delivering female or, in a related usage, a cow accompanied by her calf.
- Lane · entry 2297
مُعْجِلٌ
A camel that leaps up when the rider mounts.
Also used of a camel that rises before the rider is settled.
- Lane · entry 2297
مُعْجِلٌ
A palm tree that matures its fruit on its first bearing.
- Lane · entry 2297
مُعَجِّلٌ
One who brings an early provision or milk from animals at pasture to his family.
Also used of a pastor who brings such provision or milks the camels once while they are at pasture.
- Lane · entry 2298
مُعَجِّلٌ
A pastor who milks camels once while they remain at pasture.
- Lane · entry 2298
مِعْجَالٌ
A short cut or one of the nearer routes.
The associated plural denotes roads characterized by nearness and shortness.
- Lane · entry 2299
مُسْتَعْجِلَةٌ
A named plant said to fatten women.
Also called العُرُوقُ البِيضُ.
- Lane · entry 2302
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The interpretation of عَجَلٍ in 21:37 as clay or black mud is explicitly disputed; the primary Quranic sense in the entry is haste.
Lane's Quran citations use historical numbering conventions; only QAC-supplied modern locations are used for Quran examples.