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Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura
English

Delayed gratification – A Quranic concept

12 June 2026

This world and the Hereafter are not two separate paths. We are not commanded to choose between one or the other. Rather, every effort we make in this world can become a path which connects this world to our Hereafter, if done with the intention of seeking the pleasure of Allah s.w.t.

Muslim men praying in mosque

The syariah trains the human soul to recognise and prioritise the greater reward with Allah s.w.t. 

For example, why does Islam teach us to lower our gaze, even though our desire often directs us towards immediate pleasure? Why does religion instruct us to avoid unlawful sources of income, such as gambling or trade in forbidden and harmful goods, even though they may appear easier and quicker in generating profit?

In all these situations, we are being trained to sacrifice immediate desires, and in doing so, choose a greater and more meaningful reward. This is what we may understand as a Quranic concept: a deferred reward, also known in today’s language as “delayed gratification”.

Download Delayed gratification – A Quranic concept [PDF, 316.4 KB]

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