THE PURPOSE OF CREATION - Wondered Why We Exist?

Have you ever wondered why we exist? What is the reason for our existence? Have you ever wondered why we die, and where we will go after death? What will happen to us in the end? Have you ever asked yourself why Allah has made the earth and all that is in it subservient to human beings? Why were the night and the day, and the sun and the moon created?

What are we supposed to do during our lifetime? Were we created just to eat, drink, and enjoy ourselves before we die? A poet has summarized this timeless question: / do not know whence I have come. 

I saw my feet walking on the road. As they please, I go and stop. What am I doing here?

How did the road find me?

I do not know! I do not know! I do not know!

Allah has emphasized in many verses of the Qur'an that He did not create human beings without a purpose. He has said:

أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَـٰكُمْ عَبَثًۭا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُونَ ١١٥

{Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that to Us you would not be returned?} 

(Surah Al Mu'minun: 115) 

 

He has also said:

أَيَحْسَبُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ أَن يُتْرَكَ سُدًى ٣٦

{Does man think that he will be left neglected?} 

(Surah Al Qiyamah: 36)

In addition, He has said:

 أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ٢

{Do the people think that they will be left to say: We believe, and they will not be tried?} 

(Al Ankabut: 2)

 

It is clear from these verses that human beings were not created without a purpose; this purpose has been mentioned clearly in another verse which says:

 

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ٥٦

{And I did not create the jinn and humankind except to worship Me.} 

(Surah Adh Dzariyat: Ayat 56)

Hence, the main purpose of creation is to worship the Creator Alone. This is called monotheism.

Please note that any quotation in this book from the Qur'an is the translation that we feel has the closest meaning to its original Arabic.

The translation is not the Qur'an itself. 6 jinn: non-human, rational beings created by Allah from fire.

Islam sets a vision for human beings, which is strikingly simple yet completely logical. Indeed, why would the Creator of the universe shroud the main message He wants humankind to understand, their one key to winning paradise in the hereafter, in mystery? How then would He expect humankind to arrive at the truth? It is clear that humankind must revert to its basic instinct regarding the Creator of the universe; it must shed the layers of indoctrinated ideologies and man-made teachings it is covered with. Humankind must reclaim its birthright; it must reclaim Islam.

3. Monotheism: the Message of all the Prophets;

All the prophets instructed their people to worship Allah alone (monotheism) and shun worshipping His creation (paganism). Allah has said:

 وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍۢ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةُ ۚ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ ٣٦

{And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying]: Worship Allah and avoid taghoot 1 '...} 

(Surah An Nahl: Ayat 36)

 

Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), for example, believed in One God (Allah), Who has no partner. The Qur'an has explained:

وَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱتَّقُوهُ ۖ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ

 تَعْلَمُونَ ١٦

{And [We sent] Abraham, when he said to his people: Worship Allah and fear Him. That is best for you, if you should know.}

(Surah Al Ankabut: Ayat 16)

 Allah has also said about him

Taghut means idols; everything evil that is worshipped besides Allah.

Note: Wherever possible, Arabic terms have been translated into English. In cases where we have chosen to retain the Arabic, the transliterated word or phrase is shown in italics the first time it appears in the text; the term is also defined in the glossary found at the end of this book. (Editor)

 

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّنِى بَرَآءٌۭ مِّمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ ٢٦

إِلَّا ٱلَّذِى فَطَرَنِى فَإِنَّهُۥ سَيَهْدِينِ ٢٧ 

 {And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said to his father and his people: Indeed, I am disassociated from that which you worship, except for He who created me; and indeed, He will guide me. } 

( Qur'an 43: 26-27)

Although the Bible has been altered a great deal, Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) was reported in the Gospels to have said, "It is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only." (Luke 4:8]

It also mentions that God has said, "I am the first, and I am the last, and besides Me there is no God."  (Isaiah 44:6) "The Lord our God is one Lord." (Mark 12:29)

 The Book of Acts 3:13 says, "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus."

 Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him) also said (as mentioned in the Qur'an) to his people:

The use of the word 'servant' does not imply that Allah needs assistance or help. It equals to 'slave' which means 'the one devoted in worship' by obeying His commands and shunning what He forbids.

مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءًۭ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ إِنِ

 ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٤٠

{You worship not besides Him except [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. Legislation is not but for Allah. He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.}

 (Surah Yusuf: Ayat 40)

 This is why Allah has described those who deviate from Abraham's message (monotheism) as the ones who are fooling themselves. He has said:

 وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ إِلَّا مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُۥ ۚ وَلَقَدِ ٱصْطَفَيْنَـٰهُ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ١٣٠

{And who would be averse to the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself...}

 (Surah Al Baqarah:Ayat130)