God created us for the purpose of worshipping Him, Alone and without any partners. Humans were created to submit to God through worship. The road to submission is available only through Islam and therefore, only by becoming Muslim does one gain the opportunity to submit to God. God calls on humans to use their intellect and reflect on the world around them. A foundational message in the Quran is its emphasis on righteous conduct built on firm belief and love for God. Allah says:
فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“So set your face to the religion upright. Nature (made by) Allah (upon) which He has created mankind [on it]. No change (should there be) in the creation (of) Allah. That (is) the religion the correct, but most men (do) not know.” (Surah Al-Rum 30:30)
God made human beings God’s agents or viceroys on the earth and entrusted them with the responsibility to civilize the land. The Qur’an describes the moment of creation as the moment in which humanity was entrusted with heavy responsibility. God gave humanity the blessing of rationality and the ability to differentiate between right and wrong. Allah says:
وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًا
“And certainly, We have honoured (the) children of Adam and We carried them on the land and the sea, and We have provided them of the good things and We preferred them over many of those whom We have created (with) preference.” (Surah Al-Isra’ 17:70)
The Quran acknowledges human desires while reminding individuals to cultivate their souls. In addition, The Quran encourages humankind to recognize the signs of God’s existence in the precise order of the universe and the careful placement of every object in the total scheme of creation. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا
“O you who believe! Consciously revere Allah and speak a word right.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:70)
God knows us better than we know ourselves:
- Allah knows what we conceal and what we reveal
- Allah is the personal name of the One true God
- Allah is very Gracious and Kind to His slaves
- Allah sent Messenger for all mankind
- Allah is All-Powerful, absolutely Just
- Allah is the Bestower of Sufficiency
- Allah knows what is in our hearts
- Allah is the Maintainer of life
- Allah is the Impartial Judge
- Allah is the Most Merciful
- Allah is the Loving One
- Allah is the Only Creator
- Allah is the Absolute Truth
- Allah gives us many chances
- Allah’s book is the Holy Quran
- Allah is First, Last, and Everlasting
- Allah is the Supreme, the Sovereign
- Allah is the one, Who has no partner
- Allah is everything in His own accord
- Allah promises who obey Him to enter Paradise
The purpose of this life is the worship of God, this life is a test. A test for us, will we worship God, or will we forget Him. This is where our focus has to begin. However, the Almighty is not in need of human worship. God is Perfect. He alone exists without any needs. All created beings have needs. Consequently, it is humankind that needs to worship God. Allah says:
الَّذِي خَلَقَكَ فَسَوَّاكَ فَعَدَلَكَ فِي أَيِّ صُورَةٍ مَّا شَاءَ رَكَّبَكَ
“It is He who created you and fashioned you into whatever image He willed to assemble you.” (Surah Al-Infitar 82:7-8)
God had created a human from water and dust. Human should be modest, also should get rid of their arrogance when he realizes that their origin is from the clay followed by unseen sperm. Scientists discovered that the human body consists of some elements which are the same elements as in dust. Allah says:
وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا
“And (do) not say of anything, “Indeed, I will do that tomorrow.” (Surah Al-Kahf )
One of the latest discoveries is that some kinds of clay contain antibiotics that are able to kill the most obstinate kind of germs. Hence they are thinking to use dust to sterilize hospitals!! So that God gave a human a big honour when He is blessed and exalted created him from dust.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “ God created you in stages.“ (Quran 71:4)
- “Surely God’s religion is Islam…” (Quran 3:19)
- “Verily, We created man of the best stature.” (Quran 95:4)
- “Indeed, God is free from the need of the worlds.” (Quran 29:6)
- “Do you worship what you have carved yourself?” (Quran 37:95)
- “No calamity strikes except by God’s permission…” (Quran 64:11)
- “I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Quran 51:56)
- “…There is nothing like Him and He is hearer and seer of all.” (Quran 42:11)
- ”Say, “He is God, [who is] One, God, the Eternal Refuge.” (Surah Ikhlaas, 1-2)
- “And We have made from water every living thing.” (Sûrat Al-Anbiyâ-’Verse 30)
- “Have you seen the one who takes his desires as his god?” (Quran 25:43, 45:23)
- “If you love God, then follow me [the Prophet] and God will love you.” (Quran 3:31)
- “Allah has created every moving (living) creature from water.” (Sûrat An-Nûr- verse45)
- “God created all things and He is the agent on which all things depend.” (Quran 39:62)
- “If you try to count God’s blessings, you will not be able to add them up.” (Quran 16:18)
- “Surely, those who believe and do righteous deeds are the best of creation.” (Quran 98:7)
- And indeed We created a man (Adam) out of an extract of clay (water and Dust).” ( Surat Al-Mu’minûn – verse 12 )
- “And I did not create the jinn and humans except they should worship Me.” (Noble Quran 51:56)
- “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn, from the evil of what He has created.” (Quran 113:1-2)
- “(God) creates you inside the bodies of your mothers, in stages, one after another.” (Quran 39:6)
Purpose of our Creation:
- Why does God need to test us?: God created us and gave us the opportunity to know Him. God knows the future – the point is, for us to live through and experience our lives and make our own choices.
- Do we really have a choice?: The fact that God knows our choices does not make it any less voluntary. But in His Wisdom, He has created us with the ability to choose and made us accountable for our choices.
- Why doesn’t God just reveal Himself?: In God’s wisdom, He has chosen to make Himself known through His signs. This is part of the test of this life. He has made it our responsibility to use the abilities He has given us to acknowledge Him.
- Why is there suffering in the world?: The fact that different people are tested in different ways through various trials, does not disprove the existence of God nor contradict an all-powerful God. This world is volatile and temporary, however, the full justice in the hereafter, which is everlasting, will more than compensate for any injustices or misfortunes in this life.
- Why does God punish people?: No one can disagree with the concept of punishment, which is necessary for justice. God has created us with the ability to choose how we want to live, and in turn, be accountable. Those who sincerely strive to obey God will earn God’s mercy and enter paradise. Allah says:
تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا
“The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them glorify Him and there is nothing which does not glorify His praise. However, you do not understand their glorification.” (Surah Al-Isra 17:44)
Thus, the essential purpose for which humankind was created is the worship of God. However, the Almighty is not in need of human worship. He did not create human beings out of a need on His part. If not a single human worshipped God. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
“O you who believe! Be steadfast for Allah (as) witnesses in justice, and let not prevent you hatred (of) a people [upon] that not you do justice. Be just it (is) nearer to [the] piety. And consciously revere Allah; indeed, Allah (is) All-Aware of what you do.” (Surah Al-Ma`idah 5:8)
He alone exists without any needs. All created beings have needs. Consequently, it is humankind that needs to worship God. In glorifying God, man chooses to be in harmony with the rest of creation which naturally glorifies its Creator.
