The big question

[Karina]

I apologise sincerely if this has already been covered here - I did a search and couldn't find anything....

Anyway, I was just curious what the Islamic perspective is on this question:

"What is the purpose of life?"

I don't mean in terms of the conscious decisions you make to select your pathway to Jannah or Jahannam...... I just wondered why, in Islam, Allah put us all here.

When He created earth and the people on it, was that in turn His ultimate purpose in life? And if so, who or what gave Him the inspiration to do this? Or is it just one of those things that is His prerogative and should not be questioned.

I feel a bit silly asking this question as it's so, well, simple... but I was really interested in getting your opinions :embarrass

 

[S_87]

Peace

the Quran tells us why we were created and it is for one reason only:


And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship me (Alone).
51:56

and keep asking questions, they arent silly at all

 

[coddles76]

I apologise sincerely if this has already been covered here - I did a search and couldn't find anything....

Anyway, I was just curious what the Islamic perspective is on this question:

"What is the purpose of life?"

I don't mean in terms of the conscious decisions you make to select your pathway to Jannah or Jahannam...... I just wondered why, in Islam, Allah put us all here.

When He created earth and the people on it, was that in turn His ultimate purpose in life? And if so, who or what gave Him the inspiration to do this? Or is it just one of those things that is His prerogative and should not be questioned.

I feel a bit silly asking this question as it's so, well, simple... but I was really interested in getting your opinions :embarrass

Allah SWT has an answer for you, I'll let him answer

[Quran 51-56]"I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me"

[Quran 11:7]"He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days—and His Throne was over the waters—that He might try you, which of you is best in conduct..."

 

[xxxx2]

hi

it is a question that at certain time in our life all have come accrosss and asked our self why, for us who havent been tough Islaam since young or knew about Islaam before.

How do Muslims view the nature of man, the purpose of life and the Hereafter?

In the Holy Qur'aan, God teaches human beings that they were created in order to worship Him, and that the basis of all true worship is God-consciousness.

Since the teachings of Islaamic encompass all aspects of life and ethics, God-consciousness is encouraged in all human affairs. Islaam makes it clear that all human acts are acts of worship if they are done for God alone and in accordance to His Divine Law. As such, worship in Islaam is not limited to religious rituals.

The teachings of Islaam act as a mercy and a healing for the human soul, and such qualities as humility, sincerity, patience and charity are strongly encouraged. Additionally, Islaam condemns pride and self-righteousness, since Almighty God is the only judge of human righteousness.

The Islaamic view of the nature of man is also realistic and well-balanced. Human beings are not believed to be inherently sinful, but are seen as equally capable of both good and evil. Islaam also teaches that faith and action go hand-in-hand.

God has given people free-will, and the measure of one's faith is one's deeds and actions. However, human beings have also been created weak and regularly fall into sin. This is the nature of the human being as created by God in His Wisdom, and it is not inherently "corrupt" or in need of repair. This is because the avenue of repentance of always open to all human beings, and Almighty God loves the repentant sinner more than one who does not sin at all. The true balance of an Islaamic life is established by having a healthy fear of God as well as a sincere belief in His infinite Mercy.

A life without fear of God leads to sin and disobedience, while believing that we have sinned so much that God will not possibly forgive us only leads to despair. In light of this, Islaam teaches that: only the misguided despair of the Mercy of their Lord. Additionally, the Holy Qur'aan, which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, contains a great deal of teachings about the life hereafter and the Day of Judgement. Due to this, Muslims believe that all human beings will ultimately be judged by God for their beliefs and actions in their earthly lives. In judging human beings, Almighty God will be both Merciful and Just, and people will only be judged for what they were capable of. Suffice it to say that Islaam teaches that life is a test, and that all human beings will be accountable before God. A sincere belief in the life hereafter is key to leading a well-balanced life and moral. Otherwise, life is viewed as an end in itself, which causes human beings to become more selfish, materialistic and immoral.

SOURCE:http://www.fatwa-online.com/aboutislaam/0020224_07.htm


And to add one more thing i would like to suggest you to read the following:


The Belief in Allaah - Evidences of His Existence.pdf
http://understand-islam.net/Articles/TheBeliefinAllaah.pdf

Creation versus Evolution — Darwin.pdf
http://understand-islam.net/Books/DARWIN.pdf

Knowing Allaah -Purpose of our Existence.pdf
http://understand-islam.net/Articles/KnowingAllaah.pdf

Purpose Behind Creation - Return to Creator.pdf
http://understand-islam.net/Books/PurposeBehindCreation.pdf

the link to above ebooks and more incase the above links dont work (as it seem sometime the links dont open directly only within the website) click the following link http://understand-islam.net/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=143&Itemid=16


May Allah peace and belessing be upon those who follow the right path

 

[Karina]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all of your answers so far.

I suppose I really wanted to get right down to the basics - more along the lines of Allah's actual motivations for creating the earth and all life upon it.

I understand that He wants us to worship Him without question and that our actions in life will determine what happens to us in the afterlife, but the thing that I find difficult to grasp is Allah's fundamental reason for creating us all. Surely it can't just be for the sole purpose of having people to worship Him? That would be very self-indulgent! Or maybe I am thinking of Him too much in the form of a "person" who has to have motivations for everything they do.

I think from what you're saying it may be a case of people accepting that Allah has made certain demands of us and has His own "reasons" for creating us and that we must not delve to deeply into this. Is this what you mean?

Sorry if I didn't explain things clearly initially!! :sunny:

 

[S_87]

Yes our sole purpose is to worship Allah. And how can that be self indulgent when we have been blessed with so much? The mercy that Allah has bestowed onto His servants cannot be thought of and indeed those who obeyed Allah will even be rewarded for what we have been creatd to do. I dont know if these verses may answer exactly what you are trying to find out but i hope it may:

Surah 2..

30 And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: "Verily, I am going to place (mankind) generations after generations on earth." They said: "Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood, - while we glorify You with praises and thanks and sanctify You." He (Allah) said: "I know that which you do not know."

31 And He taught Adam all the names (of everything) , then He showed them to the angels and said, "Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful."

32 They (angels) said: "Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise."

33 He said: "O Adam! Inform them of their names," and when he had informed them of their names, He said: "Did I not tell you that I know the Ghaib (Unseen) in the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you have been concealing?"

34 And (remember) when We said to the angels: "Prostrate yourselves before Adam.". And they prostrated except Iblis (Satan), he refused and was proud and was one of the disbelievers (disobedient to Allah).

35 And We said: "O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Paradise and eat both of you freely with pleasure and delight, of things therein as wherever you will, but come not near this tree or you both will be of the Zalimun (wrong-doers)."

36 Then the Shaitan (Satan) made them slip therefrom (the Paradise), and got them out from that in which they were. We said: "Get you down, all, with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be a dwelling place for you and an enjoyment for a time."

37 Then Adam received from his Lord Words. And his Lord pardoned him (accepted his repentance). Verily, He is the One Who forgives (accepts repentance), the Most Merciful.

38 We said: "Get down all of you from this place (the Paradise), then whenever there comes to you Guidance from Me, and whoever follows My Guidance, there shall be no fear on them, nor shall they grieve.

39 But those who disbelieve and belie Our Ayat (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) - such are the dwellers of the Fire. They shall abide therein forever.

 

[alcurad]

we wanted to exist, so we existed.
now that we do exist, we seek, and in doing so we come closer to the creator, as we were before.

 

[Chuck]

Surely it can't just be for the sole purpose of having people to worship Him? That would be very self-indulgent! Or maybe I am thinking of Him too much in the form of a "person" who has to have motivations for everything they do.

What else Allah suppose create us for?

Next relevant question is what is meant by serving Him or worshiping God in Islam.

 

[- Qatada -]

We could divert the point abit and look at this verse;

Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed.​

And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving;​

[Qur'an 67:2]


​

So Allah sends us as His servants on the earth to see which of us would do the best, who would reach the highest goals, and become in a state of perfection (although he/she may fall into errors on the way - but this is part of the journey to perfection.) So He is the Almighty, and the forgiving because He knows we will fall into error/sins on the way - so He wants to forgive us when we turn to Him.


So imagine, Allah has made us while knowing we will make mistakes, but due to these mistakes we don't become arrogant (because we have deficiencies), however - we strive as best as we can do be of those who are 'best in deed'. This perfection may imply that we do good to those who harm us, that we keep our family ties even if they might break up with us, that we do good to those who harm us (with which Allah tells us that they will become like a close friend with patience.) To serve Allah and His creation so we are of benefit to everyone, while drawing close to Him so He is pleased with us, and rewards this person for the best of their deeds.

 

[Yanal]

Nice question "the purpose of life" This will probably the answer of most Muslims because us(Muslims) only have one main/primary focus and that is to follow the instructions of Allah our god. In order for us to do that we need to follow our five pillars,if we fulfill them by the time our death comes/arrives we will get granted a place in heaven. If we fail to complete at least four(excluding hajj for the poor) we will more likely get a place in hell.

And in order for us to complete our purpose in life all of what is said is suppose to be completed. That is our purpose in this life full of tests. Hopefully that answered your question to an extent. Anymore questions feel free to ask. And the five pillars are 1) Believe in Allah and his messangers 2)give charity 3)Pray all 5 times 4) Fast in Ramadhan and 5) go to hajj if you can afford it.

 

[nihil est]

Yes our sole purpose is to worship Allah. And how can that be self indulgent when we have been blessed with so much? The mercy that Allah has bestowed onto His servants cannot be thought of and indeed those who obeyed Allah will even be rewarded for what we have been creatd to do. I dont know if these verses may answer exactly what you are trying to find out but i hope it may

H
If he wanted people to worship him, I'm sure God could have created a bunch of robots who'd worship him day and night. Instead, he created people with free will, knwoing that many if not most us would not worship him and fall away into sin. Yet he still creates us. Doesn't he care that most of us will go to Hell to be tortured for ever and ever? That is incredibly callous.

 

[Chuck]

Read the following article, it is relevant to this discussion: http://www.islamicboard.com/comparative-religion/134270387-if-god-were-one-us.html

 

[جوري]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all of your answers so far.

I suppose I really wanted to get right down to the basics - more along the lines of Allah's actual motivations for creating the earth and all life upon it.
! :sunny:

We don't know of Allah swt 'motivation' for creation, we know merely our sole reason for existing. We might not be his most important of creation at all, as evidenced by the first verse of suret Al insan:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ
هَلْ أَتَى عَلَى الْإِنسَانِ حِينٌ مِّنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُن شَيْئًا مَّذْكُورًا {1}
​

[SIZE=-1][Yusufali 76:1] Has there not been over Man a long period of Time, when he was nothing - (not even) mentioned?[/SIZE]


So to sum it up for you, our purpose for creation 'defined', and none of us can speak for God's plan or 'motivation' thus his intention motivation for creation is 'undefined'

Hope that answered your Q

all the best

 

[جوري]

Greetings:

H
If he wanted people to worship him, I'm sure God could have created a bunch of robots who'd worship him day and night.

Indeed, the purpose of Angels is to worship day and night, so there is in fact in creation those who worship day and night!

Instead, he created people with free will, knwoing that many if not most us would not worship him and fall away into sin.

The difference between us and other creatures who worship around the clock indeed is our free will.
and thus, God gave us the opportunity at not just a wondrous life, but a chance for immortality and eternity, I ran a poll once here asking people if they could keep perceptual youth on this earth, along with their loved ones, and see the evolution in arts, science, literature if they'd grab that opportunity or choose death, and the surprising majority decided on life until 'they bored of it' -- well, if there is an opportunity at a better life that is eternal I believe the majority of discerning individuals would indeed cease that opportunity.
We are all born with the knowledge of the world already in us, you find atheists and theists discussing God just the same in a relentless manner. It isn't something we can extricate out of the fiber of our being... Those who remain astray do so by choice.. I'd refrain from thinking it the greater majority since you have ran no formal studies on the matter!

Yet he still creates us. Doesn't he care that most of us will go to Hell to be tortured for ever and ever? That is incredibly callous.

Who said he doesn't care? centuries upon centuries of messengers, repeating the same message:

[SIZE=-1][Pickthal 21:1] Their reckoning draweth nigh for mankind, while they turn away in heedlessness.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][Pickthal 21:2] Never cometh there unto them a new reminder from their Lord but they listen to it while they play,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][Pickthal 21:3] With hearts preoccupied. And they confer in secret. The wrong-doers say: Is this other than a mortal like you? Will ye then succumb to magic when ye see (it)?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][Pickthal 21:4] He saith: My Lord knoweth what is spoken in the heaven and the earth. He is the Hearer, the Knower.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][Pickthal 21:5] Nay, say they, (these are but) muddled dreams; nay, he hath but invented it; nay, he is but a poet. Let him bring us a portent even as those of old (who were Allah's messengers) were sent (with portents).[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][Pickthal 21:6] Not a township believed of those which We destroyed before them (though We sent them portents): would they then believe?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][Pickthal 21:7] And We sent not (as Our messengers) before thee other than men, whom We inspired. Ask the followers of the Reminder if ye know not?[/SIZE]
​

and you expect that it is God that should be held responsible for your deeds?
If I entrusted you to the care of my house, left you all material and good, promised you, that as you found it, if you uphold what I ask you shall have endless rewards and asked you simply keep my house and follow these simple rules, keep my pets alive, and the house clean, and instead of you upholding my rules, simple as they are, I find my house in ruins, in filth and my pets dead and the place in shambles and you'd go so far as to blame me for it? what kind of logic is that really?

You are responsible for what you do. All you needed was to be warned of consequence no more no less.

all the best

 

[nihil est]

Greetings:

Indeed, the purpose of Angels is to worship day and night, so there is in fact in creation those who worship day and night!

Then why did God create us? It cannot be a desire for worship, I'm sure he has that in spades.

The difference between us and other creatures who worship around the clock indeed is our free will.
and thus, God gave us the opportunity at not just a wondrous life, but a chance for immortality and eternity, I ran a poll once here asking people if they could keep perceptual youth on this earth, along with their loved ones, and see the evolution in arts, science, literature if they'd grab that opportunity or choose death, and the surprising majority decided on life until 'they bored of it' -- well, if there is an opportunity at a better life that is eternal I believe the majority of discerning individuals would indeed cease that opportunity.

The problem is not that God created us to give us the gift of immortality. The problem is that God created us in order to give us the opportunity, the mere chance to recieve immortality as a gift. The problem is that we can fail, and in fact a lot of us do not recieve this eternal benefit. We're instead confined to punishment in Hell for all eternity.

Who said he doesn't care? centuries upon centuries of messengers, repeating the same message:

[SIZE=-1][Pickthal 21:1] Their reckoning draweth nigh for mankind, while they turn away in heedlessness.[/SIZE]​

If he cared, he would not have created those whom he knew would turn away from Islam.

If I entrusted you to the care of my house, left you all material and good, promised you, that as you found it, if you uphold what I ask you shall have endless rewards and asked you simply keep my house and follow these simple rules, keep my pets alive, and the house clean, and instead of you upholding my rules, simple as they are, I find my house in ruins, in filth and my pets dead and the place in shambles and you'd go so far as to blame me for it? what kind of logic is that really?

I'd blame you if you knew I'd mess up, put me in charge of the house anyway, and then you threw me into prison. If you cared about the suffering of me at all, you would never have left me in charge.​

 

[- Qatada -]

http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/40/


Humans do not know their destination, so they have to follow the guidance which Allah sent in order to be successful.

So we are told what we are required to enter Paradise, and what we are forbidden to do - since that would lead to the fire. We are not told where we will end up, so we strive for paradise. If we don't try to reach it, then by default - you will go to the opposite and recieve punishment for being ungrateful to Allah for His blessings, and because of your rejection of His Message.

 

[جوري]

Then why did God create us? It cannot be a desire for worship, I'm sure he has that in spades.

It doesn't seem like the sort of question you ought to direct at a fellow human being!

The problem is not that God created us to give us the gift of immortality. The problem is that God created us in order to give us the opportunity, the mere chance to recieve immortality as a gift. The problem is that we can fail, and in fact a lot of us do not recieve this eternal benefit. We're instead confined to punishment in Hell for all eternity.

Such is the case with everything where a chance is granted.. for instance you love engineering, you'd like to be an architect.. you want to be the best there is, but you slack off, you'll drop out and be a bum, that is really no ones problem but yours for not giving it your all.. and unlike academia where the cut off for an exam is 75, and if you get a 73 you are screwed, Allah swt has assigned to himself the law of grace and mercy to overtake his punishment if your intent were true..
chance after chance, gift after gift, I say if you end up in hell, you'll have no one to blame but your own person!

If he cared, he would not have created those whom he knew would turn away from Islam.

see above reply!

I'd blame you if you knew I'd mess up, put me in charge of the house anyway, and then you threw me into prison. If you cared about the suffering of me at all, you would never have left me in charge.

yes but you were asked in advance and you decided you would love the opportunity.. it seems incredibly juvenile to come around after you have messed up and make it my fault.. All souls according to Islamic fiqh have taken an oath to worship, and we are all born with all the innate knowledge and instinct to find our creator just the same... if you desired eternity, and immortality and the righteous path you'd seek it.. it is a one person effort..

and Allah swt knows best..

peace

 

[- Qatada -]

asalam alykum

Sis Gossamer, in regard to your last point, we could simply argue that we are infact enjoying these blessings by using what has been given to us. Ie. A bed to sleep on, or the internet for our research, and an intellect.

Whether we affirm or deny this, its a reality which we are accountable for.

In regard to worship, it can be anything which earns the pleasure of Allah, from prayer to picking up a stick from the road which may harm a person passing by.

 

[alcurad]

mankind has art to compensate for what it doesn't have, or what it can't reach.
religion is the highest expression of that desire to reach-since the creator is absolute there is no end to our desire to reach him, the more we advance in all walks of life-as a species/individuals- we desire more accordingly.
through religion we are closer to the absolute-The Creator, it is a continuous process, one that actually never ends.
worshiping the creator is our purpose in life, worship is either direct supplication such as prayer, or indirect through knowing more of his creation/science etc.

 

[AntiKarateKid]

Honestly on the most practical level, I'm fine with being a servant of Allah.

Do good deeds for 90 years, earn your place in heaven, please your creator. You're good to go for eternity.

Must....get....firdaws!