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ThePurpose
The Purpose
Greation
of Creation
By
By
Dr.AbuAmeenah
Dr.Abu AmeenahBilal
BilalPhilips
Philips
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By
By
Dr.Abu
Dr. AbuAme
Ameenah philips
BilalPhili
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 Copyright1995
©@Copyright 1995Dar
DarAl
Al Fatah
Fatah
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Revised edition1997
edition 1997
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 fn, Purpose
P"rprtt ofCreation
C*ttu!.
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Introduction
Introduction
ffihe he purposepurposeof creation
creation is is aa topic
topic that
that puzzles
puzzlesevery
every

Tthe
r
I
human being
human
Everybodyat
Everybody
being at

question "Why do
the question
at
at some
some
some
sometime
point
point
time or
do I exist?'~
exist?"or
in
in
or another
his
anotherasks
or "For what
or her lifetime.
his or her lifetime.
asksthemselves
themselves
what purpose
purposeam am I
here
here on on earth?"
earth?"
The variety
The variefy and
and complexity
complexityof the the intricate
intricatesystems
systems
which constitute
which constitutethe the fabric
fabric of bothboth human
humanbeings beingsand
and the the
world in in which
which they
they exist
exist indicate
indicatethat
that there
theremust
musthave
havebeen
beenaa
SupremeBeing
Supreme Beingwhocreated them.Design
who created them. Designindicates
indicatesaa designer.
designer.
When human beings
When human beings come acrosscome acrossfootprints
footprintson on aa beach,
beach,they
they
immediatelyconclude
immediately concludethat
that aa human
humanbeingbeinghad walked by
had walked by there
there
some time
some time previously.
previously. No one one imagines
imaginesthat that the
the waves
waves
from the the -sea
sea settled
settledin the sandand
the sand and by chance produced aa
chanceproduced
depressionlooking
depression looking exactly
exactly like like human footprints.Nor do
humanfootprints. do
humans
humans instinctively
instinctively conclude
conclude that that they
they were
were brought
brought intointo
existence
existence withoutwithout a purpose.
purpose. SinceSincepurposeful
purposeful action
action is is a
natural product of human
natural product of human intelligence.
intelligence, lrumans
humans conclude
conclude thatthat
the
the Supreme
Supreme Intelligent
Intelligent Being
Being who who created
created themthem must
must have
have
done
done so specific purpose.
so for a specific purpose. Therefore,
Therefore, human
human beings
beings need
need
to know the the purpose
purpose for their existence
existence in order
order to make
make sense
sense
of
of this life and and to do what
what is ultimately
ultimately beneficial
beneficial for them.
them.
Throughout
Throughout the the ages,
ages, however,
however, there there has
has been
been a minority
among
among humanshumans who have have denied
denied theexistence
the existence of ofGod. Matter,
God.Matter,
in their opinion,
opinion, is eternal
eternal andand mankind
mankind is merelymerely a chance
chance
product
product of of accidental
accidental combinations
combinations of of its elements.
elements. Conse-
Conse-
 t-L
The
The Purpose ofCreation
of Creatior,t _

quently,
quently, toto them,
them,the
the question
question"Why did God God create
createman?"
man?"
had andstill
hadand still has
hasno
no answer.
answer. According
Accordingto them,
them,there
theresimply
simply
is
is no purpose to existence.
no purpo:;e existence.However,
However,thethe vast
vast majority ofof
humankind
humankind over over the
the ages
ages have
have believed
believed and
and continue
continueto
believe
believe in
in the
the existence
existenceof aa Supreme
SupremeBeing
Being who
who created
createdthis
this
world purpose.For
world with aa purpose. them it was,
For them was,and
andstill
still is,
is, important
impoftant
to
to know
know about
about the
the Creator
Creator and
andthe
the purpose
purposefor which
which He
He
created humanbeings.
createdhuman beings.

The Answer
The Answer
To answer
answerthe the question
question"Why did did God
God create man?" it
createman?"
mustfirst
must first be
bedetennined
determinedfromfrom which perspectivethe
which perspective question
the question
is being
is beingasked. Fromthe
asked. From point of view
the point Cod it would
view of God would mean,
mean,
causedGod
"What caused God to create humanbeings?"
createhuman beings?"while fromfrom the
the
human
human pointpoint of view would mean
view it would mean"For whatwhat purpose
purpose did
God create
God createhumans?"
humans?"Both pointsof
Both points of view represent
representaspects
aspects
the intriguing
of the question"Why do I exist?"
intriguingquestion exist?" In the
the following
pages, both
pages, aspectsof
both aspects of the questionwill
the question will be
be explored
explored based
based
the clear
on the
on picturepainted
clearpicture paintedby divine revelation.
by divine revelation. This is is not
not
topic for human
aa topic speculation.because
humanspeculation, human guesswork
because human guesswork
cannot possibly
cannot producethe
possiblyproduce whole truth
the whole truth in this
this matter.
matter. How
can human beings
can human intellectuallydeduce
beingsintelJectualJy deducethethe reality of their
reality of their
existencewhen
existence when theythey can
can hardly
hardly understand
understand how their own
brain or its
brain higherentity,
its higher entity,the
the mind,
mind, functions?
functions? Consequently,
Consequently,
the many
the philosophers
manyphilosophers who
who have
have speculated
speculated on this question
on this question
down through the ages
down through the ages have come have come up with innumerable
innumerable
answers,all of
answers, of which
which areare based
based on
on assumptions
assumptions which
which cannot
cannot
 The Purpose ofCreation

be proven.
be Questions on this
proven. Questions this topic have even
topic have even led number of
led a number of
philosophers to claim
philosophers that we do not
claim that not really
really exist
exist and that the
and that the
whole uqorld
whole V(0rld is imaginary. For
is imaginary. For example,the
example, the Greek Greek philosopher
philosopher
Plato (428-348
Plato (428-348 BC) Be) argued that the
argued tlrat everyday world of
the everyday of
things, which
changeable things,
changeable which man comes to know
man comes know by the use of
the use of
his senses, is not
his senses,is not the the primary
primary reality,
reality, but
but is
is a shadow
shadow world
of
of appearances.
appearances.' Many others,
I Many others,as was previously
as was previously mentioned,
mentioned,
claimed
claimedand continueto claim
andcontinue claim that there is
that there no purpose
is no purpose for thethe
creation of humansat
creationofhumans all. According
at all. According to to thetrr,
them, Human existence
Human existence
is
is merely productof chance.
merelyaa product chatrce. Therecan
There can be be no purposeif
no purpose if life
life
evolved
evolved from
from inanimate
inanimate matter
matter which
which only
only became
became animate
animate
by supposed 'cousins,'themonkey
by pure
pureluck.
luck. Humankind's
Humankind'ssupposed 'cousins,' the monkey
and apes
andapes are
are not
not bothered
bothered with
with questions
questions of existence.
existence, so why
so
should
shouldhuman
humanbeings
beingsbe be bothered
bothered with them?
with them?
Although
Although most peopleput
mostpeople put the qrrestiori
the question" why we
of why we are
are
createdasideafteroccasional
created aside after occasional brief
brief reflection.
reflection, it i.s
is extremely
extremely
critical
criticalfor
for human beingsto
humanbeings knowthe
to know answer.Without
theanswer. know-
Withoutknow-
ledge
ledgeof the correct answer.
the correct hutnanbeings
answer.human beingsbecome indis-
becomeindis-
tinguishable
tinguishable from
from the
the other
other animals
animals around
around thern.
them. The
The anirnal
animal
necessities
necessitiesand eating,drinking
desiresof eating,
anddesires drinkingand pro-creating
andpro-creating
become
becomethe purposeof human
the purpose lrumanexistence
existenceby default.and
by default, and
human effort
human efTort is
is then
then focused
focused in
in this
this limited
limited sphere.
sphere. When
When
material
material satisfaction developsinto
satisfactiondevelops into the mostimportant
the most importantgoal goalinin

t 'fhis vierv was

I This view was expressed
expressedin book The
his book
in his TheRepublic
Repuhlicthrough
throughhis rvell
his well
known metaphor of the
knorvn metaphor of the cave.cave. wlrere
where the
the changin-e
changing physical
physical rvorld
world is
is
compared to shadows
compared to shadows cast
cast on
on tlrc
the wall
\\.all 0 r
ol'aa cave
cave by
by graven
graven images
images (Ihe
(The
New
New Encyciopaedia
EncltclopaediaBritannica. v o l .25.
Br itunnica. vol. 2 5 .p. 552).
n .552).
 The Purpose
ThePurpose of Creation
ofCreation
tgJ

life, human
life, humanexistence
existencebecomes
becornes even
evenmore
moredegraded
degradedthan thanthat
that
of the
of lowestofanimals.
thelowest ofanimals. HumanHumanbeings
beingswi II consistently misuse
willconsistently misuse
their G04-given
their Go{-givenintelligence
intelligence when
whenthey
theylack
lackknowledge
knowledgeoftheiroftheir
purposeof
purpose existence.The
of existence. The degraded
degradedhuman
humanmind mind uses
usesitsits
abilitiesto
abilities to create
createdrugs
drugsandandbombs
bombsandandbecomes
becomesengrossed
engrossedin in
fornication, pornography,homosexuality,
fornication,pornography, homosexuality, fortunetelling,
fortunetelling,
suicide,etc.
suicide, Withoutknowledge
etc.Without knowledgeofthe purpose
purposeof of life,
life, human
human
existenceloses
existence losesallall meaning
meaningand andisis consequently
consequently wasted,
wasted,and and
the reward
the rewardof an eternallife
an eternal life of happiness
happinessin in the
the hereafter
hereafteris is
completelydestroyed.
completely destroyed. Therefore,it is
Therefore, isof the
theutmost
utmostimportance
importance
that human
that humanbeings
beingscorrectly
correctlyanswer
answerthethe question
question"Why are are
we here?"
we here?"
Humans most
Humans most often
often turn
turn to
to other
other human beings like
humanbeings like
themselves
themselves forthe
for auswers.However.
the answers. However.the theonly place that
only place that clear
clear
and preciseanswers
and precise answersto to these questionscan
thesequestions can bebe found
found is is in the
the
books of divine
books revelation.It was
divine revelation. was necessary
necessary that
that God
God reveal
reveal
the purpose to
the purpose manthrough
to man throughHis His prophets.
prophets. because
because human human
beings are
beings are incapable
incapable of arriving
arriving at
at the
the correct
correct answers
answers by
themselves.All of the
themselves. the prophets
prophets of
of God
God taught
taught tlreir
their followers
followers
the answersto the
the answers the question
question "Why did God God create
create man?"
man?"

Judeo-Christian
Judeo-Christian Scriptures
Scriptures
A survey
survey of
of the
the Bible leaves
leaves the
the honest
honest seeker
seeker of
of truth
lost.
lost. The
The Old Testament
Testament seems
seems more
more concerned
concerned with laws
laws
..
and the history
and the history of
of eariy
early man
man and
and the Jewish people
the Jewish people than
than with
answering
answering the vital question
the vital question concerning
concerning humaniry's
humanity's creation.l
creation.:!

2 In
2 Isaiah the Israelites
Isaiah the Israelites are
are created
created tbr glory, "'But
God's glory,
for God's .. IBut norv
now thus
thus says
says
the Lord. he rvho created
the Lord. he who created you. Oyou. 0 .lacob.
Jacob. he
he who formed you.
who formed you. O
0 lsrael:...
Israel: ...
 l-L
- TTI,e P u r p o sofCreation
h ePurpose oef C r e o t i o n -_ ..

In
ln Genesis,
Genesis,God God creates
createsthethe world
world and
and Adam
Adam and and Eve
Eve in
in six
six
days
days and 'rests' from
and 'rests' from His work on
His work on the
the seventh.
seventh.3 J
Adam
Adam andand
Eve
Eve disobey
disobeyGodGod and and are punishedand
are punished andtheir
their son
sonCainCain kills
their
their other
othei son AbDland
sonAbtl goesto live
and goes live inin the
the land
land of Nod.
Nod. And
God
God was 'sorry' that
was 'sorry' thathehe had
hadmade
mademan!4
man!*Why are arethe
the answers
answers
not
not there
thereinin clear
clearand andunmistakable
unmistakable terms?
terms?Why Why is is so
so much
much
of
of the
the language
language symbolic,
symbolic. leaving
leaving the
the reader
reader to guess
guess at
at its
its
meanings?
meanings? For example,in
For example, in Genesis
Genesis6:6 6:6 it is
is stated,
stated,"When
"When
men
men began
begzur to multiply on on the faceof
the face of the ground,and
the ground, anddaughters
daughters
were born
were born to them,
them, thethe sons
sons of God saw that the daughters
saw that the daughters
of
of men were fair;
men were fair; and
andthey took to wife such
they took suchof them
them as as they
they
chose."
chose."WhoWho arearethese
these"sons
"sonsof God"?
God"? EachEachJewish
Jewishsectsectand
and
each
each of thethe many
manyChristian
Christiansects who followed
sectswho followed themthem have
have
their
their own
own explanations.
explanations.Which Which is is the
the correct
correctinterpretation?
interpretation?
The
The truth
truth is
is that the purpose
that the purposeof of man's
man'screation
creationwas was taught
taughtby by
the prophets.of
the prophets. of old,
old, however,
however,some someof their their followers-in
followers-in
collusion with the
collusion with the devils-later changed
changedthe the scriptures.
scriptures.The The
answers
answersbecame
becamevaguevagueand andmuch
muchof the the revelation
revelationwas was hidden
hidden
in
in symbolic
symbolic language.
language.When When God God sent
sentJesus
JesusChrist
Christto thethe
''l will say
6'1 sayto to the
the north.
north.Give
Give up. and to
up"and to the
the south.
south-Do notnot withhold:
rvithhold:bring
bring
7
my sons
my from afar
sons from andmy
atar and my daughters
daughtersfrom
fiom the end of the
the end the earth.
eafih.7 every
evervone
onc
who is
who is called
calledby by my name.whom I created
my name. createdfor my glory, rvhomrI tanned
glory, whom tbrmed
and
and made.'" (RevisedStandard
made."' (Revised Vcrsion.Isaiah
StandardVersion. lsaiah43: 1. 6-7.)
43:l- 6-7.)
t "tAnd
~ And onon the
the seventh s,hichhe
3 •• seventhday
day God
God finished
finishedhis
his work
rvorkwhich he had
haddone.
done.and
and
he
he rested
rested on on the
the seventh
seventhday
dal from
from all
all his
his work u'hich he
work which he had
had done. iSo
done.350
God blessedthe
God blessed seventhday
the seventh day and hallowedit.
and hallowed becauseon
it. because on it God
God rested
rested
from
fiom allall his
his work
work which
whichhe hc had
haddone
donein in creation:' (RSV. Genesis
creation."(RSY. 2:2-3.1
Genesis2:2-3.)
n
4 "And the Lord Lord was was sorry that
that he
hc had
had made
mademanman onon the
the earth.
earth.and
and it
grievedhim
grieved him to his heart."
to his (RSV. Genesis
heart."(RSY. 6:6.)
Cenesis6:6.)
 ThePurpose
Tile PurposeofCreation
of creation f

Jews, he
Jews, heoverturned
overturned thetables
the tablesof of those
thosemerchants
merchants who
who had
had
setup
set upbusinesses
businesses insidethe
inside thetemple,'
temple,S and
andhe hepreached
preached against
against
theritualistic
the ritualisticinterpretation
interpretation ofthe
oftlre law
lawpracticed
practicedby bythetheJewish
Jewish
rabbis.He
rabbis. Hereaffirmed
reaffrnnedthe thelawlawof of Prophet
ProphetMosesMosesandrevived
and revivedit.
it.
He taught
He taughtthethepurpose
purposeof lifeto
of life to his
hisdisciples
disciplesand anddemonstrated
demonstrated
howto
how tofulfill
fulfill itit until
untilhis lastmoments
his last moments in
in this
thisworld.
world.However.
However.
after his
after hisdepat1Ure
departurefrom Fromthisthis world.
w'orld.his his message
rnessage was
wasalso
also
distorted by sorne
distorted by some who who claimed
clairnedto to be
beamong
amonghis his followers.
follorvers.
The clear
The clealtruth
tnrthhe hebrought
broughtbecame
became vague.
vague.like like the
the messages
messages
of the
of tlre prophets
prophetsbefore before him.hirn.Symbolism
symbolisrnwas was introduced,
introduced.
especialll'
especially throughthe
through "Revelatiorrs"
the'''Revelations'' of John,
John,and andthetheGospel
Gospel
which
which was wasrevealed
revealedto to Jesus
Jesuswas was lost.
lost.FourFourother
othergospels
gospels
conrposed
composed by men
by menwere\verechosen
chosenby bv Athanasius,
Athanasius, aa fourth
fourthcentury
century
6
bishop.6
bishop, to replace
to replacethe the lost
lostGospel
Gospelof Jesus Christ.
Jesuschrist. And And the
the
23 books of writings
23 books writings of Paul Paulandandothers
others included
included in in the
the New
7
Testamentoutnumbered
Testament outnumbered even
even tlre
the four
four versiolrs
versions of of the
the gospel.T
gospel.
As a a result,
result, New TestamentTestament readers
readers can'ot
cannot find precise
precise
answers
answers to the question
the question "Why did did God
God create
create rnan?"s
manT,g And

'Luke
9 : 4 5((RSV).
<; Luke t19:45 RSV)
6 The.\'et,
6 The .Vew Encu-c'lop,aedia
Encyclopaedia Britannir.r,
Britannica, vo[. 14. p.
vol. l4- p. gl4.
814.
7
7 tn
In tlre
the rnicl-4th
mid-4th ccntur,\'manuscnpt
century manuscript callecl Codc\ Sinaiticus.
called C'odex Sinaiticus. thetl.reLetter
Letter
of Barnaba.s
of Barnabas and and thethe shepherd
Shepherd ol Hernrfl.rarc
a/Hernias are included
included asas aa part
part of
ofthe
the
New
New Testament.
Testament. (Tlrc
(The SewN'ewEncvclopctediu
Encyclopaedia Brirunnica.
Briwnnica. lol. p. gl4.)
14. p.
\01. 14. 814.)
t what
1\ What rnay
may be be cited
cited inin the
the Kin-e
King .lanres
.lames Version
Version as as the
the purpose
purpose o{'crcation.
of creation,
Revelation 4: II "'fhou
Revelation 4:ll "Thou art art \vonh\.
worthy, o0 Lord.
Lord. ro
III rcceive
receive glor-v
glory ancl
(Inc! honor
honor andand
porver:
power: lilr
for thou
thou hast
hast creatcd
created allall thin-ss.
things. and
and for
for thv
thy pleasure
pleasure they
they areare and
and
were
were created."
created." is is retranslated
retranslated in in the
the Rer ist-'dStandarcl
Re\ised Standard Version
Version as:as: "worthr,.
"Worthy
art
art thou.
thou, ourour Lord
Lord andand God.
God. to lO reccrvc
receive glor-r
glory and
and honcur and pog.er-.
honour ancl power. fbrfor
thou
thou didst
didst create
create allall things.
things. and
and by by thy
thy will
willthey
they existed
existedand
and were
werecreated."
created.-'
 ThePurpose
The Purpose ofCreation
of Creation

one is
one is forced
forced toto blindly
blindly follow
follow the
the contrived
contriveddogmas
dogmasof of
whateversect
whatever sectthey
theyhappen
happento to belong
belongto or adopt. The gospels
to or adopt.The gospels
are interpreted
are interpretedaccording
accordingtoto each sect'sbeliefs~
eachsecfs beliefs,and
andthe
the seeker
seeker
of truth is again
truth is againleft
left wondering~
wondering,which
which one
one is
is correct?
correct?

The Incarnation
The Incarnation of God
God
Perhapsthe
Perhaps theonly
only common
coffrmonconcept
concepttoto most
mostChristian
Christiansects
sects
regardingthe
regarding purposeof mankind~s
the purpose mankind'screation
creationis is that
that God
God
becameman
became man so so that
that He
He could
could die
die at the hands mento
at the hands of men to
cleansethem
cleanse themofsin
of sin inherited
inheritedfrom
from Adam
Adamand andhishis descendants.
descendants.
Accordingto
According tothem,this sin had
them, this sin hadbecome
becomeso greatthat
sogreat that no
no human
human
act of
act atonement or repentance
of atonement repentancecould eraseit.
could erase it. God
God is sogood
is so good
that sinful
that man cannot
sinful man cannotstan'd Him. Consequently~
beforeHim.
stan'dbefore Consequently,only
God's sacrifice
God's sacrificeof Himselfcould
of Himself couldsave humankindfrom
savehumankind from sin.
sin.
Belief inin this
this man-made
man-mademyth myth became
became the the only source
source
salvation, according
for salvation, accordingto the the Church. Consequently~ the
Church. Consequently, the
Christian purpose
Christian purpose of of creation
creation became
became thethe recognition
recognition of of the
the
'divine sacrifice'
'divine sacrifice' and and the
the acceptance
acceptance ofof Jesus
Jesus Christ
Christ as as the
the
Lord God.
God. This
This may
may bebe deduced
deduced from
from the
the followirrg
following words
words
attributed
attributed to Jesus
Jesus in
in the
the Gospel
Gospel according John, "For God
according to John,
so loved thethe world
world that hehe Flove
gave his only Son,
Son. that whoever
whoever
believes
believes in him should not perish but have have eternal
eternallife.,,9
lift."'

ln
In Paul's
Paul's letter
letter to the
the Colossians
Colossians he
he explains
explains that
that the
the rvorld
world was
was created
created
fbr
for .lesus .d5 He is the
Jesus "r5He the image
image of
of the
the invisible
invisible God.
God. the
the first-bom
first-born of
of all creation:
creation:
r6for him
16for in
in him all things were
all things created. in
were created. in heaven
heaven and
and on earth.
earth. visible amI
visible anr:
invisible.
invisible. rvhether thrones or
whether throne's or dominions
dominions or or principalities
principalities or
or authorities-
authorities-
all things were
all things were created
created through
through him
him and
and for
for him."(RSV.
him."(RSV. Colossians
Colossians |I::15).
15).
t John3
166((RSY).
9 John, .3:: 1 RSV).
 The
The Purpose of
of Creation

However, ifthis is
However, is the purposeof creation
the purpose creationand
andthe prerequisite
the prerequisite
for everlasting
for everlasting life,why
life, why was
was itit not
rrottaught
taughtby by all
all the prophets?
the prophets?
Why did
Why did God
God not
not become
becomeman man in in the
the time
time of Adam
Adam and
and his
his
offspringso
offspring thatall
sothat all mankind
mankindwouldwould have
haveanan equalchanceto
equal chance
fulfill their purposefor
their purpose existenceand
for existence andattain
attaineverlasting
everlastinglife.
life.
did those
Or did thosebefore
beforeJesus'
Jesus'time haveanother
time have purposefor
anotherpurpose
existence? peopletoday
existence?All people todaywhomwhom GodGod has
hasdestined
destinednever
never
to hear
to hearof Jesus
Jesusalso
alsohave
haveno
no chance
chanceto to fulfill their supposed
their supposed
purposeof creation.
purpose creation.Such purpose.is
Suchaa purpose, is obviously
obviouslytootoo limited
limited
to fit the needof humankind.
the need humankind.

Everything is
Everything is God
God
The Hindu
The Hindu scriptures
scripfuresteach
teachthat
that there
thereare
are many gods,
manygods,
incarnations gods,persons
incarnationsof gods, personsofof God
God and
andthat
that everything
everythingisis
God, Brahman.
God, Brahman. In ln spite
spite of
oftlre belief that
the belief the self
thatthe (atman)
self(atman)
all living
of alJ living beings
beingsisis actually
actuallyBrahman,
Brahtnan,an an oppressive
oppressive caste
caste
systemevolved
system evolved in in which
which the Brahmans,
the Brahmans, tlre priestly
the priestly caste,
caste,
possess spiritualsupremacy
possess spiritual supremacy b5r
by birth. They are
birth. They arethe teachersof
the teachers
10
the Vedastj
the Vedas and represent
and represent idealof ritual
the ideal
the ritual purity
purity and
and social
social
prestige. On the
prestige. On theother
otherhand,
hand.the
the Sudra
Sudracaste
casteare
areexcluded
excludedfrom
from
1
religiousstatus
religious statusand
andtheir
theirsale
soleduty
duty inin life
life is
is "to serve meekly"
sewemeekly"ll I
the other
the otherthree
threecastes
castesand
and their thousandsof subcastes.
their thousands subcastes.

t" The l'eda,

10 The meaning"Knowleclge."
I'eda, meaning ·'Knowledge." isis a collective
collective terrn
term for revealed (sruti:
revealed (snili:
heard) sacred
heard) sacred scriptures of the
scriptures of the Hindus. other works-in
Hindus. All other works-in which
which the
the
actual
actual doctrines and practises
doctrines and of I-lindus
practises of Hindus areare encoded-are
encoded-are recognized
recognized asas
having
having being being composed human authors
composed by human authors and
and are
are thus
thus classed
classed as smriti
as smriti
(remembered). ( The
lrememberedl. The New
New Encltclopaedia
Encyclopaedia Britannica,
Britannica. vol.
vol. 20. p. 530.)
20. p. 530.)
Manava Dharmasastra
" Manaua
1\ Dharmasastra 1.9t: (The New
1.91.(The New Encyclopaedia
Encyclopaedia Britannica,
Britannica, vol.
vol.
2
20,0 ,p
p.. 5 53.)
553.)
 f n , Purpose
The n r p " t , ofCreation
pt9rta*" ..

According to
According to Hindu
Hindu monist philosophers,humankind's
monistphilosophers, humankind's
purpose is
purpose is the realizationof
therealization of their
theirdivinity
divinity and-following
and-following aa
path (marga) to
path (margq) to emancipation (moksha)from
emancipation(moksha) from the
the wheel
wheel ofof
rebirth-the reabsorbtion
rebirth-the reabsorbtionof the the human
humansoul (atman) into
soul(atman) into the
the
ullimate reality,
ultimate reality, Brahman.
Brahman For For those
thosefollowing the thebhakti
bhakti
path,l2 the
path,12 purpose is
the purpose is to love God because
loveGod becauseGod God created
created
humankind to "enjoy
humankind "enjby aa relationship-as aa father fatherenjoys
enjoys his
his
(Srimad Blngwatam). For the
children" (Srimad Bhagwatam). the ordinary
ordinary Hindu, the the
main aim
main aim ofworldly
of worldly life liesliesin
in conforming
conformingto to social
socialand
andritual
ritual
duties, to the
duties, the traditional
traditional rules
rules of conduct
conductfor one'sone's caste-
caste-
the path.r3
karma path.
thekarma 13

Although most
Although mostof the religion of the
the religion the Vedic
Vedic texts,
texts, which
which
revolves around
revolves around rituals
rituals ofof fire sacrifice,
sacrifice,hashas been
beeneclipsed
eclipsed
Hindu doctrines
by Hindu docffines and practicesfound
and practices found in other
other texts,
texts, the
the
absolute authority
absolute authority and and sacredness
sacrednqssof of the Veda remains
the Veda remains a
central tenet
central tenetof virtually all Hindu
of virtually Hindu sects
sectsand
and traditions.
traditions.TheThe
Veda is
Veda is composed
composed of of four
four collections,
collections, the
the oldest
oldest ofof which
which is is
the Rigveda ("Wisdom
the Rlgueda ("Wisdom of of the
the Verses").
Verses"). In these
these texts,
texts, God
God isis
described
described in the ~he most
most confusing
confusing terms.
terms. The
The religion
religion reflected
reflected
inthe
in Rigveda is a polytheism
the Rigveda polytheism mainly concerned
concerned with appeasing
appeasing
deities associated with the
deities associated the sky
sky and
and the
the atmosphere,
atmosphere, the the "most
most
important ofwhich were
important ofwhich were Indra (god of of the heavens
heavens andand rain),
rain),
Baruna (guardian
(guardian of of the
the cosmic sacr~ficial
order), Agni (the sacrificial
cosmic order),

tt The path
11 path of devotion to a personal
of devotion personal God in which murtis are
murtis(idols) are
worshipped
worshipped with
with the
the hope of goingto
hope of going to krishnaloko planet) in
krishna/oka (a spiritual planet) in
their next
their next lives.
lives.
1' The New
13 The Encyclopaedia Britannica,
NewEncyclopaedia vol. 20.
Britannica. vol. 20. p.
p. 520.
 The
The Purpose ofCreation
of Creotion

fire), and
fire), Surya (the
andSurya (the Sun).
Sun).In later Vedic
In later Vedic texts,
texts, interest
interestin the the
early Rigvedic gods
early Rigvedic godsdeclines,
declines,and polytheismbegins
and polytheism beginsto be be
replaced by aa sacrificial
replaced pantheismto Prajapati (Lord of
sacrificial pantheism of
Creatures),who is
Creatures), is the All. In
the All ln the
the Upanishads (secretteachings
Upanishads(secret teachings
concerning cosmic
concerning cosrnic equations),
equations), Prajapati merges mergeswith the the
concept of Brahman,
concept Brahman,the the supreme realityand
supremereality and substance
substance of
'universe,
the ~universe, replacing
the replacingany any specific personification,thus
specific personification, thus
transforming
transformingthe the mythology
mytholory into into abstract
abstractphilosophy.
philosophy.'o 14 If
If the
the
contents of
contents thesescriptures
of these scriptureswere were all thatthat human
humanbeings
beingshad had
choose from
to choose guidance,one
from for guidance, would have
one would haveto conclude
conclude
that God hid both
that both Himself and and the purposeof creation
the purpose creationfromfrom
humankind.
humankind.
God
God isis notnot the
the author
authorof of confusion,
confusion,nor nor does
doesHe He wish
wish
mankind.Consequently,
difficulty for mankind. Consequently,when when He He revealed
revealed
His final communication
communicationto hUl1J.ankind huqankind one one thousand
thousandfour
yearsago,.He
hundred years
hundred ago,.Heensured
ensuredthat was perfectly
that it was preserved
perfectly preserved
for all of the gene~ations of
ofthe generations human beings
of human beings to come.
come. In that that
final
final scripture,
scripture,the (Koran),
the Qur'an(Koran),
Qur'an God
God revealed
revealed His purpose
purpose
for creating
creatingmankind
mankindand, and,through
throughHis last last propheL
prophet. HeHe clarified
clarified
all
all of the
the details
detailswhich
which man
man could coutdcomprehend.
cornprehend. It is
is on
orrthe
the
basis of this
basis revelationand
this revelation andthe the prophetic
prophetic explanations
explanations that
that
we
we will analyze
analyzethe the precise
precise answers
answersto the question"Why
the question
did God
God create man?" in the
createman?" coming pages.
the coming pages.

tn The New
14 The Encyclopaedia Britannica,
NewEncyclopaedia Britannica. vol.
vol. 20. pp. 529-530.
20. pp. 529-530.
 The
The Purpose
PurposeofCreation
of Crcation

God Create?
Why Did God Create?
RoM THE
ROM potNT OF
THE POINT vtEw OF
oF VIEW oF GOD,
Goo, AN
AN EVEN
EvENmore
more

F fundamental
God create?"
God
humankind is not,
humankind is
question needs
fundamental question

not, in
in fact,
needsto be
questionshould
This question
create?" This
the greatest
fact, the
be asked,
shouldbe
asked,"Why did
be asked
askedbecause
greatestcreation.
creation.God
because
God says
saysin
ChapterGhaafir
Chapter Ghaafir of the
the final
final revelation:
revelation:

'c';r f
/r..3' ~f ~~
...,..1-111
....
jki #', ...,..lf1, ~ ~
/fit f
"....
:r.r
JP~~I~ ~\~\ ~}
,-r't:jis,:,r,,*Lrr
.... ...
,tiJl
{~~~
{brH r
creation of the
"Indeed, the creation the heavens
heavensand
and the earth
is greater than the creation
creation of mankind, but most
most
of mankind do not realize
realize it."
it."
Qur'an 4A:57
Qur'an40:57

The composition
The composition of human
humanbeings
beingsis is far
far less
lesscomplex
complex
than the
than the composition
compositionof the the universe
universein in which
which they
they exist.
exist.
However, very
However, very few peoplereflect
few people reflect on
on this
this reality.
reatity. Because
Because
of the
of the apparent
apparentsupremacy
supremacyof human
humanbeings
beingsover
over the
the other
other
creatureson
creatures this earth,
on this man'sjourneys
earth,man's journeys through
throughspace
spaceand
and the
the
continued advancement
continued advancement their technology
of their technologyand and knowledge,
knowledge,
humankindin
humankind everyage
in every agebecomes arrogantand
becomesarrogant andconsiders
considersitself
the greatestthing
the greatest thing in
in this world. It is
this world. worth noting
is worth notingthat
that the
the
humankind'samazing
majority of humankind's
majority amazingdiscoveries
discoveriesare are not
not
concerning
concerningthe human being,
the human being, but
but his surroundings.
his surroundings. Thus,
Thus,
human
humanefforts
effortstend
tend to be
be focused
focusedon on the materialworld rather
the material rather
 The P r r p r t "0/ Creation
f n , Purpose
"f
Cr"tti trlt
.-

than human
than humanbeings.
beings.In
In this
thisverse,
verse,God
Godbrings
bringshuman
humanbeings
beings
backto
back totheir
theiractual statusin
actualstatus in this
thisworld.
world.Humankind
Humankindis is merely
merely
aa small partofthe
smallpart of theexistence
existencethatthatresulted
resultedfrom
from the
themiraculous
miraculous
act of
act of divine
divinecreation.
creation.Thus,
Thus,in in order
orderto
to understand
understand why
why God
God
created mankind,
created mankind,oneonefirst
first needs
needsto to answer
answerthe
the even
evenmore
more
fundamentalquestion
fundamental questionofof why
why GodGod created.
created.

The Creator
The Creator
Creationis
Creation isfundamentally
fundamentallythe the consequence
consequence of the
the divine
divine
attribute of being
attribute beingthethe Creator.
creator. A creator
creatorwhowho does
doesnot not create
create
is something
is something of aa contradiction
contradictionin in tenns.
terms.ThisThis isis not
not toto say
say
that God
that God needs
needsHisHis creation.
creation.God God is
is free
free from
from all
all needs.
needs.It is is
creation which
creation which needs
needsHim. Him. But,
But, as
as the greatness a writer
the greatness of a writer
becomesapparent
becomes apparentin in his
his writings,
writings,the perfectionof
the perfection of the
the divine
divine
creativeattribute
creative attributeisis manifest
manifest in creation.
creation.Creation
Creationin the the true
true
senseis
sense is unique
unique to God God alone.
alone.Although
Although humans
humans ascribe
ascribethe the
act
act of creationto themselves,
ofcreation themselves, what what they
they do is notnot true
true creation.
creation.
Humankind
Humankind merely merely manipulates
manipulates what what already
already exists-what
exists-what
was
was already
already created
created by God. God. A table
table isis made
made from wood wood
which
which camecame from trees trees and
and is held
held together
together with nailsnails and
and
screws
screws made
made from metalthat
metal that came
came from rocks.
rocks. Human
Human beingsbeings
did not make
make the trees
trees orthe
or the rocks.
rocks. In fact,
fact, all human
human creations
creations
can
can bebe traced
traced back
back to basic
basic elements
elements which
which humans
humans cannotcannot
make.
make. Even artist ocreates'
Even the artist 'creates' designs
designs based
based on what he has has
seen.
seen. ItIt is not possible
is not possible to to imagine
imagine what
what has
has not
not been
been perceived
perceived
by
by the
the senses.
senses. Thus,
Thus, all all of
ofthe
the artist's
artist's thoughts
thoughts are
are reflections
reflections
on
on what
what was was already
already created.
created. Only
Only GodGod alone
alone creates
creates from
from
 The Parpose
Purpose of
of C.reation
Creation

nothing. This
nothing. This basic fact was
basic fact and still is
was and incompreh~nsible to
is incomprehEnsible
some. Some
some. as well as
ancient as
Someancient modern philosophers,
as modern philosophers, who
who
could
could not comprehend
comprehendhow God God could createfrom
could create from nothing,
nothing,
claimed
claimedthat the created
thatthe createdworld and its
world and its contents
contentsare
areall originally
all originally
15
aa part
part of
of GOd.
God.'t That
That is,
is, according
accordingto them,
them,God took aa part
God took part
of
of Himself
Himselfand
and made
madethe
the universe.
universe.This conclusionis
This conclusion is based
based
on comp~ngGodtoman, who who can
canonly 'create'by
only 'create' modiffing
by modifying
on comparingGodtoman,
what
what already
already exists.
exists. However,
However, God, any such
denies any
God,denies such
comparisonswhich' would
comparisons give Him human
would give humanlimitations.
limitations.In
Chapterash-Shooraa
Chapter ash-Shooraaof of the
the final
final revelation, states:
revelation,He states:

{{}*lr
~. ""i, g;*lJr
~~JAJ~, ~\ ,r'ri,f
;.'~ ~
d'
__ ~
br -l }
' . '... }

"There
"There is nothing like Him
Him and He is the AII-
All-
Hearer and the All-Seer."
Qur'an 42:11
Qur'an42: 11

Thus,
Thus, thethe act creafionis aa consequence
act of creation.is conSequence the divine
of the divine
attribute of being
attribute beingthe
theCreator.
Creatot.God
God describes
describesHimself as asthe
the
Creator
Creator in a variety
avariety ofverses
ofverses throughout
throughout the
the final
final revelation
revelationto
emphasize
emphasize to humankind
humankindthatthateverything belongsto
everythingbelongs to Him alone.
alone.

ts This
I! This isis also
also Hindu
Hindu belief regarding
regardingthethe supreme reality. Brahman.
supremereality. Brahman. In ln
the
the last
last (lOth)
(lOth) book the Rigveda:
book of the Rr'3n'eda: in the "Hymn of the
in the the Cosmic Man"
Cosmic Man"
(Purusasukta), it is
(PurusasukJa), is said
saidthat
that the
the universe
universewaswas created
createdout
out of the partsof
the parts
the
the body
body ofa
of a single
singlecosmic
cosmicman (Ptrrursa)
man(Purl/sa) rvhenhis
when his body was burned
body was and
burnedand
dismembered
dismemberedat at the primordial sacrifice.
the primordial sacrifice.The tbur castes
The four castesemerge from his
emergefrom his
body:
body: the
the priest
priest(Brahman)
(Brahman)fromfrom the
the mouth.
mouth.the the warrior (Raianya)from
wanior (Rajanya) from the
the
arms.
arms. the
the peasant (Vaisya)from
peasant(Vaisya) from the
the thighs.
thighs.and the servant
and the (Sudra)from
servant(Sudra) from
the legs.(The
the legs. (TheNewNewEncyclopaedia
EncltclopaediaBritannica, vol. 20.
Britannica,vol. p. 53
20. p. 531).
I ).
 l-L
The Purpose ofCreation
of Creation _ _

{~J ~~ JS" Js. JA J~~ Y ~~ ~l}

"Allah
"Allah is the Creator
Creator ofof all things and He is the
agent
agent on which all things
things depend."
depend."
Qur'an
Qur'an 39:62
39:62

{~P~J~~IJ}
tt;,;; ur;35iiii,rry
"And
"And Allah
Allnh created
crested you all and whatever you do."
Qur'an
Qur'an 37:96
37:96

Man
Man needs
needs to realize that nothing
realizethat nothingtakes placein
takesplace in this
this
universe
universewithout
without the permissionof God.
the permission God. To seek protection
seekprotection
from
from evil or to seekseekto acquire good from
acquiregood from any
any source
sourceother
other
than
than God
God is
is aa major
major mistake.
mistake.Due
Due to ignorance,
ignorance,many people
many people
attempt
attemptto avoid
avoid misfortune
misfornrneand gain good
and to gain good fortune
fortune through
through
aa variety
variety of
of channs
charmsandand amulets,
amulets,astrology, palmistry, etc.
astrology,palmistry, etc.
Consequently,
Consequently,in the the final
final revelation, Chapteral-Falaq,
revelation,Chapter al-Falaq, God
God
informshum~n
informs humanbeings
beingsto·seek
to.seekrefuge-in
refugrin GodGod from
from evil:
evil:

ty 6? u P,q'r'tii'y}
"Say: I seek
seek refuge in the Lord
Lord of the dawn, from
the evil of
of what
what He has
has created."
Qur'an
Q u r ' a n113:1-2
I l3:1-2

Allah,
Allah, God
God Almighty,
Almighty, isis not
notevil; He is
evil; He good.He
is good. created
He created
aa world
world in which
whichevil goodcan
evil or good canbe
be done
doneby by beings
beingsto whom
whom
gavethis
He gave this ability.
ability. However.
However,no no evil
evil or good
goodcan cantake place
take place
in
in this world without
this world withoutthe permissionof God
the permission .. This is
God..This is why
why it
is futile
is futile to turoto
turn to others
othersbesides
besidesGod
God for help
help and protection.
and protection.
 The
The Purpose
Purpose of
of Creation
Creation - n7l
__

{~\
{i' IJb~ ~1 r:,o~ ~
'11.,.*=.a y~i
a -'t:ei La}
6)
'" ""9i9 ,,~ -"

"No
"No calamity strikesexcept
calamity strikes exceptby Allah's permission"
permission"
Qur'an,
Q u r ' a n64:
6. 4 :IIl I

The final
The prophet of God,
final prophet Muhammad(~),
God, Muhammad (ffi), further
furrher
elaboratedon
elaborated on this concept,saying,
this concept, "Be aware
saying,"Be that if
owore that if the
the whole
whole
mankindgathered
of mankind gatheredtogether
togethertoto do
do something
somethingto help you.
help you,
they only be
they would only be able
able toto do
do somethingfor you which Allah
u,hichAlloh
had already
had alreadywritten
writtenfor Likewise,if
you: Likewise.
for you: f the
the whole
whole ofmankind
of mankind
gathered together
gathered together to to harm
harm you,
you, they
they would only be be able
able to
do something
do somethingto harm
harm you which Allah Allah had already written
,,16
tto
o hhappen yott."t6
to you.
appen to

The Merciful, The

The The Forgiving
Forgiving
In the
In creationof humankind,
the creation humankirrd,the the divine
divineattributes
attributesofof
forgiveness,
forgiveness, mercyand
mercy kindnessare
andkindness arealso
alsomanifested. Human
manifested. Human
beings were created
beings were goodand
createdgood purewith aa natural
and pure natural awareness
awareness
goodand
of good andevil. The Almighty
evil. The alsocreated
Almighty also createdinin humans
humans desires.
desires,
and gavethem
and gave them an ability to control
an ability controlthose
those desires
desires according
according
to divine
to law or to
divine law to tum
turn them
them loose
looseand
and follow
follow them
them blindly.
blindly.
God created mankind knowing that they would
God created mankind knowing that they would disobey disobey Him.
Him.
Consequently,
Consequently, Hetaught
He humanbeings,
taught human beings,beginning
beginning with Adam,
Adam,
how to repent
how repent and thereby purifo
and thereby purify themselves
themselves ofof their sins.
sins.
Adam and
Adam and Eve representaa pattern
Eve represent pattern for all mankind
mankind to follow.

16 by 'Abbaas
16 Reported by'
Reported and collected
Abbaas and collected by at-Tirmithee
at-Tirmi!hee and
and authenticated
authenticated
in Saheeh.
in at-Tirmifuee,
Sunan at-Tirmi!flee,
$afueefoSunan vol.
vol. 2.pp.
2. pp. 308-9.
308-9. no.
no. 2043.
2043.
 I -^ L
The Purpose 0/
of Creation
Crcation U

They forgot
They the commandment
forgot the commandment of of God,
God, and Satanplayed
and Satan played on on
desires. After they
their desires. they had disobeyed God,
had disobeyed God, they
they turned
turned back
back
to Him in repentance,
repentance, and He
and He forgave
forgavethem.
them.In In humankind's
humankind's
disobedience
disobedience and turningback
andturning God in
back to God in repentance,
repentance, the divine
the divine
attributesof
attributes of total
total forgiveness
forgivenessand infinite mercy
and infinite mercy become
become
manifest.
manifest.The The final Prophet(~)
final Prophet (x;) informed
informedhis his followers
followersof this this
saying,"If
reality, saying,
reality, "lf you did not commit
commitsins turn to Allah,
sinsand turn Allah.
seeking His forgiveness,
seeking forgiveness, He He would havehave replaced you with
another people who
another people who would sin, sin, ask forgiveness and
ask Allah's forgiveness
He
He wouldforgive
would.forgivethem. ,,17 Every
them."'t Everyoneone of thethe 114
ll4 Chapters
Chaptersof of
the final revelation,exceptone,begins
the final revelation, except one, begins with
with the
the prayer,
prayer, "ln
"In
the nameof Allah,
the name Allah,the the Beneficent
Beneficentthe the Most
Most Merciful." Allah's
Merciful."Allah's
attributesof mercy
attributes mercyand forgiveness
andforgiveness arestressed
are stressed to encourage
to encourage
humans
humansnot not to fall into despair.
fall into matterhow
despair.No matter greatthe
how great sins
the sins
of human
humanbeings
beingsmay may be,
be,God
God can forgivethem
can forgive if manturns
them ifman turns
back
back to Him in in sincere repentance.
sincererepentance. The Messenger
The Messenger (~)
(x) was
was
quotedas
quoted assaying,
saying,"When createdthe
"When Allah created the universe,
universe,He made
He made
an
an obligation
obligation on [recordedJ in a document
on Himself [recorded} documentkept kept byby
Him:
Him: My mercy
mercysupersedes
supersedes my wrath." 18 He
mywrqtfr."l8 wasalso
Hewas alsoreported
reponed
to
to have
havesaid,
said,""[Allah
[Allah created}
createdJmercy
mercywithv,ith one
one hundred parts,
hundredparts.
one ofwhich
one of whichwas sentdown
was sent down upon thejinn, human
upanthejinn. humanbeingsbeingsandand
ather living beings.
other beings. It is is out
out ofthis
oJ'thisone
onepart that they love
that they love
each
each other,
other,show kindnessto
showkindness to each
eachother
otherand eveneventhe the animals
animals
treat
treat their
lheir offspring
ffipring with affection.
affiction. Allah has
has reserved
reserved the
the

17
" Sahih
SohihMuslim.
Muslint,vol.
vol. 4.
4. pp.
pp. 1435-6.
1435-6.no.
no. 6621.
6621.reported
reportedby
by Aboo Ayyoob
Aboo Ayyoob
al-An~aaree.
al-AnEaaree.
t' Sahih
18 SohihMuslim,
Muslint,vo!. 4. p.
vol.4. p 1437.
1437.no. 6628. reported
no,6628. reportedby
by Aboo Hurayrah.
Aboo Hurayrah.
 I L

The
The Purpose
Purpose ofCreation
of Creation
_

remaining ninety-nine
remammg ninety-nineparts for for His
His true
true worshippers
worshipperson
on the
the
Day
Day ofResurrection.
of Resurr ect i on." Ie
,,19

Had Allah
Had wished,He
Allah wished, couldhave
He could havecreated
createdmankind
mankindlike
like
angels,incapable
angels, incapableof committing
committingsin. sin. However,
However,that
that was
was not
not
His wish,
His wish,as He had
asHe hadalready
alreadycreated
createdangels.
angels.Human
Humanbeings
beings
were created
were created capable
capableof making
makingmistakes
mistakesand
and when
when they
they
realize their
realize errors and
their errors andseek
seekGod's
Cod's forgiveness,
forgiveness,the divine
the divine
attributesof mercy
attributes mercyand forgivenessbecome
and forgiveness becomemanifest.
manifest.

SupremeJustice
Supreme Justice
In the
In judgmentof mankind
thejudgment mankindat the end
at the end of this
this world,
world,
God's attributes
God's attributesof supreme justiceand
supremejustice fairnessalso
andfairness alsobecome
become
manifest.Based
manifest. Basedon on His
His infinite
infinite knowledge,
knowledge,God God could
could have
have
createdall
created all members
membersof the the human
humanrace racewhowho were
were to live
live on
on
earthand
earth and immediately
immediatelyplacedplacedsome
someof them them inin paradise
paradise and
and
the remainder
the remainderin in hell.
hell.Before
Beforecreating
creatingman,
man,Allah
Allah already knew
alreadyknew
what choices
what theywould
choicesthey would make
makein in this
this life,
life, what
what provision
provision and
and
opportunitiesHe
opportunities He would give them,
would give them, and
and in in what state of
what state of belief
belief
disbelief they
or disbelief would die.
they would Therefore,in
die. Therefore, in one
one sense
sense it could
could
be said
be saidthat somepeople
that some people were
were created
created for paradise
paradise and
and others
others
for hell. 'Aa'ishah,
hell. 'Aa'ishah, wife of of the
the Prophet Muhammad (*g),
Prophet Muhammad (~),
quoted
quoted himhim as as saying,
saying,"Don't
"Don't you lcnou,
know thatthat Allah created
created
paradise and hell, hell, and He crealed
created inhabitants
inhabitants forfor each?,,20
each?"2o
If God had
If God had immediately
immediately placed
placed those
those headed
headed for paradise
paradise in
paradise, they would
paradise, they would notnot question
question God's
God's decision.
decision. Those
Those in
t n I b i d . .v o l . 4 . p 1 4 3 7 .
19 Ibid .. vol. 4. p. 1437. n o . 663
no. 6 6 3I.1 .rreported
e p o r t e dbbyy A booH
Aboo urayrah.
Hurayrah.
t o I b i d . .v o l . 4 . p
20 Ibid .. vol. 4. p. 1 4 0 0 .nno.
1400. o .6 435.
6435.
 ThePurpose
The PurposeofCreation
of Crestion

paradise
paradise wouldhappily
would happilyaccept
acceptan aneverlasting
everlasting life
lifeof
of bliss
blissandand
bethankful
be thankfulthat
thatthey
theywere
werenot notplaced
placedin hell. However,
in helr. However,those those
immediatelyplaced
immediately placedinin hell
hellwould
wouldaskaskwhy.
why.TheyTheywould
wouldfeelfeel
aa sense
sense of unfairness
ofunfaimess dueto
due totheir
theirignorance
ignorance of
of what
whatthey would
theywould
have done
have done had had they
they lived
livedonon earth.
earth.Those
Thosein in hell
hell would
would
relentlesslyargue
relentlessly arguethat
thathad
hadthey
theybeen
beengiven
givenaa chance
chanceto to live
live
out their lives on earth,they
out their lives on earth, theywould
wouldhave
havebelieved
berievedand anddon~
done
righteousdeeds.
righteous deeds.Consequently,
consequently, Allah
Allah allows
allowshuman
humanbeings
beings
to live
to liveout
out their
theirlives
Iivesonon earth
earthand makeall the choicesthey
and make all the choices they
would have
would havemade,
made,sosothat
thateveryone
everyonewhowho enters
entershellheil will know
know
thatthey
that theychose
chosehell
hellby
bythemselves.
themselves. Theywill recognize
They recognize God's
God's
mercy
mercy in in their
their lives
livesand
andacknowledge
acknowledge their
their sin
sin in
in rejecting
rejecting
His signs
His signsand
andguidance.
guidhnce. A'd they
A.nd theywill accept
acceptHis His judgment
judgment
as beingjust
as being and beyond
just and beyondreproach.
reproach.However,
However.they will still
they sti II
beg for
beg for another
anotherchance
chanceto do good
to do good inin this
this world.
world, as as cod
God says
says
in Clrapter as-Sajdaft of the
in Chapter as-Sajdah of the Qur'an: Qur'an:

l-i~' dr'r+r'+'#;,
t-i;di ~~;.f~ ~ ~;~ rI;...fU ~;~,~!
j-{ri iyr+.Jr Jf~}
l.S} "f:}
it s;
t{ rrti
~A; 6t
If! vta,1;';;
~~ ~ grti
/
~~~ t:;;,
~~ /

"If only you could see

"If lthe timel
see [the time) when
when the
the sinners
sinners
will
will bow their heads
their heads before
before their
their Lord,
Lord, [sayingf
[saying],,
tour
'Our Lord!
Lord! We
We have
have now
now seen
seen and
and heard,
heard, so
so send
send
us back and we will do righteous
us back and we will do righteous deeds,deeds. Verily;
Verily; we
we
now
now believe
believe with
with certaintv.'
certainty.' ""
Qur'an, 32:12
Qur'an, 32: 12
 Purpose o[Crestion
The Purpose of Creation r
However, ifif Allah were
However, were to send
send them back to this world
them back
having forgotten
having forgotten whatthey
what they had
had seen of hell,
seen of they would again
hell, they again
choose evil and
choose and end
end up in hell as
as before. God spoke
before. God spoke about
about
this in Chapter
Chapter al-An'aaml
ai-An 'aam:
... '"

{iJ;~~ d*
{iji,iJ
"But ifif they were returned [to
I' ...

'*
'J~\Al it\'r'i'r11
~ iririi
~ i# e
~!J w
• 0.1

'J~) JlJ}
[to this worldl'
world], they
.. C/I A ~ ......

"But
what was forbidden to
back.to what
would certainly go backlo
thelD. Indeed thev
them. they are liars."
liars."
Qur'an,6:28
Qur'an, 6:28

Divine Love
God's
God's lovelove is
is manifest
manifestin in beings
beingsbrought
broughtinto existence,
into existence,
whether
whether believer
believer or disbeliever, enjoy life,
disbeliever,to enjoy if only
life, if only for aa
moment.It i~
brief moment. is also
alsorealized
realizedin in the
the creation of paradise
creation paradise
for those
thosewhowho choose
chooserighteousness
righteousness over
overevil.
evil. Allah states
statesinin
the
the final
final revelation
revelationthatthat He
He loves
lovesthose
thosewhowho do good(5:
do good (5:13),
13),
those
those whowho are (5:42),those
arejust (5:42), thosewho
who arearepious (9:4),those
pious(9:4), those
who are.
who are patient
patient(3:(3:146),
146), those
thosewho put put their
their trust
trust in Him
(3: 159), those
(3:159), thosewho
who frequently
frequentlytum to Him in
turn to in repentance
repentance and
and
those who
those who purify
puriff themselves
themselves (2:222).
(2:222). However,
However, it is
is He
He who
who
has
has defined
definedfor
for human
humanbeings
beingsthrough
throughthethe scriptures
scripturesand andthethe
prophets
prophetswhatwhat is just and
good,just
is good, pious.Consequently,
andpious. ConseQuently, those
those
who
who follow
follow the
the prophets
prophetsare aremost
mostbeloved
belovedto to God.
God.ln Chapter
In Chapter
'lmraan,
Aal 'Imraan, Allah
Allah instructed
instructedProphet Muhammad'(#E)
ProphetMuhammad- (~) toto say
say
the
thefollowing
following toto the
the believers:
believers:

{~j~
'"3r'-;ei"-t
t&;i ~ ~J ~\li"~::;.,;
$;il ~~~ ~, ~oi7.r;r
,rrt:hr kJ ~ ~!}bll
 fh" Purpose
The P"rprt" ofCreation
rf Crettir, WI
_

65If you
"If you really
really love
loveAllah,
Allah, follow
follow me
meand
and Allah
Allah willwitl
love you and forgive your
love you and forgive your sins."sins."
Qur'an
Q u r ' a n3:31
3 : 3I
The prophets
The prophetsshould
should be be followed
followed not
not only
only inin the
the
compulsory
compulsory acts actsordained
ordainedbyby God,
God,but alsoin
butalso in their
theireagerness
eagerness
to do
to do acts
actsofof voluntary
voluntaryworship.
worship.
The love
The love ofof God
God isis also
alsomanifest
manifestinin His
His mercy
mercyand and
blessings which He
blessings which He grants
grantsfo
fo those
thosewhowho deserve
deservethem
themas aswell
well
as those
as thosewhowho dodo not.
not. But,
But, it isis particularly
particurarrymanifest
manifestin in His
His
willingness to forgive the
willingness to forgive the sins sinsof whomsoever
whomsoeverturnsturnsto to Him
Him
in sincere
in sincererepentance.
repentance. From the
From the creation
creationof Adam
Adam andand Eve,
Eve,
repentancewas
repentance was granted
granted toto them
them to erase
erasetheir sins as an
their sins as an
example
example to all all human
humanbeings
beingswhowho would
would follow them
them into
into
this world.
this world. No matter
matter how greathuman
how great human sins may become,
sinsrnay become, thethe
door
door for sincere repentance
sincere repentance remains
remains open
open until
until the
the last
last day
day
of this world.
of this world. Anas
Anas quoted
quoted Allah's
Allah's Messenger
Messenger (#)(~) as
as saying,
saying,
"Allah. the the Almighty, has has said.-
said: O 0 son
son of
ofAdam,
Adam, as long as
you
you call
call on Me and ask askof Me, II will
ofMe, willforgive
forgive what you hate have
done,
done, and II do not mind. mind. O 0 son
son ofofAdam. even ififyour
Adam. even your sins
sins
reached
reached the clouds
clouds and you asked
andyou askedIrIyMyforgiveness,
forgiveness, II witt
willforgive
forgive
you.
you. O 0 son
son of Adam, ,fifyou
ofAdam, you came
came to to Me
Me with
with sins nearly as
sinsnearly as
great as the earth
great as the earth and you met
andyou met MeMe without
without giving Me
Mepartners,
partners,
II will
will give
give you
you aa similar
similar amount
amount offorgiveness."2l
offorgiveness. ,,21

2f
21 collected
Collected by
by at-Tirmithee
at-Tirmi!hee and
and authenticated in galre
authenticated in elt Sunan
Sab.eeb. at-
sunan at-
Tirmilhee,
Tirmifhee, vol.
vol. 3.
3. pp.
pp. 175-6.
175-6. no.
no. 2805.
2805.
 The Purpose ofCreation

Grace
Divine Grace
As forthose in pmadise,
paradise, they will
will not enter solely based
enter it solely based
good deeds.
on their good It is the grace
deeds. It grace ofof God that will
will ultimately
ultimately
carry them
carry The final Prophet
there. The
them there. Prophet of of Allah (#)
(~) said
said in this
best to do right, and be
your best
"Try your
regard, "Try
regard, happy. For
be l*ppy. For none
none
will enterparadise
will enterparadise onlybecause
only because of ofhis deeds. " His companions
hisdeeds." companions
said,"0
said, Messenger of
"O Messenger evenyou?"
Allah! Not even
of Allah! you?" HeHe replied,"Not
replied, "Not
even I,I, unless
even Allah envelops
unlessAttah envelopsme me in His mercy and gtace.z2
His mercy grace. 22
And bear in mind that thst the deed most
the deed most loved by Allah one
Allah is one
done constantly,
done constantly,even
eventhough
though it is small."Z3
small. ,,23 However,
However, God's
grace
grace isis not arbitrary.
arbitrary.It isis based
basedon both correct
on both faith and
correctfaith and
righteous 'Imraan,
Aill 'Imraan, Allah says:
says:
righteousdeeds.
deeds. In Chapter
ChapterAal
't ",iI
~!
J\o'Hl,i ~::. I~ ~~ :,f; J ~~f
~~ ~ e#urrv q.Ai'p'ai ;J~ ~~
';:..s. ill f'y-alu."q :;}
p; ~
{iiru ~r ;.A
{~J~Hal ,+r+ J
"Whoever
"Whoever brings
brings a good deed, will
will have [the
[the
value of]
ofl ten like it, and
and whoever brings an deed
an evil deed
will punishedwith one
be punished
will only be and they
one like it, and will
they will
not be wronged."
be wronged.tt
Qur'an 6 :160
Q u r ' a n6: 160

Were
WereGod to hold humankind
Godtohold humankindtoto account
accountstrictly, no one's
strictly,no one's
good
good deeds
deedswould
would outweigh their evil
outweightheir However,God
deeds.However,
evil deeds. God
has
has manifested
manifestedHis graceby
His grace by multiplying
multiplyingthethe value good
valueof good
deeds,
deeds,while
while keeping
keepingevil
evil deeds at their
deedsat facevalue.
theirface value. ItIt is
is by
by

22 Sahih Muslim, vol. Hurayrah.

Aboo Hurayrah.
22 Sahih Muslim, vol. 4.
4, p.
p. 1473.
1473.no.
no.6765.
6765.reported
reportedby
by Aboo
Sahih Muslim, vol. 4. pp. 1473-4. no. 6770. reported
reported by
by 'Aa'ishah.
"Aa'ishah.
23
" Sahih Muslim, vol. 4, pp 1473-4. no. 6770.
 The Purpose 0/ Creation -
I 241
Il

the graceof
thegrace of God
Godthat
thatthe
thetrue
truebelievers
believersenter paradise.This
enterParadise. This
does not mean that deeds
does not mean that deeds have nohave nofO,le.
role.Deeds
Deedshavehaveaamajor
major
role, but
role, but they
they are
are not
not the
the deciding
deciding factor.
factor.God's
God's grace
grace
outweighsthem.
outweighs them.
Consequently,the
Consequently, thecreation
creationof of human
humanbeings,
beings,the
theerrors
errors
that they make andthe
that they make and goodthat
thegood thatthey
theydo
do are
areall
all circumstances
circumstances
for the
for the manifestation
manifestationof of God's
God's attributes
attributes of of mercy and
mercyand
forgiveness,
forgiveness, Hisattribute
His attributeofjustice
ofjustice andandHis
His attribute
attributeof
of grace.
grace.
Humankind should
Humankind should not question why
not question why God
God chose
chosetoto
manifest His attributesin
manifest His attributes in this
this way.
way. It can
canonly
only be
beassumed
assumed
that this
that this was
wasthe
the best
bestway,
way, because
becauseAllah describes
describesHimself as as
being the
being the Most Wise
wise and
andthe
the Most Knowledgeable.
Knowredgeable. Humans
Humans
canonly
can only understand
understand what Allah
what Allah chooses
choosesto to reveal
revealto them.
them.

{~~ a
{",i lr +dr'c'?i*# r;}
~ ~!~~<~~~~~}
"They will
"They will only encompass
encompass of
of His trnor"hAge
knowledge what
what
He wishes.tt
wishes."
Qur'an 2:255
Qur'an 2:255

Thus,
Thus, theyshould
they should not try to equate
equate themselves
themselves with God.
God.
If
If He hashas told humankind
humankind why He decided decided to do somerhing,
something,
itit is
is not
not for
for them
them to to question
question why
why HeHe decided
decided to
to decide.
decide. such
Such
questions
questions are are without
without end
end and
and thus
thus beyond
beyond human scope. ItIt
human scope.
is
is they
they who
who will be questioned
will be questioned on
on the
the Day
Day of
ofJudgment
Judgment about
about
their actionsand intentions
their actions and intentions and and not He. In chapter
not He.In Chapter al-Ambiyaa,
al-Ambiyaa,
Allah
Allah addresses
addresses this
this point:
point:

{.jU"Ji,W_6itu"t}
 The Purpose of
ofCreation
Creation

"He questioned as
"IIe cannot be questioned as to what
what He does,
does, while
while
will.be
they will questioned."
be questioned."
Qur'an.
Q u r ' a n 21
, 2 l:23
:23

In this
this regard
regardProphet Muhammad(~)
ProphetMuhammad (*) was
was reported
reportedby
'Abbaas
Ibn 'Abbaas to have havesaid, "Reflect on
said,"Reflect the creation
on the creation ofAllah
of AIIah but
do
do not reflect
reflect on Allah. ,,24 To reflect
on Allah."2o reflect on
on the
the reality
reality of
of Allah
Alldh is
is
to reflect
reflect onon the
the infinite.
infinite. And,
And, asas the
the mind when it
boggles when
mind boggles
reflects
reflectson on the
the limits of of the
the finite universe
universeandandthe galaxiesand
the galaxies and
stars
stars within it, it, it will bebe more
moreconfounded
confoundedwhen when it attempts
attempts
to understand
understandthe the uncreated.
uncreated.The Prophet(~)
The Prophet (ff) warned
warnedthatthat the
the
satanic
satanic forces
forceswould
would seek introducedoubts
seekto introduce doubtsin in the hearts
the hearts
of the
the believers
believersby by raising
raisingunanswerable
unanswerable questions
questions aboutGod.
about God.
Aboo
Aboo Hurayrah
Hurayrah relatedrelatedthat
that Allah'
Allah'ssMesseng~r
Messenger(~) (S) said,
said,
"Satan
"Sstan will will come
come to everyone of you and ask:
everyoneofyou Whocreated
ask: Who
this
this and that?-until
that?-until he he questions:
questions;Who createdyour Lord?
Whocreated
When
Wen he he comes
comesto that, that, one
one should
shouldseek refugein Allah [say:
seekrefuge fsay:
1I affirm
ffirm my faith in
my faith in Allah and
and His prophetsJ25
Hisprophets )25 and
and avoid
avoid
[such
[such thoaghts].
thofrghtsJ."26,,26

ta Collected
24 Collected by by Aboo
Aboo NU}liym
Nugym in gl-lf.ilyah and
inql-Hi\ah and authenticated
authenticated by al-
by al-
Albaanee in
Albaanee in Silsilah
Silsilahal-A!l.aadeeth
al-Aftaadeeth a~-S.a!l.eebah,
as--Sakeehah, vol. 4.
vol. p 12.
4. p. 12.no. | 788,
no. 1788.
There 'Umar collected
Ibn 'Umar collectedbya!-Iabaraanee
by ag-Jabamanee
Thereis is also
alsoaa similar
similarnarration
narrationfrom
fiom Ibn
in
in al-Awsa{
al-Awsaland and al-Bayhaqee
al-Bayhaqee in .Sftu'ab
in Shu 'ab al-Eemaan.
al-Eemaan.
25 SahihMuslim,
25 Sahih Mttslim,vol.vol. L
l- p.
p 77.
77.nos. 242&
nos.242 243.
&.2,43.
'u lbid., vol.
26 Ibid., vol. 1,
l, p.
p. 77.
77. no.
no. 244
244and
andSahih
SahihAI-Bukhari,
Al-BuWnri, vol.vol. 4, p. 320~
4, p. 320, no. 496.
no, 496.
 rt
The Purpose of
ofCreation
Creation il

Why Did God Create Mankind?

God Create
RO~ THE
noM TF{E PERSPECTIVE HUMANKIND, THE
PERSPECTTVEOF HUMANKIND,

F
T.t

I
F{

this
qUESTION "Why did
QUESTION
what purposewas
what purpose
question is
this question
did God
wasman
createman?"
God create
created?"In
man created?"
is answered without any
answeredwithout
ln the
implies"For
man?" implies
the final revelation,
final revelation,
ambiguity.Humans
any ambiguity. Humans
are
are first informed God that
informed by God every human
that every humanbeing
being is
is born
born
an innate
with an innateconsciousness
consciousness of God.
of Chapteral-A
God. In Chapter 'raq/~
al-A'raq/:
Allah
Allah said:
said:

~
JF:qli; itA¥\) ~~~ ilJrl ~?~e:*b ~ ~;~i;; ~ .F ~ b~ {; ~\;;f ~!)}
i11}
~
ei It'*l~'~lii,
y[ilr '.r'r\lfbf
- ~Jt
, i.\
y~
~:: ~i lr -~ i: iii'i
*y~~ - · 'i·'fi;;i~fi
~~, ~U*ti
-,r,.y.\\l .r-l:............,~.
&t
',.-'^{r::t
g', Jj
~ i;~~ ~~ Glijjrr'ti'g#,v
,F ~
b uJ1i~
u;qtl~~i
!'-hiWl ~ ~i ~~ ,lA
t:,^:f
f
{{ii9I'r
~ .It..·~ i, ',;i ~ ~i· ~
~ v- : - ~,.
"[Remember)
"[Rememberl when your Lord
"l,w':k#!tb$
Lord extracted
extracted from the
loins
loins of Adam's children
children their descendants
descendantsand and
made
made -them
them testify [saying]: 'Am I not your Lord?'
'Am L,ord?'
[sayingl:
They
They said: 'Yes, we testify
said: 'Yes, testify to it.' [This
[This was)
was] in
case
case you say on the
say on the Day
Day of Judgment:
Judgment: 'We 'We were
were
unaware
unaware of this.'
this.t Or you
Or you say: tlt
say: 'It was
was our ancestors
ancestors
who worshipped
worshipped others
others besides
besidesGodGod and
and we are
are
•
only their descendants.
descendants.Will you then
Will you then destroy
destroy us
us
for what those
thoseliars
liars did?'"
did?'"
Qur' 7:172-3
an, 7:
Qur'an, 172-3
 The
The Purpose
Purpose of
of Creation
Creation

The Prophet(~)
TheProphet (#) explained
explainedthat
thatwhen
whenAllah
Allah created
createdAdam,
Adam,
He took
He from him
took from him aa covenant
covenantat placecalled
at aa place calledNa'maan
Na'maanon on
the 9th
the fth day
dut''7 ofthe
of the 12th
12thmonth.
month.He then extracted from
He then exffactedfrom Adam Adam
all of
all of his descendants
his descendants who would be
wltowould be born
born until
until the
the end
endof
the world,
the generationafter
world, generation generation,and
after generation, and spread
spreadthem
them out
out
before Him to
before to take
takeaa covenant
covenantfrom
from them
them also.
also.He
He spoke
spoketo
them, face
them, face to face,making
to face, makingthem
them bear
bearwitness
witnessthat
that He
He was
was
28
their Lord.
their Lord.z8Consequently,
Consequently, every
eveiyhuman
humanbeing
beingis
is responsible
responsible
for belief
for beliefinin God, which is
God,which is imprinted
imprintedon on each
eachand
andevery
every soul.
soul.
is based
It is basedononthis
this inborn
inbornbelief that
that Allah
Allah defined
definedthe
the purpose
purpose
humankind'screation
of humankind's creationinin Chapter
Chapterath-
agh-Thaariyaat:
Thaariyaat:

{ir:**l ~l
{IJJ"w 1! ~~I)
.r"!lt ~\
;,+Jt~ r.'1}
c-il+ I.A)}
ttl create the jinn2e
"I did not create jinn?9 and the humankind
exceptthat they,
except they should
should worship Me."
Qur'an 51l :56
Q u r ' a n5 :56

Thus, the
Thus, essentialpurpose
the essential purpose for whiclr
which humankind
humankind was
was
created is the worship of God.
created is the worship of God. However,
However, the
the Almighty is
is not
needof human
in need humanwors[rip.
worship. He did not
He did not create
create human
human beings
beings

17
27 Known as as the
the day of 'Arafaat.
day of 'Arafaat.
2t Collected
28 Collected by Almad
Ahmad and and authenticated Silsilahh al-Ahaadeeth
authenticated in Siisi/a al-A!laadeeth a§.-
as-
$.a!J.ee!lah. vol.'4,
$afteefuah, vol:4, p. p. 158, no. 1623.
158, no. 1623.
2e The;inn are
29 Thejinn are a class
class of invisible
invisible rational
rational beings
beings created
created by God from the
elements
elements of offire. They were
fire. They were endowed
endowed by GodGod with free
free will,
will, like mankind.
mankind.
Consequently,
Consequently, some some of of them are righteous
them are righteous believers and others
believers and are evil
others are
disbelievers.
disbelievers. The The evil among
among them
them are
are commonly called demons.
commonly called demons. evil
evil
spirits, devils.
spirits, devils. etc.
etc.
 Purpose of
The Parpose ofCreation
Creation

of a need
out of on His part.
need on If not
part. If not a single human worshipped
single human worshipped
diminish His glory in any
God, it would not diminish
God, any w&], and if
way, and if all
of mankind
of ~orship~ed Him, it would
mankind worshipp.ed would not increase His glory
not increase
any way.
in any way. God is perfect.
God is perfect. HeHe alone exists without
alone exists without any
any
needs. All created beings
needs.All createdbeingshave have needs.
needs. Consequently,
Consequently, it is
is
humankind that
humankind needs to worship
that needs worship God.
God.

Meaning of Worship
The Meaning
understand why human
To understand human beings need to worship
beings need God,
worship God,
one what is
is meant
meantby the
theterm 'worship.'
term 'worship.'
onemust
mustfirst
first understand
understandwhat
The 'worship' comes from the
comesfrom Old English
the Old English
The English
English term
term 'worship'
weorthscipemeaning
weorthscipe 'honor.' Consequently,
meaning'honor.' Consequently, worship in the
worship in the
English 'the performance
as'the performanceof of devotional
devotional
English language
languageis is defined
definedas
acts
acts in honor
honorof aa deity. ,30 According
deity.'30 Accordingto to this
this meaning, man
meaning,man
is instructedto ~how
is instructed gratitudeto God
showgratitude glorifuing Him. In
God by glorifying
Chapteran-Na~r
Chapter an-Na;rof the the final revelation,Allah
final revelation, Allah says:
says:

{drh'#l
"Glorify the praises
"Glorify the your Lord."
praisesof your
Qur'an I l0:3
Qur'an110:3

In glorifying
gloriffing God, manchooses
God, man choosestoto be harmony
be in harmony
with the restof creation
the rest which naturally
creationwhich glorifies its
naturallyglorifies its
Creator.
Creator. Allah addresses
addressesthis phenomenonin many
this phenomenon many
chaptersof the
chapters theQur'an.
Qur'an.For
For example,
example, in
in Chapter
Chapter al-Israa,
al-lsraa,
Allah states:
states:
3o The Living Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary. p.
30 The Living lhebster Encltclopedic Dictionarrr, p. 1148.
I 148
 The
ThePurpose
PurposeofCreation
of Creation

;!rl ~~
:F ~ ~!j ~ :;j
tt')'4 ~~~\j ~\ ~\J~\
c1,io's\t[Ir ~}
Lr3ttr ;jrt ilJ]
"y " " • ~ ~ , :".~ ~ ". ~I' o~ , ", ,
~ rtitir
{tiithJ-J JfMi r ~J"
l5[ 1F|#- :~
*The seven
"The seyen heavens
heavensand the earth eerth and whatever
whatever
is
is in them glorify Him and there is nothing which
glorify Him
31
does glorify His praise.
does not glorify preise.'' However,
Howeyer, you do not
understand their
their glorification."
glorification.'
Qur'an,
Qur'an,17:44
17:44

However,
However, in Arabic,
Arabic, the
the language
languageof of the
the final revelation,
revelation,
'ibaadah,whichis closely related the
worship is
worship called 'ibaadah, which is
is called closelyrelatedto the
'abd,meaning'a
noun 'abd, meaning
noun 'a slave.'
slave.' A slave
slaveisis one
one who is expected
expected
to do whatever his
do whatever his ma'ster Consequently,worship,
ma'ster wills. Consequently, worship,
according
accordingto the final revelation,
tothe revelation,meaas 'obedient
meaas'obedient submission
submission
to the will of
the will of God.'
God.' This waswas the
the essence
essenceof of the
the message
messageof of
all the prophetssent
the prophets sentby God
God to humankind.
humankind.For example,
example,this
understanding of
understanding worship was
of worship was emphatically
emphatically expressed
expressedby
Prophet Jesus in the
Prophet Jesus Gospelaccording
the Gospel accordingto Matthew,
Matthew, 7:21,
7:21,
"None 'Lord'
"None of of those
those who
who call meme 'Lord' willwill enter
enter the
the kingdom
kingdom
of
of God,
God, but only the one who does
the one the will
does the of my Father
wiII of Father in
heaven."
heaven." It should
shouldbe be noted
notedthat quote means
'-will' in this quote
that'.will' means
'what God
'what God wants
wants human
human beings
beingsto do' and and not 'what God
not 'what God
permits humans
permits humans to to do,' becausenothing
do,' because happensin creation
nothinghappens creation
(permission)of God. God. The 'Will of
The 'Will of God'
without
without the the will (permission) God' is
is
contained
contained in in the revealedlaws
divinely revealed
the divinely which the
laws which prophets
the prophets

3t The
31 The thunder
thunder is
is described
describedas glori$ing God
as glorifying l3:13.
God in 13: the day
13, the and night
day and
in 2 t :20 and
in 21:20 the mountains
and the 38: 18.
mountainsin 38:18.
 l-^t
The Purpose ofCreation
The of Creation I tt! I
_

taught their
taught their followers.
followers. Consequently,
Consequently, obedience
obedience to
to divine
divine
law is
law is the foundationof worship.
thefoundation worship.In[n this
thissense, glorification
sense,glorification
also becomes
also worshipwhen
becomesworship whenhumans
humanschoose
chooseto obeyGod's
to obey God's
instructionsregarding
instructions regardingHis glorification.
His glorification.

The Needfor Worship

The Need Worship
Why do
Why do human
humanbeings needto
beingsneed worshipand
to worship glorifoGod
andglorify God
by obeying
by obeyingthethedivinely
divinelyrevealed
revealedlaws?
laws?Because
Because obedience
obedience
to divine law
to divine law isis the
the key
key to
to success
successin in this
this life
life and
andthe
the next.
next.
The first
The first human
human beings,beings,Adam
Adam and and Eve,
Eve,were createdin
were created in
paradiseand
paradise and later
laterexpelled
expelledfrom
from paradise
paradisefor disobeying
disobeying
the divine
the divine law.
law. The
The only way for
only way for human
humanbeings
beingsto return
returnto
paradise is
paradise is by
by obedience.
obedience,to the law.
to the law.Jesus,
Jesus,thethe Messiah,
Messiah,was
was
reported in
reported in the
the Gospel
Gospelaccording
accordingto Matthew
Matthewto have havemade
made
obedienceto the
obedience thedivine
divinelaws
lawsthe
the key
key to paradise:Now
to paradise: Now behold,
behold,
one cameand said to him.
one came 'Good
him, 'Good teacher,
teacher,what good thing
shall I do that I may may have
have eternal life? "So " So he
he said to him,
him,
"Why. do you call
"Why call meme good?
good? No one one is
is good but One,
One, that
is, God. But if
ri, God. if you
you want to enter enter into
into life,
life, keep the
commandments.
commandments.'82 Also in
,32 Also in Matthew
Matthew 5: 19, JesusChrist
5:19, Jesus Christ
was
was reported
reported to have have insisted
insisted onon strict obedience to the
strict obedience the
commandments,
commandments, saying, Whoever" therefore
saying,""Whoever thereforebrealabreaks one
one of
of
the
the least
least of
ofthese commandments, and teaches
thesecommandments, teaches men men so,
so,shall
be called least in the
be the kingdom
kingdom of ofheaven; whoever does
heaven; but whoever does
teaches them,
and teaches them, he be called great in the
he shall be the kingdom
kingdom
heaven."
ofheaven."
of

3r 19: 16-17 (RSV).

Matthew l9:16-17
32 Matthew (RSV).
 ofCreation
The Purpose of Creation

Divine lawslaws represent

represent guidance
guidance for humankind
humankind in all aU
walks of life. They define
walks of life. They define right and
and wrong
wrong for them
them and
and offer
human beings
human com~ete system
beings a comp{ete system governing
governing atlall of
of their afflairs.
affairs.
The
The Creator
Creator alone knows best
alone knows best what
what is
is beneficial
beneficial for His
creation
creation and what is not.
and what not. The
The divine laws
laws command
command and and
prohibit various acls
prohibit various acts and
and substances
substances to protect
protect the
the human
human
spirit,
spirit, the
the human
humanbody
body and human society
and human In order
harm. ln
societyfrom harm. order
for
for human
humanbeings their potential
beingsto fulfill their potential by living
living righteous
righteous
lives,
lives, they
they need
need to worship
worship God obedience to His
through obedience
God through
commandments.
commandments.

Remembrance
Remembranceof God
God
All ofthe various acts of worship
ofthevariousactsof containedin the
worshipcontained the divine
divine
laws
lawsare
aredesigned
designedto help
help humans rememberGod.
humansremember God.It is
is natural
natural
for human
humanbeings
beingsto sometimes forget even
sometimesforget eventhe
the most important
most important
things..
things..Humans
Humansoften
often become
becomeso engrossedin fulfilling their
so engrossed
material
material needs thatthey
needsthat they totally
totally forget their spiritual
forgettheir needs.
spiritualneeds.
Regular prayeris
Regular prayer is ordained
ordainedto to organize the day of
organizethe day of the true the true
believer
believer around
around the remembrance
the remembrance of God. interweaves
God. It interweaves
spiritual
spiritual needs
needs with
with material
material needs
needs on
on a
a daily
daily basis. The
basis.The
regular
regulardaily
daily need
needto
to eat, andsleep
eat,work and sleepis linkedto
is linked to the
the daily
daily
need
need to
to renew
renew man's
man's connection
connection with
with God.
God. With
With regard
regard to
to
regular prayer,Allah states
regular prayer, the final
statesin the final revelation, Chapter
revelation,Chapter
Iaahaa:
laahaa:
 ThePurpose
The Puroose Creation
of Creation I.-32 I

"Verily,
"Verily, I am Allah, there is is no
no God beside
besideMe,
so worship
so worrhip Me and and establish
establish regular prayer for
My remembra~ce."
My remembrance."
Qur'an
Qur'an 20: 14
20:14
Regardingfasting,
Regarding fasting,Allah stated Chaptera/-Baqarah:
statedin Chapter al-Baqarah:

,y u$t ~
~,J.,
0# '• .iil
Ji.'-,?,;i
.,
i~ J W"' ~ ~\ ~'{Jt'6
~iUttr
- ~.,
~ol~ J iirvd/lr
~'~ '. .iiI '~I.i}
J*" ,J., \ft-*{{ }
{~);J~~
ttfrtsiiF$
"0
"O you who believe!
believe! Fasting has
has been
been prescribed
for you as it was prescribed for those
as it those before you
that you may become
becomeGod-conscious."
God-conscious."
Qur'an
Q u r ' a n2:183
2:183

The
The believers are encouraged
believersare rememberGod
encouragedto remember God as as much
much
as possible.Although,
as possible. Although,moderation
moderationin iri all spheres
spheresof
of life.
life, whether
whether
mater~al or spiritual,
material spiritual~ is generallyencouraged
is generally encouragedin divine
divine law,
law, an
an
exception is
exception is made regardingthe
maderegarding the remembrance
remembranceof of Allah. It isis
impossibleto remember
virtually impossible rememberGodGod too much.
much.Consequently,
Consequently,
the final revelation,
in the Chapteral-A!lzaab,
revelation,Chapter al-AfuzaaD, Allah encourages
encourages
the believers
the rememberGod
believers to remember God asas often
often as possible:
as possible:

\-)~ l,r
{r-*rri,
{IJ#' ~I \rSitiF;*JJ'dq}
i/t~1 i~~ ~~\ ~~}
*O believers!
"0 believers! Rememb-er
Remember Altah
Allah often." ..
Q u r ' a n33:41
Qur'an, ,33:41

Remembrance of
Remembrance Godis
ofGod is stressed
stressed because
because sin is generally
sin is generally
committed when
committed when God
God is
is forgotten.
forgotten. The
The forces
forces of evil
evil operate
operate
 rn"Purpose ofCreation
t - a r

The
I"y,f: "tCrrun" _ ..-
I tt r

most freely
most freelywhen
whenconsciousness
consciousness ofGod
of Godisislost.
lost.Consequently,
Consequently,
the satanic
the satanic forces
forces seek
seek to occupy people'smiIids
to occupy people'smiridswith
with
irrelevantthoughts
irrelevant thoughtsand
anddesires
desiresto
to make them forget God. Once
makethem forget God. Once
God is
God is forgotten,
forgotten,people
peoplewillingly join the
the corrupt
comrptelements.
elements.
The final
The final revelation,
revelation,the
theQur' an,
Qur'an, addresses
addresses this
this phenomenon
phenomenon
in Chapter
in Chapteral-Mujaadalah
al-Mujaadalaftasasfollows:
follows:

IJ~'
.rualSr~~
qT ~~f
rytii'~,
' ')~ ;f,l;!i ~\b:~~"
fi ;..Al:.Jti 6'LJ.Jr ;•'#•:If. ~~I}
s.*,1.
~ ~ {~' I.iJI \JIb .~~ II :../. ~I ~{
," oGii{r
.r;7
{lt}s.i' ~ . £ 11
. !i
U
Jf!' -
"Satan
"Satan got the better of
of them and caused
causedthem to
forget
forget Allah.Those
Allah. Those are the partl'of
party ofSatan.
Satan. Truly
Truly the
party of Satan
Satan are the real losers"
losers"
Qur'an
Q u r ' a n58:
5 8 :19
19

God, through
God, throughDivine
Divine law, hasprohibited
law, has prohibited intoxicants
intoxicants and
and
gamblingprimarily
gambling primarilybecause
because they cause
they causehuman
human beings
beings to forget
forget
God. The
God. The human
humanmind and body
mind and body easily
easily become
become addicted
addicted to
drugs and
drugs gamesof chance.
and games chance.Once
Once addicted,
addicted, humankind's
humankind's
desire to continually
desire be stimulated
continually be stimulated by,them
by them leads
leads them
them into
forms of
all fonns of comrption.
corruption. and
and violence
violence among
among themselves.
themselves. God
saysin
says in Chapter
Chapteral-Maa'idah
a/-Maa 'idah ofof the
the final revelation:
revelation:

·_~il
.r--"" ~"
. '~,~
. J
~"JAll
J
F _. ~ ~ ,~i ~\t,-"~1I
~.J! -
JJ ' WI}
~.fl •
~ {~-*;~: ~f:W ~\~\ ~J~' f~ ~ ~l:A!J;~ :~i~J
"Satan's plan is to incite enmity and hatred
among you with intoxicants and gambling, and
 | *r I
The PurposeofCreation
ThePurpose of Creatlon It(tt
I I
_

hinder
hinder you fromfrom the
tfte remembrance
remembrance ofAllah
of AIIaft and
regular prayer. WillWill you not then abstain?"
Qur'an,
Q u r ' a n 5:91
,5:91
Consequently,
Consequently, humankind
humankindneedneedto remember
rememberGod God for
their
their ownown salvation
salvationand growth.All humans
and growth. have times
humanshave of
times of
weakness in which they commit sins. If they have
weaknessin which they commit sins.If they haveno means no means
of
of remembering
rememberingGod, God, they
they sink
sink deeper
deeperandand deeper
deeperinto
corruption
corruption with every
every sin.
sin. However,
However, those
thosewho follow the the
divine
divine laws
lawswill be
be constantly remindedof God,
constantlyreminded which will
God, which will
give them
give them aa chance
chanceto repent
repentand
and correct
correct themselves.
themselves.The The
final revelation
final revelationaccurately
accuratelydescribes processin Chapter
describesthis process Chapter
'Imraan:
Aal 'Imraan:

" ' '.~,

;l:;'i ..~ ~\
\J~'" li'ri./j~
i1i1,'&Jiiiit ~i"ri ~~
~i i~ \~~ ;!;,rr;l
iji r1,1
+o i);J ~~'J}
{~y~
te'ii.
"Those
"Those who, having
having done
done something
somethingshameful
shameful or
wronged their own souls,
having wronged souls,remember Allah
and immediately ask forgiveness
and immediately forgivenessfor their sins..."
sins,.."
Qur'an,
Q u r ' a n3:135
,3:135

Religion of Islam
The Religion
The Islam
The most
The completesystem
mostcomplete worship available
systemof worship availableto human
human
beingstoday
beings today is
is the
the system
systemfound
found inin the
the religion
religion of
of Islam.
Islam.TheThe
very name
very 'Islam' means
name'Islam' 'submissionto the
means'submission the will of
of God.'
God.'
Although is commonly
Although it is commonlyreferred
referredto as 'the third of
as 'the of the
the three
three
monotheisticfaiths,'
monotheistic is not
faiths,' it is not aa new religionat
new religion at all.
all. It is
is the
the
religion brought
religion allcif
broughtby all of the prophetsof
the prophets of God
God for humankind.
humankind.
 t-t

fnt Purpose
The nry"tt o[
rf Crelltlon
Cr"ttt"" t€l
_

Islam was
Islam wasthe
the religion
religion of Adam, Abraham,
of Adam, Abraham,Moses
Mosesand
andJesus.
Jesus.
God addresses
God addressesthis
this issue
issueinin the
the final
final revelation
revelationwith
with regard
regard
to Prophet
to ProphetAbraham,
Abraham,saying:
saying:

~' J~ ~
'-;.rqllti+
, ., ~\S"
if ~J·.~r ~(.
-,.rAJ(~'~.)
1{r$i* r; ",
rt # b'jr ~\S"
~J-,Jft~.)'!~
I·'
if ~}
r;;
{~~I~~~
lg.#,'u o'g
*Ahrahom was
"Abraham wa$ neither aa Jew nor-a
nor.e Christian,
Christian, but
he wrs an upright
he was Muslim who did bot
upright Muslim not worship
othens besides
others besidesGod."
God."
Qur'an
Qur'an3:67
3:67

Since there
Since there is
is only One
One God,
God, and
and humankind
humankindare are one
one
species,the
species, religion which
the religion which God
God hashasordained
ordainedfor human
human
beings is
beings is one. He did
one.He did not prescribeone
not prescribe one religion
religion for the
the Jews,
Jews,
another for Indians,
another Indians, yet another
another for Europeans, etc. Human
Europeans,etc. Human
spiritual and
spiritual and social
social needs
needsare uniform, and
are unifonn, and human
human nature
naturehas
has
not changed
changed since
since the
the first'man
first 'man and
and woman
wOman were
were created.
created.
Conseq~ently, no other
Consequently, other religion
religion 'is acceptable to God
is acceptable God beSides
besides
Islam,
Islam, as
as He clearly states
states in Chapter
Chapter Aal 'Imraant
Aal '/mraan of
of the final
revelation:
revelation:

{~~~I l'+;irr
{iyr:f'~\ ~ ~:UI i,1}
~!}
*Surely
"Surely Allah's religion
religion is Islam."
Qur'an 3:19
Qur'an 3:19
'H:'eI'
~ ~~~\ .'JJAJ ~ ~ ~ ~~ r~~\ F;;s. #i'i
J p14F"'*6-r;>L)r ¢Ft ~J}
'{~r"bJl
{ir-rnri.i'
 ThePurpose
- rThe htwose ofCreation
of Creatlon I lO I

"And
"And whoever
whoever desires
desircsaa religion besides
besidesIslam
Islam will
will
not have
hnveit
it accepted,
accepted,and
and he
hewill beamong
will be among the
the losers
losers
in the
in heretfter."
the hereafter."
Qur'an
Qur'an3:85
3:85
Every Act Is Worship
In the Islqeig system,
the Isla.mic system,each
eachand
and every
every human
humanact
act can
can be
be
transformed into
transfonned into an act of worship.
an act worship. In fact,
fact, God
God commands
commands
the believers
the believersto dedicate
dedicatetheir whole
whole lives
lives to Him. In Chapter
Chapter
ai-An 'aam, Allah says:
al-An'aom, says:

-;- ~ t\AiI:""..1l
{{colni' ;;.J,l ""-~" lsthn'2. ~J_ t:J.J~,
\oN' jiJr,irf-
( eli}
ir:4.r
~ e6'tJ'i. J~J""
*Say: 'Surely my prayer,
'Surely "rr}
"Say: pmyer, my sacrifice,
sacrifice, my
ry living
tiving
end my dying are for
and for Allah,
Allah, the Lord
Lord ofof all the
tt
worlds.'
worlds.t "
Qur'an
Qur'an6: 162
6:162

However,
However, for thatthat {edication
c;ledication to be
be acceptable
acceptable to Allah,
each
each act
act must
must fulfill
fulfill two basic
baSic conditions:
conditions:
FIRST,
11

of
FIRST, THE
pleasure
of human
THE ACT
I pleasure of
human beings.
ACT MUST

beings. The
MUST BE
God and
of God
BE DoNE
DONE SINCERELY
SINCERELY FoR
and not for the recognition
The believer
believer also
recognition and
also has
has to be
the
FOR the
and praise
praise
be ponscious
conscious ofof
God
God while doing
doing the
the deed
deed to insure
insure that
that it is not
not something
something
forbidden
forbidden by Allah or the last (~).
Messenger (#E).
last Messenger
In order
order to facilitate
facilitate this transformation
transformation of of mundane
mundane
deeds
deeds into worship,
worship, Allah
Allah instructed
instructed the last Prophet (~) to
Prophet (!$)
prescribe short prayers
prescribe short prayers to be said
said before e~en the simplest
before even simplest
of acts
sf ~~t~ The shortest
shortest prayer
prayer which may be used used for any
 The Parpose
Purpose of
of Creation

circumstance is: ~\ ~ bismillaah(ln

circumstance is: bismillaah (In the
the name
name ofof Allah).
l' -*,
There are,
There are, however,
however, many
many'other prayers prescribed
otherprayers prescribed for specific
specific
occasions.
occasions. For example,whenever
For example, new piece
whenever a new of clothing
piece of clothing
is
is worn,
worn, the
the Prophet C*) taught
Prophet (+E) taught his
his followers
followers to say:
say:

~
,;-a V
!_:'J
~ ?-~
l-', ~?- X :JtJ .~:,:S ~f J:.;j\ ~ ~I

. j ~ l. ~~ ~~ X ~ ;;f~ ,j
o
O Allah,
AIIah, thanks is
k due
due to You, for it is You
You,for You who has
clothed me. ask Youfor
me. I ask Yoafor its
its benefit
beneJit and the benefit
for
for which it was
was made,
made, and seek
seek refuge in Youfrom
Youfrom
its
its evil
evil and the evilfor
evilfor which it was
wasmade.
made.33
33

2J
THe SECOND
THE
accordance with
Laccordance
Sunnah.
Sunnah. All of
coNDrloN IS
sECoNDCONDITION
with the
the
the prophets
prophets
ISTHAT
prophetic way,
theprophetic
THATTHE

instructed
instructed
THEACT
way, called
Acr BE
calledin
their
their
done in
se done
Arabic the
in Arabic
followers
followers
the
to
follow
follow their
theirwayway because
because theywere
they guidedby
wereguided by God. Whatthey
God.What they
taught
taught were
were divinely
divinely revealed
revealed truths,
truths, and
and only
only those
those who
who
followed
followed their way and
their way andaccepted
acceptedthe would inherit
truthswould
the truths inherit
eternal life in
eternallife paradise.
in paradise. is in
ItIt is in this
thiscontext thatProphet
contextthat Jesus,
ProphetJesus,
may
may the peaceand
the peace and blessings
blessingsof God God be
be upon him, was
uponhim, was
reportedin
reported in the
theGospel accordingto
Gospelaccording to John as saying,
l4:6, as
John14:6, "./
saying,"'I
am
am the
theway.
way, the truth, and
the truth. and the the life:
life; no man cometh
no man comethunto the
unto the
Father,
Father, butbut by by me." Similarly,'Abdullaah
nte." Similarly,' Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood
ibn Mas'ood
related
relatedthat
thatone
oneday MuhammadC~)
ProplretMuhammad
day Prophet (#) drew
drew aa iine in
iine in

" Sunan
33 Sunan Abu
Abu Dawud, vol. 3.
Dawud, vol. p. 1125.
3. p. I 125. no.
no.4009 andauthenticated
4009 and authenticated in
in
S,ah.eeh.
SaheehSunan
SunanAbee vol. 2.
Daawood,vol.
AbeeDaawood, 2 .p.
p .760. n. o .3391~
7 6 0no. 3393i
 nt Purpose
The nrp"tr ofCreation
rlc*"t*" lls
u
I

the dust
the dust for for them
themand andsaid,
said,"This
"ThisisisAllah's
Allah,spath."path." He Hethen
then
drew several
drew several lines lines[branching
[branchingoff] off] to tothe
theright
rightandandto to the
theleft
left
and said,
and said,"These
"Theseare are the paths [of
thepaths [of misguidance]
misguidanceJ on
on each
each of
oJ'
which isisaa devil
which devil inviting
invitingpeople
peopleto follow it. " He then
tofolrow it." Hethen recited recited
the verse:
the verse: "Verily,
"Verily, this this isis my
my path,
path, leading
leadingstraight,
straight, so so
follow it.
follow it. And
And do do not
not follow
follow thethe [other]
[otherl paths
paths for they
for they willwill
scatter you
scatter you about
about fromfrom Allah's
Allah's path.
path. ThatThat is isHis
His command
command
you in 34
to you
to in order
order thatthat you
you maymay be be conscious
consciousof Allah.
of Allah.34"35 ,,35
Thus, the only acceptable
Thus, the only acceptable way way to to worship
worshipGod God is is according
accordingto to
the way
the way of the the prophets.
prophets.That That being
beingthe the case,
case,innovation
innovationin in
religiousaffairs
religious affairswould
would be beconsidered
consideredby by God
Godamongamongthe theworst
worst
all evils.
of all evils. Prophet
ProphetMuhammad
Muhammad(~) (x) waswas reported
reportedto have have
said, "The worst ofall
said, of all affairs is is innovation
innovstion in religion,
rerigion, forfor
every
every religious innovation is a cursed,
innovation cursed, misleading
misleading innovation
innovation
leading to the the hellfire."36
hellfire. ,,36
Innovation
Innovation in the religion is forbidden
the religion forbidden and and unacceptable
unacceptable
to God.
God. The The Prophet
Prophet (E) (~) was
was also also reported
reported by his his wife,
'Aa'ishah,
'Aa'ishah, to have said, "He who innovates
have said, innovates something
something in
this matter
matter of ours, that is not of
ofours, of it. will hqve
it, will have itit rejected.,,37
rejected. ,,37
It is fundamentally
It is fundamentally due due toto innovations
innovations that that the
the messages
messages
of the
of the earlier
earl ier prophets
prophets werewere distorted
distorted and and the the many
many false
false
religions
religions in in existence
existence todaytoday evolved.
evolved. The The general
general rule
rule to to
3a Soorah
al-An'aam (6):153.
34 Soorah al-An'aam (6):153.
3s
35 collected
Collected by by Ahmad.
Ahmad. an-Nasaa'ee
an-Nasaa'ee andand ad-Daarimee.
ad-Daarimee. and
and authenticated
authenticated
byby Almad
Ahmad Shaakir
Shaakir in
in al-Musnad,
al-Musnad, vol.6.
vol. 6. pp. 89-90. no.4142.
pp. 89-90. no. 4142.
16
36 Sahih
Sahih Muslim,
Muslim, vol.
vol. 2.2, p.
p. 410,
410, no.
no. lgg5.
1885.
,
37 sahih
Sahih At-Bukhari, vol. 3. pp.535-6.
AI-Bukhari. vol.3. no. g6l.
pp. 535-6. no. and SahihMuslim.vol.3.
861. andsahih Muslim, vol. 3.
pp.. 9931.
3 1 .nno.
o . 44266.
266.
 The Purpose
The Purpose of
ofCreation
Creation

follow in in order
order to
to avoid
avoid innovation
innovation in religion is
in religion is that
that all
all
forms of of worship
worship are
are prohibited,
prohibited, except
except those which have
those which have
been specificalty
been specifically prescribed
prescribed by
by God and conveyed to
and conveyed to humans
humans
the true
by the true messengers
messengers ofof God.
God.

The Best
Best of
of Creation
Those who believe
Those believe in One
One Unique God, without partners
Unique God, partners
offspring, and
or offspring, and do righteous
righteous deeds [according to the above-
deeds [according above-
mentioned principles] become
mentionedprinciples]become the
the crown
crown of
of creation~
creation. That is,
is,
although
although humankind
humankindis not the
is not greatest creation
the greatest of Allah,
creation of Allah,
they
they have
have the
the potential
potential to become
become the
the best
best of
of His creation.
creation.
Chapter a/-Bayyinah,
In Chapter statesthis fact
al-Bayyinah,Allah states as follows:
fact as
{~~\ lPu ..:r..u,
-* ~
{tu-,Jl.r?" e ~ Ji ~~\...QJ'
clJri .rtr.Jr-elr\~
r}.r.1J \."..~ u1}
t-iJt iJl}

"Surely,
"Surely, those
thosewho believe and do righteous
believeand deeds
righteous deeds
are
are the
the best
bestof creation."
creation."
Qur'an 98:6
Q u r ' a n98:6

The
The Gravest
GravestSin
Sin
To
To contradict
contradictthethepurpose of one's
purposeof one'screation is then
creationis the
thenthe
'Abdullaah
greatest
greatestevilevil that
that aa human
humanbeing
beingcan commit. 'Abdullaah
cancommit.
reported
reported that
that he
he asked
asked Allah's
Allah's Messenger
Messenger (#) which
(~) whichsin is
sin is
the
the gravest
gravestin in Allah's
Allah's sight
sightand
andhe replied,"To give Allah aa
hereplied, "To give Allah
partner,
partner, eveneventhough
thoughHe He created you."38
createdyou. ,,38 Worshipping others
Worshippingothers
besides
besidesGod, calledshirk
God,called shirkin the only unforgivable
Arabic,isisthe only unforgivable
inArabic,
sin. If
sin. If aahuman
humanbeing
beingdies withoutrepenting
dieswithout hisor
from his
repentingfrom her
or her

" Sahih
38 S o h i hMuslim, ,v o l .I.l . pp.
M u s l i mvol. p p 50·1:
5 0 ' 1 .no. .1 5 6 .
' n o156.
 l-L

fn" Purpose
The P"rp"t, ofCreation
Crtrtt* l_{ u l
"f

sins,Allah
sins, Allah may
mayforgive
forgiveall
alltheir
theirsins exceptshirk.
sinsexcept In this
shirk.In this
regard,Godstated
regard, God statedthe
thefollowing
following in Chapteran-Nisaa
in Chapter ':
an-Nisaq,;

{'"~~
{ti.:"- ir"J~I~
gU'l iJJ~
r.J.;r~tr ~J
pJ <\.!q ~~ 0i ~"'i.1l\
elr.:4iJi ,ii,- I frr iJl}
ir1}
"Surely Allah will
"Surely Allah will not
not forgive
forgive thethe worship
wonshipof of others
others
besidesHim,
besides Him, butbut HeHe forgives
forgivessins
sins lessthan that
less than that
to whomever
to whomever He He wishes."
wishes."
Qur'an.4:48
Qur'an,4:48

worshippingothers
Worshipping otherdbesides
besidesGod
God essentially
essentially involves
invorves
giving the
giving the attributes
anributesof thethe Creator
creator to
to His
His creation.
creation.Each
Eachsect
sect
or religiondoes
or religion doesthis
this in
in their
theirown
own particular
particularway.
way. smallbut
A small but
very vocal group
very vocal group of of people
peopledown
down through
throughthe the ages
ageshave
have
actuallydenied
actually deniedGod'
God's existence.~9 To
s existence.ie justifY their
Tojustifo their rejection
rejection of
of
the creator, they were
the Creator, they were obliged
obliged to make
make the
the illogical
illogical claim
claim that
that
this
this world
world has
has no
no beginning.
beginning. Their
Their claim
claim isis illogical
illogical because
because
all of the observable parts
of the observable parts of of the
the world
world have
have beginnings
beginnings inin

3' Hinavana
Buddhism (400-250
39 Hinayana Buddhism (400-250 BC).BC). the
the earrier
earlier and
and more
more strict
strict of
of the
the two
interpretations
interpretations of of Buddhism
Buddhism whichwhich arose
arose after
after cautama
Gautama Buddha's
Buddha's death.
death.
clearl;'
clearly states
states that
that there
there is
is no
no God.
God. .lainism
Jainism asas svstematizecl by Vardharnana
systematized by' Vardhamana
also
also asserts
asserts thatthat there
there isis no
no God.
God. hut
hut liberated
liberated souls.
souls. accordin_e
according to the
to the
teachings.
teachings. attain
attain immortalitv
immortality and and nmniscience.
omniscience. ln In the
the lgth
19th and
and 20th
20th
centuries
centuries aa number
number of ofEuropean
European philosophers
philosophers proclaimed
proclaimed what
what came
came toto be
be
known
known as the "death
as the "death of God philosoph1,,"
ofGod philosophy."' The
The German philosopher. philipp
Gennan philosopher. Philipp
Mainlander I 84 l - I 876). the
Mainlander ((1841-1876), the Prussian.
Prussian. Friedrich
Friedrich Nietzsche I g44-I 900).
Nietzsche ((1844-1900),
the
the Frenchman.
Frenchman. Jean
Jean Paul Sartre ((1905-1980)
Paul Sarrre 1905-1980)all
all argued
argued the
the non-existence
non-existence
of God. (Dictionary
of God. (Dictionary of Philosophy,and
ofPhilosophy and Religion,
Religion. pp.
pp. 72.
72.262-3.327 and
262-3. 327 and
508-9).
508-9).
 The Purpose of Creation

time, therefore
time, therefore it is
is only reasonable
reasonable to expect sum of
expect the sum of the
parts to also
parts also have
have a beginning.
beginning. ItIt is also
also only logicalto
logical to assume
assume
that whatever
that whatever saused
caused thethe world to come existence could
come into existence
not have
not have been
been a part
part of
ofthe
the world nor could have a beginning
could it have beginning
like the
the world.
world. The
The atheist
atheist assertion
assertion that the world has
that the has no
beginning means
beginning means that
that the
the matter
matter which makes up
which makes up the
the universe
universe
is
is eternal.
etemal.This is is a statementof
statement of shirk, whereby God's attribute
shirk, whereby attribute
of being without~ begi!ming
being without'beginningis is given
given to His creation.
creation. The
The
numbers of
numbers of genuine
genuineatheists have historically
atheistshave always been
historically always been
quite
quite small
smallbecause,
because, in spite
spiteof their
their claims, they instinctively
claims,they instinctively
know
know that
that God
God does
doesexist.
exist. That
That is,
is, in spite decades of
of decades
spite of of
communist
communist indoctrination,
indoctrination,the the majority
majorityof of Russians
Russians andand
Chinese
Chinese continued believein
continuedto believe in God.
God. The Creator
The Almighty Creator
pointed
pointedoutout this phenomenonin Chapter
this phenomenon Chapteran-Naml, saying:
an-I'laml,saying:

{I~J
{,t t ~
Gi!~r
il.tlij!f T8~;-a:.:"
rlnF,it '(J ~
w.iiJ~J}
tlo'i
"And
"And they
they denied
denied (the
[the signs] wrongfully and
signsl wrongfully
arrogantly, though
though within themselvesthey were
within themselves
convinced
convincedof them."
Qur'an 2 7 :14
Q u r ' a n27: 14

To
To atheists
atheistsand life has-no
materialists,life
andmaterialists, purposebeyond
has'nopurpose beyond
the
the fulfillment
fulfillment of
of their desires.Consequently,
theirdesires. Consequently, their desires
their desires
also
also become
becomethe godwhich
thegod which they
they obey andsubmit
obeyand to instead
submitto instead
of
of the
the One
OneTrue
True God. In
God.In Chapter al-Furqaan of the final
Chapteral-Furqaan of the final
revelation,
revelation,Allah
Allah said:
said:
 The Purpose 0/ Creation

{;IJA #, ~
4+- ....11 W,
1 -**'ril
~)}
{i,roia-Jl f
"Have you seen
"Have you seen the
the one
onewho
who takes
takeshis
his desires
desiresasas
hisgod?"
his god?"
Qur'an
Qur'an25 :43
25:43

christians gave
Christians gaveProphet
ProphetJesus
JesusChrist
christ the
theattributes
attributesofof the
the
creator by
Creator by first
first making
making himhim co-eternal with God,40
co-eternalwith God,a' then by
then by
making him
making him aa per.sonality
perponalityofof God
Godwhom
whomtheytheytitled .Godthe
titled 'God the
son.' Hindus,
Son.' Hindus,ononthe
theoilier
otllerhand.
hand,believe
believethat
thatGod
God has
hasbecome
become
man in
man in many
manyages,
ages,by by incarnations
incarnationscalled
cailedavatars,
svatars,and
andthen
then
they divided
they divided God's
God's attributes
attributesbetween
betweenthree gods,Brahma
three gods, Brahma
the creator,
the creator, Vishnu
vishnu the preserverand
the preserver shiva the
and Shiva the destroyer.
destroyer.
Love of
Love of God
shirk also
Shirk alsooccurs
occurswhen
when human beings love,
humanbeings love,trust
trust or fear
fear
the creation
the creation more
more than
than Allah. In chapter
Chapter al-Baqarahof
al-Baqarah of the
last
last revelation,
revelation, God
God said:
said:

nr
~, l-ii'Fh,J-rir.r;i
~ ~~ ,;,JJf ar ~I ;,i
iJ J~ u
~ #,i¥i :;",,~I -H|
,,6t~J}
, , , {l {..1s + '$iit;;
~~f i~~ ~~(,
*There b-ili
"There areare emong
among menmen those
those who
who worship
worship
others
others besides
besides Allah
Allah as
as equals
equals to
to Him.
Him. They
They love
love
them
them asas only
onlyAllah
Allah should
shouldbehe loved. But those
loved. But those who who
believe
believe have
have aa stronger
stronger love
love for
for Allah."
Allah."
QQur'an
u r ' a n22:165
:165
a 0J o h n
40 John lI:
:l& 1 4 ""Ir lIn
1&14 n tthe
h e bbeginning
e g i n n i n gwwas
a s tthe
hew Word.
o r d . aand
n d tthe
hewWord
o r d wwas
as
with
with God.
God. and
and thethe word
Word was God .... 14 And
was God....'t And the
the word
Word became
becameflesh
flesh and
and
dwelt
dweltamong
among us,
us, full ofgrace
full of graceand truth:" (RSV).
and truth:" (RSV).
 The Purpose ofCreation
of Creation

When
When these
theseandandother similar emotions
emotions are
are directed
directed moremore
strongly
strongly to thethe creation, cause human
creation,they cause human beings
beings to disobey
disobey
God in an
God an effort to please
pleaseother
other humans. However, only Allah
humans.However,
deserves
deserves aa complete
completehumanhumanemotional
emotionalcommitment,
commitment, for it is
He alone
He alone who should be loved and feared
should be loved and fearedover over all creation.
creation.
Anas
Anas ibn
ibn Maalik narrated
narratedthat
that the Prophet(*)
the Prophet (~) said, " Whoever
said,"Whoever
possesses
1ao.esesse.r{the following]
fthe followingJ three
three characteristics
character,lsfi'cs has
lrlerstasted thethe
sweetness offaith:
sweetness offaith: he who loves
loves Allah
Allah and
and His
Hk Messenger
above
afuve all else;he
aII else; lw who
wln loves
lovesanother
another human beingfor Allah's
lrumnt beingfor Allah's
sake
salre alone; md he
alone; and he who
wln hates
lntes to return
rettnn to disbeliefafter Allah
disbelief afre, Allah
has
hasrescued
rescuedhim as as he
he hates
hates to bebe thrown into
into a fire. ,,41
afire.'Al
All the
the reasons
reasonsfor which
which humans
humanslovelove other
other humans
humansor
love
love other
other created
createdbeings
beingsare reasonsto love
are reasons love God
God moremore thanthan
His creation.
creation.Humans
Humanslove love life and
and success,
success,and dislike death
and dislike death
and
and failure.
failure. Since
SinceAllah is the ultimate
is the ultimate source
sourceof and
of life and
success,
success,HeHe deserves
deserves the-full
the loveand
full love anddevotion
devotionof of humankind.
humankind.
Humans
Humans also also love thosewho
love those who benefit them and
benefitthem and help them
help them
when they
when they are in need.
are in Sinceall
need.Since all benefit
benefit(7:188)
(7: 188) and help
and help
(3:126)come
(3:126) comefrom from God,
God, He shouldbe
He should lovedabove
be loved aboveall else.
all else.

{lA~
{6}bti ~.11\
r i', ~ iril6~1J}
uu., iJ~ bri}
,
*If you try
"If Allah's blessings,
try to count Allah's will
blessings'you will
be able
not be eble to add [p."
add them up."
Qur'an, l4:34
Qur'an,14:34

41
" Sahih
SahthMuslim. vol. 1,
Muslim, vol. p. 30,
l, p. 30, no. 67.
no. 67.
 fnr Purpose
The nrp"t",il9rt"tt
ofCreation m
-_

However,the
However, thesupreme
supremelove which humans
lovewhich humansshould
shouldfee) feelfor
for
God must
God mustnot
not be
bereduced
reducedto to the
thecommon
comrnondenominator
denominatoroftheir
of their
emotionallove
emotional lovefor for creation.
creation.Just Justas
asthe
the love
lovehumans
humansfeel feelforfor
animalsshould
animals shouldnot notbe bethe
the same
sameas aswhat
whattheythey feel
feel for other
for other
humans,a2
humans,42 thelove
the loveofAllah
ofAllah should
shouldtranscend
transcend the
thelove
lovehumans
humans
feel towards
feel towards eacheach other.
other. HumanHumanlove loveof of God
God should
shouldbe, be,
fundamentally,aa love
fundamentally, lovemanifest
manifestin completeobedience
in complete obedienceto to the
the
laws of God,
laws God,as asstated
statedin in Chapter 'fmraan,"If you Jove
ChapterAal 'Imraan, "ff love
Allah, then follow me me [the
[the Prophet]
Prophetl and and Allah will will love
love
you.'/3 This
yoU.,,43 This isis not
not an
an abstract
abstractconcept,
concept,because
becausehuman
humanlove love
otherhumans
of other humansalso also implies
impliesobedience.
obedience,That That is,
is, if
if aa loved
loved
one requests
one requeststhat
that something
somethingbe be done,
done,humans
humanswill strive striveto
do accordingto
do it according to the
the level
levelof theirtheir love
love for thatperson.
that person.
The love
The love of
of God
God should
shouldalso also be
be expressed
expressedin the the love
love of of
those whom God
thosewhom God loves.
loves.RisIt'is inconceivable
inconceivablethat one
that one who loves
loves
Allah couldhate
Allah could hate those
those whom
whom Allah lovesand
Allah loves and love those whom
lovethose whom
He hates.
hates. The
The Prophet (~)-was quoted
Prophet (*€).was quoted by AbooAboo Umaamah
Umaamah as as
saying,
saying, "He who loves loves for
for Allah
Allah and hates
hates for
for Allah, gives
gives
for Allah
for Allah and withholds
withholds for for Allah, hashas perfected
perfected hisJaith.,Al
his faith. ,,44
consequently,
Consequently, those those whose
whose faithfaith is
is proper
proper will love
love all those
those
who love
love God.
God. In chapter
Chapter Maryam, indicates that
Maryam. Allah indicates that He puts
puts
love in the hearts
love the hearts of of the
the believers
believers for thosethose who are are righteous.
righteous.
12 The huge
42 huge sums
sums ofof money
money currentlv
currently being
being spent
spent protecting
protecting endangered
endangered
species
species of
of animals
animals while
while humans
humans are
are leli
left to
to starve
starve and
and die
die of
of disease
disease is
is
among
among the
the major
major crimes
crimes of
of the
the 20th
20th century.
century.
aJ Qur'an, 3:3L
43 Qur'an, 3:31.
aa collected
44 Collected byby Almad,
Ahmad, at-Tirmithee
at-Tirmi!hee and
and Aboo
Aboo Daawood
Daawood (stman
(Sunan Abu
Abu
Dawud,
Dawud, vol.
vol. 3.
3. p.
p. 1312.
1312, no.3664.
no. 3664. and
and authenticated
authenticated inSaheehsunan
in S-a!lee!l Sunan
Abee
Abee Daawood,
Daawood, vol.3,
vol. 3, p.
p. 886.
886. no.
no. 3915).
3915).
 The Paryose
The Purpose of
ofCreation
Creation

{,;~ ~:,J' ~ ~ lq{"rr

t\i'*lt'#'#h" ~~~, ifuji-*[
i#J i~~ irir
~~l i.r1]
~~}
"Surely, Allah will
"Sunely, Allah will bestow
bestow love [in
[in the hearts of
of
the believens
believers forl
for] those
those who believe
believe and do
righteous deeds."
deeds."
Qur'an l9:96
Qur'an 19:96

Aboo
Aboo Hurayrah
Hurayrahalso related that
alsorelated Messenger (#)
that Allah's Messenger (~)
said *If
regard, "If Allah loves servant He
loves a servant
said the
the following
following in this
this regard,
informs
informs angel
angel Gabriel that He loves So-and-so and tells him
lovesSo-and-so
to
to love him, so
love him, so Gabriel
Gabriel loves
loveshim.
him. Then calls out
ThenGabriel calls
to the inhabitants ofthe heavens: 'Allah loves
'Allah loves So-and-so,
So-and-so,
to the inhabitants of the heavens:
therefore ' heavens love
of the heavens
therefore love
love him.
hint ' So
,Sothe inhabitants ofthe
the inhabitants love
him.
him. Then he is
Thenhe is granted
granted the
the love of thepeople
loveofthe people ofthe
of the eqrth.
eqrth."a5
,,45

Prayers
Prayers
Prayers
Prayersshould
shouldonly
only be
be directed
directedto God alone,for only
God alone,
He
He can
can answer prayers.He
answerprayers. He is
is accessible
accessible as long
as long as
as He is
He is
called upon
calledupon sincerely.
sincerely.

{iJ~; ;1 ~':UI i;.;

{irrai'rilurritriVi ~f
*i ~) rfyJS-
-ti J~ ,io '-$~4-
+tV ~L sr.}
iA ';lJ}
"When
"When 'MyMy servants ask
you [6
sertants askyou [O Mu!!ammad]
Mulammadl abOut about
Me, [tell
[tell them]
them] that I am near' I answer
am near, answer the prayer
evelyone w~o
of everyone w\o calls
calls on Me."
Qur'an 2 :186
Q u r ' a n2: 186

nsSahih
45 AI-Bukhari, vol.
SahilrAl-Bukhari, vol.4. p.291.
4. p. no.43l.
291. no. 431. and SahihMuslim,
andSahih vol.4.
Muslim,vol. p.
4. p.
1385.
1 3 8 5no.
.n o .6373.
6373.
 ThePurpose
The Purposeorcrearion
ofCreation [F|
_l

TheProphet
The Prophet(~)(S) emphasized
emphasized this
thispoint,
point,saying, ,,Ifyou
saying,"If you
ask in prayer, ask-only
ask in prayer, ask only Allah, andif
Allah, and if you
you seek
seekhelp,
help,seek
seekitit
only from
only Allah.'46Thus,
from Allah.,,46 Thus,prayer
prayertoto human
humanbeings
beingsororthrough
through
human*
human- beings,dead
beings, deadoror living,
living,isisaaform
formof of shirk. The one
shirk.The onetoto
whom prayers
whom prayersarearedirected
directedbecomes
becomesan object of worship.
an object of worship.
An-Nu'maan ibn
An-Nu'maan ibnBasheer
Basheerreported
repoftedthat
thatthe prophet(~)
theProphet (*) said,
said,
" supplication is
"Supplication is worship.
worship."a1
,,47

{~\i:.f;4- ~, ~J~ ~ ~;'Jj ~~I ~!}

"Surely, those whom you calion in prayer besides
Allah are servants like yourself."
Qur'an
Qur'an7: 194
7:194

Thus, the
Thus, the Catholic
catholic Christian
christian practice
practice of praying
praying te
to saints
saints
is shirk. If something
is shirk. If something is is lost,
lost. Saint Anthony of
saint Anthony of Thebes
Thebes is is
prayed 48
prayed to in order
order to help
help find
find it.a8
it. st.St. Jude
Jude Thaddaeus
Thaddaeus is thethe
patron
patron saint
saint ofthe impossible
impossible and
and is is prayed
prayed to for intercession
intercession
in incurable
incurable illnesses,
illnesses, unlikely
unlikely marriages
marriages or the like. 49 And
the like.ae
itit used
used to be that when
when someone
someone set set out on a journey,
journey, Saint
Saint
christdpher,
Christdpher, the the patron
patron saint
saint of
of travelers,
travelers, was
was the
the object ofof
prayers
prayers forfor protection.
protection. However,
However, in in 1969
1969 st.
St. christopher
Christopher waswas

a6 'Abbaas
46 Reponed
Reported by by Ibn
Ibn 'Abbaas and and coilected
collected by by at-Tirmithee
at-Tinnithee and
and authenticated
authenticated
ninSabee h sunan
Saf1ee!1 Sunanat-Tirmifute.
at-Tirmi~ee. vol. 2, pp.
vol. 2, pp. 308-9.
308-9. no. no. 2043.
2043. see
See an-Nawawi's
an-Nawawi,s
Forty Hadith,
*r,y Hadith, p. p. 68,
68. no.
no. l9
19 and
and lvlishkat
MishkatA!-Masabih,
AI-Masabih, vol.2vol. 2 ,, p.
p. 1099.
1099.
n'
47 sunan
SunanAbu AbuDnvud,
Dawud, vol.
vol. l,I. p. 387. no.
p. 387. no. 1474
1474and and authenticared
authenticated in insaheeh
Sa!:J.ee!l
Sunan
SunanAbee
Abee Daawood,
Daawood, voI. p. 277. no.
voL I,I, p.277. no. 1312.
1312.
u
The lllorld
"The WorldBook Book Enc.vclopeita,
Encyclopedia, vol. vol. l.1.p.p. 509.
509.
t"
49 tbid..
tbid.. vol. l. p.
vol. I1L p. 146.
146.
 tl--
The Purpose of
of Creation
- ThePurp-lse Creation
I I

unceremoniously sffuck
unceremoniously struck offthe
off the list of saints by papal
of saints papal decree,
decree,
50
after
after it was
was confinned
confirmed that
that he was
hewas fictitious.
fictitious.50 Prayers
Prayers to Mary,
the
the mothc;r
mothgrof Jesus, and
of Jesus, and to the
the angels,
angels, as as on Michaelmas 51
on Michaelmassl
are
are also
also shirk.
• Christians who shun
shirk. Even
Even Christians saint worship
shun saint worship
commit
commit shirk whenever they direct
wheneverthey direct prayers
prayers to Prophet Jesus,
ProphetJesus,
through
throughhim his name.
him or in his name. Likewise,
Likewise, any Muslim who prays
any Muslim prays
to Prophet Muhammad(#)
ProphetMuhammad (~) commits
commitsshirk.
shirk.Consequently,
Consequently,
God
God commanded
commandedthe Prophet(H)
the Prophet (~) to inform
inform hishis followers
followers as
as
follows
follows in Chapter
Chapteral-A 'raaf
al-A'raaf.

~i
F-Jti c..5 JIJ ~\
c-s YJ lrr Sou. rr ~~
rll L. 1! I~
rr"a ~J W,j ~ cUi
I:lr.iiu.,.tlJ ~i f~ ;0)
Ji}
{oF' ~
{So.,..J' #br L. J ~, ~ ..:;.; j5.:-~ =*Jt
;*Jt t,.:;*-f ~\
"Say 'I have no power
"Say [0[O Muhammad):
Muhammadl: 'I power to bringbring
good or avert harm
harm even
even from
from myself, except if if
Allah
Allah wills. If
If I had knowledge
knowledge ofof the unse~n,
unseen, I
would
would surely
surely have accumulated
accumulated only
only good and no
evil would
would have befallen me."
me."
Qur'an
Q u r ' a n 7:
7 :188
188

s The
50 TheWorld
WorldBook
Book Encyclopedia. vol. 3.
Encyclopedia.vol. 417
p. 417.
3. p.
'tt
51 The
The Christian
Christian feast
t'eastof
of St.
St. Michael
Michael the Archangel.celebrated
the Archangel. in the
celebratedin the
western
westernchurches
churcheson September
on September 29 and
29 andinin the
the Eastern (Orthodox)Church
Eastern(Orthodox) Church
on
on November
November 8.
8. In
In the
the Roman
Roman Catholic
Catholic Church,
Church, it
it istheFeastof
is SS.
the Feast of S5.
Michael,
Michael. Gabriel, archangels:
Raphael.archangels:
and Raphael,
Gabriel. and in the
in the Anglican
AnglicanChurch, its
Church,its
proper
proper name
name isis the Feastof
the Feast of 51. Michael and
St. Michael and All
All Angels (The New
Angels (The New
Encyclopaedia
EncyclopaediaBritannica, vol. 8.
Britannica, vol. p. 95).
8. p. 95)
 The Purposeof creotion
_The Purpose ofCreation |E|
-

Aboo Hurayrah
Aboo Hurayrahreported
reportedthat
thatwhen
whenthe verse"Warn
theverse ..Warn
your nearest
your nearest relatives,"S2
relativesr"s2waswasrevealed
revealedto tothe prophet,he
theProphet, he
said the
said the following
following to to his
hisrelatives:
relatives:"0,,Opeople
peopleofQuraysh,
of eurrysh,
securedeliveranc~
secure deliverancefrom AIIah [by
from Allah [by doing
doinggood
gooddeeds],
deedsJ,for for II
cannot avail
cannot availyou
you at
st all
all against
againstA/lah. .. O Faatimah,
Allah...o Faatimah,daughter
daughter
of Mullammad,
of Mufiammad,ask askmemewhatever
whateveryouyou wish
wish [in
[in this
thislife],
lifeJ, but
but
II have
havenothing
nothing which
which can qvail you against
can avail Allah.
against Allah.,,53,,53

sr
52 Soorah ash-Shooraa (ZG):214.
Soorah ash-Shooraa (26):214.
st sahih
Al-Bukhari,
53 Sahih A/-Bukhari, vol. vol. 4.
4. pp
pp. 47g-9.
478-9. nos.
nos. 727 & 728. and
727&.7zg. Sahih Muslim,
andsahih Muslim,
vvol.
o l . l l.
. pp.. 1136.
3 6 .nno.
o . 4402.
02.
 The Purposeof
ThePurpose Creation
ol Creation

God Create
Why Did God Create
on Earth?
Mankind on Earth?
HEQUESTION
HE CONCERNINC
QLJESTION
CONCERNING THEPURPOSE
THE PURPOSEOFmankind's
OF mankind's

T creation may
creation
which they
which
God create
God
may be

humanbeings
createhuman
be expanded
live.The
they live.
expandedto include
questionwould
Thequestion
beingsin
includethe

this world?"
in this world?" Again,
the world in
thenbe,
wouldthen be,"Why did
Again,the
in
did
the answer
answer
to this questioncan
this question caneasily
easilybebe found
found in the
the final
final revelation,
revelation,
Chapters a/-Mu/k
Chapters al-Mulk and
anda/-Kahf:
al-Kahf,

pl J ~
.J--A )t-..r ~i
iJ-?i ~to!.i.~~
Fi,f*; i'5rJr ~"J' JU-
j'".J1 JJ.)J*lt .lt ,=,JJI}
gilrl

tJ,#I.it.,;,.!1
{.r.rtoJrr_-fl
"fIt
"[It is He]
IIel who created
created death and life to testwhich
test which
of you is
is best
best conduct; and He is
in conduct; is the Mighty,
Mighty, the
Forgiving."
Forgiving."
Qur'an
Qur'an 67:2
67:2

{y* ~i
{'}\.w g,..ri ~i
a+-i~#
ert+l ~
SJ40tj JPi~' Js- ~
b~t l'" Ul}
u!}
"r; .r.r!r sle
"Surely I5o have
"surely .54 havecreated
createdall that
thirt is
is on
on earth
earth as
ss its
its
ornaments that I may
ornaments testwhich
mev test which of them
them is
is best
best
in conduct.tt
in conduct."
Qur'an
Q u r' a n 18:7
l8:7

3r r'1y*"
54 "We" in the
the originat
original Arabic majestic 'we,'
Arabic is the majestic 'we,' refening
referring to God.
God.
 fhe Purpose
The P"rposeofCreation
"f
Crrtlly Isol
__r

Thus, the
Thus, purposefor
the purpose for the
the creation
creationof of human
humanbeings
beingsin in
55
this world
this world is is to
to test
testtheir
their conduct.
conduct.st This
Thir world
world ofof life
life and
and
death, wealthand
death,wealth poveny,sickness
and poverty, sicknessandand health,
health,was
wascreated
created
to sift out
to sift out the the righteous
righteoussoulssoulsfrom
from the
the evil
evil souls.
souls.Human
Human
conductin
conduct in this
this world
world isis the
the measure
measureof faith.
faith.
lt should
It shouldbe benoted,
noted,however,
however,that
thatthe
thetests
testsof conduct
conductare are
not to
not to inform
inform God abouthumankind,
God about humankind,for for He
He knew
kneweverything
everything
there was
there wastoto know
know about
aboutthem beforeHe
thembefore He created
createdthem.
them.The The
tests serve
tests serve to to confirm
confirm on on the
the Day
Day of Judgment
Judgmentthatthat those
those
going to
going to hell
hell deserve
deserveit and
andthose going to
thosegoing to paradise
paradiseonly
only got
got
there
there by by God's grace.
God's grace. WithWith regard
regardto human
humanbeings
beingsin in this
this
life, the
life, thetest
testofconduct,serves
of conduct;erves two basic
two purposes:
basicpurposes: one,
one,human
human
spiritualgrowth,
spiritual growth,and andthe
the other, punishmentor reward.
other,punishment reward.

Spiritual Growth
The tests
The testsof
of this
this world are
are primarily for the the spiritual
spiritual
growth
growth of of human
human beings.
beings. Just
Just as
as an
an intense
intense fire separates
separates
pure gold
pure gold from the rough
from the ore to which
rough ore which it isis bound
bound inin nature,
nature,
tests purifo
tests purify the
the moral
moral character
character of of the
the believers.
believers. They
They force
force
the
the believers
believers to choose
choose their
their higher
higher spiritual
spiritual qualities
qualities over
over
their lower
their lower desires.
desires. Although
Although not not every
every test is passed,
test is passed, even
even
in failure
failure the
the believer
believer grows
grows by learning
learning spiritual
spiritual lessons
lessons to
help
help him
him or her
her in future
future tests.
tests.

ss See
55 See also
also Chapter
Chapter Hood (11):7.
Hood (l l):7
 The Purpose ofCreation
of Creation

Generosity
Generosity and Contentment
Contentment
For example,
example, in all humanhuman societies the qualities
societies the qualities of
of
generosity
generosity and
and contentment
contentmentare are considered among the most
consideredamong most
noble
noble characteristics.
characteristics.However, neither of
However, neither these traits can
of these can
dev.elop
developifeveryone
ifeveryonehashasthe
the same
sameamount
amountofwealth. Generosity
of wealth.Generosity
can 0!1ly
can o$y bebe acqui~ed
acquired when when the- human soul-aware
the'human soul-aware that that
sharing
sharing with the needy
the needy is is good-struggles against its desire
against desire
to hoard
hoard its
its possessions.
possessions. On the
the other hand, contentment
other hand, contentment is
produced
produced when
when thethe soul
soul defeats
defeatsthe
the evils
evils of and greed.
envy and
of enry greed.
The
The Creator
Creatorwisely
wisely sets
setsthe
the stage
stagefor these
thesespiritual
spiritual struggles
struggles
by
by unequally
unequallydistributing wealth in
distributingwealth in this world. In
this world. ln Chapter
Chapter
an-Nab.l of the final revelation,
an-Nahl the final revelation, Allah says:
says:

{O;rl'J
{Jj)\ *dr .;s- ~
d ~ rfut }., il'r}
j...Gi .i»IJ}
*Allah has
"Allah has favored some
some of 'you over others in
of 'you
gugtenance.tt
sustenance."
Qur'an
Q u r ' a n16:71
l6:71

Greed
Greed -and
and stinginess
stinginess are corrupt forms
are corrupt forms of the natural
the natural
human
human desire
desire to possess.The
to possess. The bel
believers
ievers are informed by
are informed
revelation
revelation that wealth is
that wealth is aa trust givento humankind
tnlst given humankindby God.
God.
Possessions
Possessionsexistexist in the beforehumans
the world before humansareare born and
born and
remain
remain there
thereafter
after they
they die. If wealth
die. If wealth isis used accordingto
usedaccording
divine
divine instructions,
instructions, it benefits who have
thosewho
benefitsthose have it in both
in both
worlds.
worlds. But is used
But if it is selfishly,it becomes
usedselfishly, cursein this
becomesaa curse this
life
life and
andaa cause
causefor punishmentin
for punishment the next.
in the next.In
In Chapter
Chapteral-a/-
Anfaal of the
Anfaal the final
final revelation,
revelation.God warns
God warns thethe believers to
believers
bewareof the
beware the dangers wealthand
dangersof wealth children:
and children:
 The
T h ePurpose
P u r p o s ofCreation
e
of Creation fsTt
..

{es ~.:l':iJiJ
{4.o:oi frf:ir ~,.,.i
r.(lryi wi \~'J}
rytrrl}
(Know
"Know that your wealth andend children are
sre aI test."
Qur'an
Qur'an 8:28
8:28

God further
God warns the
further warns the believers
believers in
in Chapter' al-
Chapter.a/-
Munaafiqoon not
MUlJaafiqoon no{ to let
let their
their desire
desirefor wealth
wealth and children
and children
divert
divert them
them from
from obedience this is
obedienceto Him, for this is the
the test
test of
of
possessions.
possessions.

{lrr .;r~
{.i»\ fi ~if ~.:l':iJi
fsIli ':iJfr ~,.,.i
rr(Jrr.i~
Fftb ~f \.f"I~ loft.ill ~i~}
rj:,h;*.rlr qirr}
"0 believers!Do not allow your
"O believers! yourwealth
wealth and children
divert you from the remembrance of
to divert of Allah."
Allah."
Qur'an 63:9
Qur'an63:9

{~I.i~
{fuu l.J~~
t sr f*J ~~~.:l~
.rra:: p Jj~~)J}
otg(r" Cl:}
'6He raised
"He raised some of you over others in rank
some of rank to test
granted you."
with what He granted
you with
Qur'an
Q 6::165
u r ' a n6 165

The desire
The desireto accumulate
accumulate wealth
wealth cannot
cannot be be satisfied
satisfied in
this life.
this The more
life. The more human
human beings
beings have,
have, the
the more
more they
they want.
want.
(~) stated, "If man
Prophet (S)
The Prophet stated, "If a man had a valley ofgald.
of he
gald, he
would desire
desire another, for nothing u,ill
another, for willfill
fill his
his mouth but the
dirt his graveJ.
[of his
dirt [of grave]. And
And Allah
Allah forgives
forgives whoever sincerely
sincerely
repents."56
repents.,,56 This negative
negative desire
desire can
can only be be overcome
overcome by

# SahihAl-Bukhari, vol. pp.

56 Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 8, pp. 297-8. no. 447.
297-8. no. 447.
 ThePurpose
The Purposeof
of Creation
Creation

giving ofof one's wealth charitably.

one's wealth charitably.Thus,
Thus, Allah commanded
commanded
the prophetsto collect
the prophets collect charity
charity from the
the more
more wealthy
wealthy among
among
their followers
followers for distribution
distribution among
amongthe poor.
the poor.

{g ~
{If.t F.{5-ilj1J ~~ $.r.p ~'Jo"i
ercl,r 4j..L..P d'r.f ~
i/ ~}
it}
"Take
"Take charity
charity from their purify them
their wealth to purify
and make grow."
mrke them grow."
Qur'an
Q u r ' a n9:
9 :103
103

Charity
Charity was
was institutionalized
institutionalizedin in Islam
Islamfrom
from its
its inception
inception
57
under
under the name,Zakaah
the Arabic name, (compulsory
Zalcsahsi(compulsory charity).
charity). Every
Every
believer
believer with surplus
surpluswealth
wealth is
is obliged give aa set
obligedto give portion
set portion
of
of it to the needyannually
the needy annuallyasas an
an act
act of worship.To withhold
of worship.
Zakaah
Zakaah is is considered
consideredaa major
major sin.
sin. Giving
Giving this
this charity
charity helps
helps
the
the believers
believersto realize
realizethat wealth is
that their wealth is not
not their own to
do
do with as as they please.It teaches
they please. teachesthemthem that
that they
they are
are only
temporary
temporary custodians
custodiansof
of this wealthwho must
this wealth mustgive portion
give aa portion
of
of it to those
thosewho
who are
are destitute.
destitute.Consequently,
Consequently, God
God describes
describes
true
true believers
believersasasthose who recognize
thosewho recognizethe right of
the right of the
the needy
needy
toa portionof their
to a portion wealth.
their wealth.

{~J~'J jJW ~
{t.rrt J''1 JiiJJ o' ~'yi
*ltr.i JJ}*tr}
"And
"And in their
their wealth the beggars
heggars and needy
needy have
have
aa right."
right."
Qur'an
Q u r ' a n51:19
5l:19

57 Literally
57 Literallyzakaah means 'purification' and
zakaahmeans'purification' 'growth'.
and'growth'
 The Purpose ofCreation
The of Creotion

However,giving
However, giving in
in charity
charityshould
shouldbe bedone
donesincerely
sincerelyfor
the pleasureof God,
the pleasure God, and
and not
not for show
showor or control
control of others.
others.
The reward
The rewardfor
for charity
charityis
is completely
completelylost
lost when
when it is is done
donefor
worldly gains.
worldly gains. Allah
Allah addresses
addressesthis reality in
this reality in Chapter
Chapteral-
a/-
Baqarah as
Baqarah follows:
asfollows:

{',",~~IJ
{'.rrlrj ~4
Cr.tU~\iJ...p
n*UJ.r I~l}le+i ~1 Ip\,.
l.;rb ~.lh
,}riJl \.tt~}
Qlr-}
"0 believers, do not destroy your
"O believers, your acts
acts of
of charity
charity
generosity and
by reminders of your generosity and by injury."
injury."
Qur'an
Qur'an2:264
2:254

Craving for wealth

Craving wealth is
is further
further enhanced
enhancedby envy.
envy.
Consequently,God
Consequently, God also
also instructed
instructedusus not
not to desire
desirewhat
what He
He
has given others.
has given others.God
God addresses
addressesthis issuein Chapter
this issue Chaptetan-
Nisaa'of
Nisaa' the final
of the final revelation
revelationas
as follows:
follows:

{~js-
{'p. Jt ~ p.fu4 '4~'
or.irrj..:Ai r" I~
Jtai l.a r9r.s~J}
I;}
"Do not wish for
"Do for that
that by which Allah
Allah hashas favored
some of you over others."
some of others.tt
Qur'an 4:32
Qur'an4:32

The
The Prophet (~) reiterated
Prophet (4E)reiterated this
this divine
divine piece
piece of
of advice,
advice,
saying, "Look to those
saying, lessfortunate
those less fortunate than
than you,
you, and do not
look to those above you; it is betterfor you,
those above you, in order that you
do not denywhat
do deny what Allah has
has blessed
blessed you When human
with. ,,58 When
vou v'ith."58 human

t r S a h i h A l - B u k h a r vi ,o l . 8 , p . 3 2 8 .
58 Sahih Al-Bukhari. vol. 8. p. 328. n o . 497.
no. a n dSahih
4 9 7 .and Muslim.
S a h i hM o l . 4.
u s l i m ,vvol. 4 . pp..
I1530.
530.no.
no. 7070.
7070.
 The Purpose of Creation

beings focus
beings focus their attention those who have
attention on those more wealth
have more wealth
than
than they do,
do, envy begins
begins to develop.
develop. They usually
usually feel
feel and
and
express that God has
express has been them. Ultimately, they
been unfair to them. they
may commit
may commit many many sinssins to fulfill desire for what others
fulfill their desire others
have. Instead,
have. Instead, IslamIslam advises them to consider
advises them those less
consider those less
fortunate than
fortunate than themselves.
themselves. No matter matter how difficult difficult
circumsta;nces
circumstances may may be,be, there
there areare always others in more
always others more
difficult
diffrcult situations.
sinrations. Consequently,
Consequently, reflecting
reflecting on others
others less
less
fortunate reminds human
fo.rtunatereminds hu.man beings
beings of m~ny bounties
the many
of the bounties with
which God
which has blessed
God has them. It is
blessed them. is in this spiritualstruggle
this spiritual struggle
of
of avoiding
avoiding envy envy that
that the
the higher quality of
higher quality of contentment
contentment
develops.
develops. Furthermore,
Furthermore, according
accordingto the teachingsof
the teachings the
of the
prophets,
prophets,material possessions
materialpossessions do constitutethe
do not constitute the real wealth
real wealth
of
of this
this world.
world. AbooAboo Hurayrah quotedthe
Hurayrahquoted the last Messenger(~)
lastMessenger (d*)
as saying, "Wealth
as saying, "F[/'ealth is not [measured]
[measuredJ in property,
property, but in
contentment.
contentment."59 ,,59

Being
Being content
contentdoesdoesnptnpt mean that-human
meanthat human beings should
beingsshould
acceet whatever circumstance
accepJwhatevercircumstance they
they find themselves
themselves, in
in ~nd not
4nd not
t y to
try to better
betterthemseJves.
themselves.It meansmeansthat,
that,after strivingio
after striving to do one's
do one's
best
bestto achieve
achieveaa good goodstandard
standardof living, one should
living, one accept
shouldaccept
what
what Allah destines
destineswith with aa clear
clearconscience.
conscience. is only
It is only byby
leaving
leavingone's affairsin
one'saffairs in the
thehands
handsofGod,
ofGod,afteraftermakingan effo4
making an effort,
that
that thethe hearts
heartsfind rest rest from
from the desiresfor the
the desires pleasures
the pleasures
of this
this world.
world. In In this
this regard,
regard,GodGod states
statesin Chapterar-Ra'd
in Chapter
of the
the final
final revelation:
revelation:

59 Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 8. p. 304, no. 453,

 fhe Purpose
Tht P"rprt" of
rf Creation
Crttttu [s6f
_t

{+ptt ~
{y.#JI ,jr"l" ~I ~~ ~f}
Ar'f* ft}
"Indeed, itit is
"Indeed, is in
in the
the remem
remembrance
brance of
of Allah
Allah that
that
heefts find
hearts find rest."
rest."
Qur'an
Q u r ' a n13:28
l3:28

Calamities
Calamities
Tests of this
Tests this life
life also
alsocome
comeinin the
thefonn .misfortune'
form of 'misfortune"
and calamities
and calamitieswhich
which contribute
contributeto
to the
the spiritual
spiritualgrowth
growthof thethe
true believers andpurify
true believers and themof sin.
furiff them sin.Conversely,
conversely,life's
life's tests
tests
misfortuneremind
of misfortune reminderrant
errantbelievers
believersto to return
returnto the
the correct
correct
path, andthey
path, and they punish
punishdisbelievers
disbelieversin
in this
this life before
beforethe
the next.
next.

Patience
Patience
calamities are
Calamities are thethe foundatio'
'foundation on on which
which thethe higher
higher
spiritualquality
spiritual of patience
quality of patience is developed.consequently,
is developed. Consequently, it is is
not surprising
surprising to find that that the
the righteo-us
righteous areare subject
subject to many
many
trage~ies and
tragedies difficultiesin
and-difficulties In their lives~ sa'd
tbeir lives. Sa'd reponedthat
reported.that hehe
asked theProphet(*)
asked the Prophet (:~) whoamong
who among mankind
mankind hadhad the
the most
mosttrials,
trials,
and
and hehe replied,
replied, "The prophets,
prophets, Ihenthen those
those most
most like them
them
and then those
then those most like then. them. Man is tested
tested according to
the level
level of
ofhis faith. IfIfhis faith
his faith. faith is firm,
firm. his trials
trials increase
in severity, and ifif there is weakness
severity, and weakness in his hisfaith,
faith, he u,ill
will be
tried
tried accordingly."oo
accordingly. ,,60
True patience
True patience is the product
is the product of of complete
complete trust
trust in
in God
God at
at
the
the time
time of
ofcalamity.
calamity. Trust
Trust in
in one's
one's Lord
Lord isis an
an important
important aspect
aspect
o
60 cof lectedby
Collected at~Tirmi!hee and
by at-Tirmithee and Ibn M~jah and
Ibn Maaiah and authenticated
authenticated in (iaheeb.
in saheeh
Sunan
Sunan at-Tirmilhee.
at- Tirmi!.b.ee. vol. 2. p.
vol. 2. p. 286.
286. no.
no. 1956.
1956.
 The
The Purpose
Parpose ofCreation
of Creation

worshipand
of worship
of and the naturalconsequence
the natural consequence real faith.
of real faith. Since
Since
belief in Allah means acceptingthat
meansaccepting nothingtakes
that nothing placein
takesplace in
the universe
the withoutHis
universewithout permission,
His permission, thenonly
then only Allah deserves
Allah deserves
humankind's completetrust.
humankind'scomplete trust.For,
For.it is
is only
only God's promisethat
God'spromise that
is never
is neverbroken. matterhow
broken.No matter righteousaa human
how righteous humanbeing
beingmay
may
be,
be, he she is
he or she is capable error.Humans
capableof error. Humanswill always let
always let
each other down
each other down due
due to their nature.Consequently,
erring nature.
their erring Consequently,
quotesProphet
Allalr quotes
Allah ProphetJacob
Jacobinin Chapter Yoosufas saying:
ChapterYoosufas saying:
I

{4Jys'~'
{o_rtEr"l, JS' ~~).;$
+J*r .:5j y ~
J51,a)o 4r ~ )l ~\
ii} "ll tl}
r}G.Jr4Jl}
"The decision
decisionrests
restsonly with Allah. I put my trust
in Him alone,
alone,and
and all who trust should
should trust only
in Him."
Qur'an
Qur'an ]2:67
12:67

Allah further
Allah furtherassures humankindthat
assureshumankind if they
that if put their
they put their
complete in Him,
trustin
completetrust Him, He be sufficient
He will be for them
sufficientfor in their
themin their
most trying times.
mosttrying times.

{~
{..,.--~
r# ~\
*' Js- ,F ~~
,F JS" nrl1}J}
"Whoever
"\ilhoeyer trusts
trusts in Allah,
Allah. then
then He will
will suffice
suffice him."
Qur'an 65:3
Q u r ' a u65:3

Trust in
Trust in God
God is embodiedin
is embodied in the firm belief
the firm beliefthat Allah
thatAllah
alone
aloneknows rvhatis
knowswhat is best for humankind;
bestfor hurnankind; firm belief
firm beliefthat what
thatwhat
humans may
humans perceiveas
may perceive as being goodfor
beinggood for them
them may not, in
may not, in
the
the long
long run,
run,be goodfor
be good for them.
them.As Allah said
As Allah saidin
in Chapter
Chapter
al-Baqarah:
al-Baqarah.
 lrnl
fn" Purpose
The Prrp"tt of Creation
Crr"tb,
"f u

JsJ ~,~
JAJ r)i ~J
U=$l1,.rr,i0i rt'S ~
F ~ pf ~
,- JAJ l.:rr lJAP .li ~J}
lJ^F 0i .r.-s;]
{oJ ~ ~X ~iJ
{liyllr; p.ir ~ ~'J ~
d*,6,'-, $J ~
,-
"Perhaps you may
"Perhaps you may dislike
dislike something
somethingand
and it is
is good
good
you, and
for you, you may
and you may like
like something
somethingand
and it is
is bad
bad
you. Allah knows
for you. knows and you
and you do
do not."
Qur'an
Qur'an2:216
2:216

The trials
The trials by
by which
which Allah
Allah tests
tests human
human beings
beingsareare
specifically tailored to
specifically tailored to their
their own individual needs
own individual needsandand
circumstances.
circumstances. God creates
God createstrials
trials for each personaccording
eachperson according
to their abilities
to their abilities inin order
orderto
to bring
bring out the best
out the bestinin them.
them.It
would be
would be unfair
unfair and
and unjust
unjustfor human
humanbeings10
beingsto be be tried
tried
beyondtheir
beyond theircapacities
capacities andthen
and thenbe punishedfor
bepunished for their failures.
their failures.
Consequently,God
Consequently, God emphasizes
emphasizes in many
in manyverses
versesof thethe final
final
revelation that
revelation that He is not
He is not unfair
unfair to anyone.
anyone.For
For example,
example,He He
says in Chapter
says Chapteral-Kahf:
al-Kahf:

{\.i:l-i ~) dl{
{t.r-i eLtr ~ T.,}
'lJ}
"And your
"And your Lord
Lord does
does not oppress
oppress anyone."
Qur'an 18:49
Qur'an I 8:49

If
If Allah isis truly just, it means
means that
that the
the trials
trials human
human beings
beings
face
face in this
this life are
are not beyond
beyond their ability to handle:
handle: In order
order
to reassure
reassure humankind,
humankind, Allah statesstates this
this fact
fact repeatedly
repeatedly in
the Qur'an. An example
the example of of His reassurance
reassurance may
may bebe found
found in
the second chapter, entitled
the second chapter, entitled al-Baqarah:
al-Baqarah:
 The Purpose
htrpose ofCreation
of Creotion

{~J~!~~'~~}
{td.-,r 1! L*ii ilr .,,,il5if}
*Allah
"Allah does
doesnot burden aa soul beyond
beyond its capacity."
capacity.'
Qur'an
Qur'an 2:286
2:286

Furthermore,the
Furthermore, promisesthat
the Almighty promises that the
the difficult
situations which humans
situationswhich humans face
face in
in life will not
not be
be without
without
intervalsof rest.
intervals rest.If
If trials werecontinuous
trialswere continuousthey would certainly
theywould certainly
become unbearable.
become unbearable.Consequently.
Consequently"every
everytest
test is
is followed by aa
followed by
perid of relief,
period relief,asAllah emphaticallystates
as Allah emphatically states twice
twice in Chapter
in Chapter
al-Inshiraah:
al-Inshiraaft:

{,)"'""'! -rjt ~
{'r-,- .,,-all 0! I)"'""'!
g. iJ! ,..-rjt ~
rr-r- .,,-al' \5}
g. iJilp}
*For surely with
"For with difficulty
difficulty comes
comes [a
[a period of]
ofl
with the difficulty
ense. Surely with
ease. difficulty comes
comes [another
[another
period of]
o{f ease."
ease."
Qur'an
Qur'an 94:5-6
94:5-6

Despair
Despair
It is
is due thisreality
dueto this realitythat suicideis
that suicide prohibited
explicitlyprohibited
is explicitly
in Islam.
in Chapteran-Nisaa
saysin Chapter
Islam.Allah says an-Nisaa': ':

{~) ~ iJlS"~,
{r.*.r,5 Ol~i
ir'E.rr iJ! lrLa ~J}
.lfuti '# It}
yourselves,for surely
"Do not kill yourselves, surely Allah is merciful
with you."
Qur'an 4:29
Qur'an 4:29
 Tn,Purpose
The P"rprt, ofCreation
"f
Crr*i l?ol
. t
I tt I lr

Those who
Those who commit
commitsuicide
suicideare
arebasically
basicallysaying
sayingthat that
God has
God has burdened
burdenedthemthembeyond
beyondtheir capacity. They falsely
their capacity.They falsely
accuse the
accuse theCreator
creatorof of treating
treatingthem
themunfairly
unfairlyandandthereby
therebyfall fall
into aacorrupt
into corruptstate
stateofof disbelief.
disbelief.Due
Dueto
totheir
theirrejection
rejectionof faith,
of faith,
their thoughts
their thoughtsabout
aboutGodGodbecome
becomeevil
evil and
andthey
theyfall
fall into
intoutter
uffer
despair."Life,"
despair. "Life," asas they
they often
oftensay, ,.isso
say,"is sounfair
unfairthatthat itit isis
pointlessto
pointless go on
to go on living."
living."

{lJ J)lS:J 1 ~fl4lt

{ir1j$r jill ~1
T! ~\ d/ J'~
3;.r .:r
rlr C)J -,,,! ~1 ~t}
4j!}
only aa disbelieving
"Surely only disbelieving people
people despair
despair of
mercy."
Allah's mercy."
Qur'an
Q u r ' a n 12:87
12:87

Consequently,God
Consequently, God has
hasinformed
informedhumankind
humankindthat thatthe
the
punishment
punishment for those
those who
who harbor
harbor evi
evilI thoughts
thoughts about
about Him is
is
the eternal torment
the eternal tonnent of
of hell. In Chapter
hell. In al-Fat-lJ. Attah
chapteral-Fat-h Allah says:
says:

~~\ .rtfriJr;
;pU--bJt ~15"."..w'J a{rijr1
~ ;oWlJ .ttriu.Jr;
~~L:..J\J i^rrt;*Jt
~L:..JI t;j--f
Y~J}}
~J Fts-lt
g+-.tl \,e )G eirr~J ,~r-l'
k\ '--ar-l o;T~ ,r6J*
pJr i;Tl ~ ,J-Jt
~r-l\ Ob
~ Irr,
k4
{\~~LJ~~~iJ
{'.0*, *:tL; F-fi .r4J.r*i-1
"That He
"That He may
may punish
punish the
the hypocrites,
hypocrites, menmen and
and
women,
women, and
and thethe idolaters,
idolaters, men
men and
and women,
women, whowho
harbor
harbor evil
evil thoughts
thoughts about
about Allah.
Allah. An
An evil
evil torment
torment
will
will encompass
encompass them,
them, forAllah
for Allah is
is angry
angry with
with them
them
and
and curses
curses them.
them. AndAnd HeHe has
has prepared
prepared hell
hell for
for
them;
them; an
an evil
evil end."
end."
Qur'an 48:6
Qur'an 48:6
 fn, Purpose
The P"rprt"ofCreation
rt Cr"ftt tg!

Hope
Hope
On the
On theother
otherhand,
hand,thethedivine promisesofjustice
divinepromises ofjustice and and
mercy fill
mercy fill the
the believers
believerswith
with the
the confidence
confidencenecessary
necessary to
to
patientlyface
patiently facethe
thedifficulties
difficultiesof
of this Iife.Consequently,
thislife. Consequently, hope
hope
in the
in the mercy
mercyof of God
God isis an
anessential
essentialpart
partofof faith.
faith.Those
Thosewho who
believe in
believe in Allah
Allah and patientlystrive
andpatiently strivetoto do whatis
do what is right
right have
have
the right
the right to hopefor
to hope for His
His mercy,
mercy,for
for He
He has
haspromised
promisedto to help
help
and support
and supportthose
thosewho
who ate palient:
arepatient:
{~!~\ t- ~I~!
{+-r,riol'gil' \ ~~IJ?~ \Jo~-!';. " \;-~ ~~I ~"G}
athsl ,Jarjgaiti#;d,*+rr ft{ U}
"0 believers, seek
"O believers, seek help
help in patience
patience and
and prayer.
is with those
Truly, Allah is thosewho are
are patient."
Qur'an
Qur'an 2: 153
2:153
'cLfri
~~f ~, 1~ J IJJA~J IJf-Le ~~'J
J"'-. ;\rt"+':itr6 l;-~ ~~\
,t_liiro ++rr~!}
Lt}
{~~ ~~ ~\J~'
{?'r"rP ~~ o;t;-
hirlr i*;1 ~~~
"Surely those
"Surely those who believed,
believed, emigrated and strove
for
for the sake
sake of
of Allah,
Allah, hopefor
hope for Allah,s
Allah's mercy,
mercy, for
Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most-Merciful."
Most-Merciful."
Qur'an 2:218
Qur'an 2:218

Of course, paradise
Of course, paradise is the reward p~tience based
reward for patience based
on sincere
sincere beliefin God. God informs
God. God informs the
the believers
believers of
of their
their
reward as follows:
reward as foHows:

~! U!J ~ 11
4yL-ir11a "^;=";'#.*,iii1~~I ~-y:~1 ?-iJ}
l)~ ~:_~a~ ~~l H! ;;jJr
U! ijd ,s+..6tl'l
{~~\~
{o'*..(,
 The Purpose ofCreation

""...so
...so announce [of paradise]
announce glad tidings [of paradise] to those
those
those who, when afllicted
who are patient; those afflicted with
with
say: Truly
calamity, say: Truly we belong
belong to Allah
Allah and to
Him
Him we will
will return."
return."
Qur'an
Q u ' a n 2:
2 :155-6
155-6

Patience
Patienceis also based on
also based on the
the belief that whateverbefalls
that whatever befalls
mankind is
mankind is fundamentally
fundamentallyaa consequence
consequence of
of their own evil
61
deeds.6rGod
deeds. God reminds
remindshumankind
humankindof of this reality in Chapter
this reality Chapter
ash-Shooraa
ash-Shooraaof the final revelation,
ofthe saying:
reveiation,saying:

~ ~ iJ"'tJ~, z# W u-ry
-~ .. ' i ~.,' .~ ('.~f
{{-g,r rtr6{i ~ ~
. V: ~".
#
,.~, a r"-i;;ai
~
<-:w,f \:I'}
J
"Whatever
"Whatever befalls you is at result
.esult of
of what your
what your
hands
hands have
have earned.
earned. And He pardons much."
Qur'an
Qur'an 42:30
42:30

The
The fact
fact is,
is, God
God has
hasexcused
excusedhumans
humansfor much their
muchof their
evil.
evil. Were
WereHe punishthem
to punish
Heto themstrictly
strictlyaccording
accordingto their deeds,
their deeds,
they
they and
andall
all on
on earth would be
earthwould destroyed.God
be destroyed. addresses
God addresses this
this
issuein
issue in Chapter
ChapterFaa[ir
Faagiras
asfollows:
follows:

4ii;..
{t{,t
" U \A
~ 6}h.~i4 IG ~r::
.Jr~
~ i .J,(- ~' \!}l 1»\
& li.r 6iF ~.tJ'
·x }
ju;t3i-'ijl
t u,,t' itt ' .Jt.J'J
1o.\,.J

"And
"And ifif Allah
Allih were to punish -people
people for what
they earned,
elrned, He would not leave
leave aa living creature
on
on the face
face of the
the earth."
earth.t'
Qur'an
Qur'an 35:45
35:45
6r In fact.
61 fact. all
all of the
the corruption
corruptionon
on earth
earthis productof human
is aa product humanmisdeeds.
misdeeds.
Allah
Allah states that in
statesthat Chapterar-Room
in Chapter (30):41.quoted
ar-Room(30):41. quotedlater
laterin
in this
this booklet.
booklet.
 l r r l

T h ePurpose
The P u r p o sof
e f Creation
o Creation ,.

Consequently,both
Consequently, both the
the trials
trials of goodand
of good andthethe tests
testsof of
evil benefit
evil benefitthe the believer.
believer.The livesof
The lives of the true believers
thetrue believersare are
balanced between
balanced betweenthe the extremes
extremesof of human
humanbehavior.
behavior.They They
neitherbecome
neither becomeso sohappy with life's
happywith life's successes
successes that
thatthey
theyforget
forget
God, nor do
God, nor do they
they become
becomeso sodepressed
depressed with life's
with life's difficulties
difficulties
and failures
and failures thatthat they
they lose
lose hopehope in in God.
God. Instead,
Instead,they
they
remembertheir
remember theirLord andBenefactor,
Lord and Benefactor, and trustin
andtrust in His
His decisions.
decisions.
~uhayb
Suhayb ibn ibn Sinaan
Sinaanrelated
relatedthat
that thethe Messenger
Messengerof Allah Allah (~)(*)
said, "The affair ofthe
said,"The of the believer
believer is is amazing!
amazing! The The whole
whole ofhis
of his
is beneficial,
life is beneficial, and that is is only in the the case
case ofthe
of the believer.
believer.
When good times
When times come
cometo him,him, he he is
is thankful
thanffil and it is is good
for
for him,
him, and when
when bad times
times befall him,
him, he
he is
is patient and it is
is
also godfor
also goodfor him.,,62
him.'$2This
This is
is the
the state
stateof of one
onewho who hashasaccepted
accepted
God's destiny.
God's destiny.Consequently,
Consequently, belief in in both
both thethe good
goodandand the
the
apparentevil
apparent evil ofof what
what has
hasbeen destinedis
been destined is the
the sixth
sixth pillar of
faith in Islam.
faith in Islam.
On
On thethe other
other hand,
hand, ifif the
the believers
believers experience
experience a life
devoid of any problems,
devoid of any problems, should it should be be taken
taken as as a sign
sign that
that
something
something is is wrong.
wrong. UnderUnder suchsuch circumstances,
circumstances, the the true
true
believer
believer must
must take
take time
time out and
and reflect
reflect on on the
the realities of his
realities of his or
her life.
her life. Either
Either the the tests are not
tests are not obvious
obvious and and they
they areare unaware
unaware
of
of them
them or they they have
have deviated
deviated from from the right path.
the right path. Allah
informs
informs the believers in Chapter
the believers Chapter at-Tawbah
at-Tawbah that that the
the apparent
apparent
enjoyment which
enjoyment which thethe disbelievers
disbelievers take take from
from their
their great
great wealth
wealth
and
and children
children is only a prelude
is only prelude to theirtheir punishment.
punishment.

t' Sahih
62 Sahih M u s l i m ,vvol.
Muslim, o l . 44.. pp.. 11541. o . 77138.
5 4 1 .nno. 138
 r.......':L
The Purpose of
of Creation _ fl

~q
. \~.·J'~~f1»,~
.,r-1 ~ H.i
JW"J;~'r ~l~'f~~~}
("+! * bfii'r+l.6lF!rJi;
*!-: ~ J J Lil'rf
(WT Y
crh'ri
.~. r;l
J
{~/)~ F;
{a#;? ;.A~ il$i
~f 4,n'y'rg!.,sr
JAj~ ~iJ\
"Do
"I)o not be
be awed
awed by their their children.
their wealth or their children.
Allah wishes to punish them with
Allah only wishes these things
with these
in this life and allow their souls to die while they
their souls
are in a state of
state of disbelief."
Qur'an 9:85
Qur'an 9:85

This is
This is not
not to say
say that
that the believers should
the believers yearn for
shouldyearn
problems
problems and
and calamities
calamitiesin their lives,
in their Allah has
lives,for Allah hastaught
taught
them pray:"Our
them to pray: "Our Lord, do not put on us us aa burden
hurden like
what you placed
placedon on those
those before us.'t'-tInstead,
before US.,,63 Instead,they
they should
should
thank
thank Allah
Allah for whatever He has
trialsHe
whatevertrials hasspared them.However,
sparedthem. However,
in
in times
times of ease
easethey
they must
mustremain vigilant and
remainvigilant not become
and not become
oblivious
oblivious to tests,
tests, for success
successand and happiness
happiness often
often blind
blind
people
peopleto the life.
trials of life.
the trials

Reminder
Reminder
Tests
Tests sometimes
sometimes serve
serveas punishingreminder
asaa punishing reminderto those
those
who have
who have gone
gone astray and
astrayand an
an encouragement
encouragement for them
them to
return
return to
to the
the correct path.When
correctpath. peopledeviate,
Whenpeople they seldom
deviate,they seldom
listen
listen to the
the advice
adviceof those
thosearound
aroundthem.
them.However,
However.whenwhenaa
calamity
calamity strikes
strikes them
themor those
thosenear
nearand
anddear them,it jolts
dearto them,
those
thosewho
who still
still have
havesome
somefaith into recognizing
faith into their error.
recognizingtheir effor.

{ai.|'|^iilrl,rlt ,-,r;;itill ;rlr ,-,rjiir;1

6r Soorah
6J SoorahaJ-Baqarah (2):286.
al-Baqarah(2):286
 The Purpose ofCreation

's164
64
will make
make them
them taste
"1 will taste aa lesser
lesserpunishment
punishment
before the greater punishment that
before the greater punishment that perhaps
perhapsthey
they
may return
may return [to the right
[to the pathl."
right path]."
Qur'an
Qur'an32:21
32:21

The test
The testof
of calamities
calamities whichremind
which remindhumankind
humankindof of their
their
deviationmay
deviation maycome
comein in the
theform
form of
of man's
man'sinhumanity
inhumanityto to his
his
fellow man, as in the
fellow man, as in the case of case of the
the unspeakable
unspeakable atrocities
atrocities
unleashed
unleashed bythe
by serbsagainst
the Serbs againstthe
theBosnian
BosnianMuslims
Muslimswho who hadhad
strayedfar
strayed far away
away fromfrom Islam,
Islam,or
or Saddam'
saddam's s brutal
brutalinvasion
invasion
Kuwaitand
of Kuwait andAmerica's
America'ssubsequent
subsequent indiscriminate
indiscriminate bombing
bombing
of civilian
civilian targets
targets in in Iraq.
Iraq. Allah
Allah points
pointsout
out that
thatwhatever
whatever
humans suffer
humans suffer at
at the
the hands
handsof other
other humans,
humans,theythey brought
brought
upon themselves.
upon themselves. However,the
However, the suffering
sufferingisis aa reJ!linder
reminderto to
returnto
return to the
the path
path of
of righteousness
righteousness. .
'&-a+J.-rr
.} :..u L....JI\1r~,-.
~\ ~ ~ ~'I\' I'll . ;UI ':.i:.}
~--,~ sr:il#';" .~Jft' ~ i*lj, f
FJ'; ..r'-,; ;glr
, .i_c. .is, ~
-.- . -~;'I'ir,rt
{~ P.r..
lt+'t-il$ -.. -
6'Corrufiion has appeared
~~_ +rnt,-i*.
"Corruption has appeared on the land and in the
sea
sea because
because ofof what man's hands
hands have
have earned,
earned, in in
order
order that [Allah] may make them taste
that [Allahf taste a part
part ofof
what
what they
they have
have done,
done, and
and in
in order
order that
that thev
they mav may
return Ito the
return [to the right
right path]."
path]."
Qur'an
Q u r ' a n 330:41
0:41

64 *1tr;r.r'in
64 "We" in the
the original
original Arabic
Arabic is
is the
the majestic'we.'referring
majestic ·we.' referring to
to God.
God.
 The
The Purpose ofCreation
of Creatian

Hypocrisy
Calamitiesalso
Calamities alsoexpose thosewho
exposethose who falsely
falsely claim faith,
faith, as
as
well asas stmw
show those
thosewho
who disbelieve
disbelievethat
that they
they choose
choosehell
hell by
their own
their free will. There
own free Therehave
havebeen many cases
beenmany people
casesof people
converting to Islam
converting Islam for the
the wrong
wrong reasons,
reasons,andand after
after finding
more difficulties in
more difficulties in their
their livesthan prior to
lives than prior to their
their conversion,
conversion,
they revert
they revertto their former beliefs.
their former beliefs.God
God states
statesinin Chapter
Chapteral-
'Ankaboorof the
'Ankaboot the final
final revelation:
revelation:

~~J ri;lt-r~ jp;

ti st ~~ €t;iijjii~ ~fuiirr'ioi,"or
..AJ ~~ ij;; ~f ~\!JI ~f}L.-;(l
{~~\Sjl ~I ~:.jJ i)J.:p ~~I ~I
inrffilij*c*. ';.ju1r1g5
br:;.iA;ij ~ ~!:i ~neit,
~~I
{c*,i63r
"Do people imagine that they will
"Do people will be
be left alone
alone
and not tested
tested with
with affliction
aflliction because
becausethey say,
say,
'We believe'? Indeed, 1t't have
'We
~5
tested thos~
have tested those before
•

you. Allah
Allah will those who are truthful
will know those truthful and
those
thosewho lie."
Qur'an
Qw'an 29:2
29:2

Punishnent
Punishptent
Those who transgress
Those transgressthethe limits setset by God
God expose
expose
themselvesto punishment
themselves in this
punishment in this life and thenext.
andthe next.Throughout
ThFoughout
the Qur'an,
the describes
Qur'an,Allah describes numerous
numerouspast pastnations
nationswho
who rejected
rejected
divine guidance and
divine guidance were subsequently
and were subsequentlydestroyed.
destroyed.These
These
stories
stories serve
serve as
as warnings
warniJlgs to humanity
humanity of of the
the consequences
consequences
of
of rebellion
rebellion against the commandments
against the commandments of of God.
God. In Chapter
Chapter
an-Noor, Allah gives
an-Noor, gives a general
general warning
warning asas follows:
follows:

55 "yy.r'
65 "We" in the
the original
original Arabic is the majestic 'we,'
the majestic 'we,' referring
referring to Cod-
God.
 l / - -

fn" Purpose
The nrp"t" ofCreation
rI?r""t*" I rlt
U
I

., , , . t, :: ,.'. " !.., t,

'oAo;;ifr
. t, . , " .~\I~ ~' : i, ~}
"e ._,41 J ~ ~ lJ Of .:r
lJ~1li""! iJ.":!'J) _ ,qii1
" {~r~,Js
1ii -';rl;
53L€t thosewho contradict his
"Let those his command
commtnd beware
beware aa
trial or aa severe
trial lteverepunishment."
Qur'an
Qur'an 24:63
24:63

The punishmentmay
The punishment comein aavariety
maycome varietyof different
different ways.
ways.
Perhaps the most obvious punishment
Perhaps the most obvious punishment afflicting humankind humankind
in all countries
in all counffiestodaytodayisis the
the disease
diseaseAIDS,66
AIDS,66which
which appeared
appeared
the first
for the first time
time in
in medical
medicalhistory
historyin
in the
the beginning
beginningof the the
'80's.6?The The vastvast majority
majority of those
'80'S.67 who are
thosewho are affected
affectedby by it
around the
around globe
the globe arearethe promiscuous.
the promiscuous. Initially homosexuals
Initially homosexuals
werethe
were themain victims,then
mainvictims, thenbisexuals,
bisexuals, followedby
followed by promiscuous
promiscuous
heterosexualsand
heterosexuals intravenousdrug
and intravenous drug users.
users.All ofthese
ofthesegroups
groups
were in open rebellion
were in open rebellion against againstthe
the divine
divine laws
lawsthat
that restrict
restrict
sexual relationsto males
sexual relations malesand femaleswithin
and females within the bounds of
the bounds of
marriage and
marriage andthose
thoselaws that prohibit the
laws that the use of intoxicants.
use of intoxicants.
Some may
Some may point out out that
that AIDS waswas also
also spread
spread to chaste
chaste
individuals
individuals through
through blood
blood transfusions
transfusions and
and to children
children by by
their parents.
their parents. However,
However, medical
medical statistics
statistics show
show that
that such
such
cases
cases are relatively few in comparison
are relatively comparison to thethe other
other categories.
categories.
In any
any case,
case, Allah has has warned
warned in Chapter al-Anfaal of
Chapter al-Anfaal of the
the

tr
66 Acquired
Acquired immune immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a condition
deficiency syndrome condition transmined
transmitted
by a virus which anacks attacks ttre
the body's syst€m of defence
system of defence agains
against disease.
disease. leaving
leaving
the
the sufferer extremely vulnerable
sufferer extremely vulnerable to disease
disease and
and likely to die eventually
eventually fiom
trom
any
anyoneone that
that he he or
or she catches. (Chambers
she catches. (Chambers Pocket
Pocket Dictionary,
Dictionary, pp. t9
19.))
6? It tras
67 It was first first identified
identified in 1981. (The New
in 1981.(The Encyclopaedia Britannica,
NewEncvclopaedia Britannica,
vvol. 0 ,pp.. 6676.)
o f. 110, 76.)
 fn, Purpose
The nrprt" ofCreation
tf Cr"tt*"
U

final revelation
final revelationthat whenHis
that when punishmentcomes
His punishment comesitit is
is not
not
limited to theevil,
limited to the evil, but
butaffects
affectsthe
thesociety
societyas
asaa whole.
whole.

~\
lnr~f
lf i~(,
\r-,[bt ~~ ~ i~ ~~\
zbv'Jq.\r{ib ~:_;o1
i# ~T~
,y-$r i4 i.,i1IJ}
i-,ii'r}
{y~I~~
{+qlr fu+s
"Beware of aa trial
"Beware of trial which will not amict
afflidt only
only the
the
among you,
sinful among you, and
and know that Allah is severe
is severe
punishment."
in punishment."
Qur'an
Qur'an 8:25
8:25

One thousand
One thousandfour hundred yearsago
hundredyears agoProphet
hophet Muhammad
Muhammad
(*)
(~) prophesiedthe
prophesied the coming
comingof suchsuchaa trial.
trial. Ibn 'Umar quoted
Ibn 'Vmar quoted
him asas saying,"
saying, "Fl4tenever
Whenever promiscuity is openly practiced
openlypracticed
among a people,
among people, a plagae
plague and anguish
ang;uishwillwill spread among
among
them which
them whichwas unknownto their predecessors."ut
was unknown predecessors.,,68 However,
Ho*ever,
AIDS is is only ~ne in
only one in aa series
seriesof
of diseases. Before AIDS,
diseases.Before AIDS, aa
warning camein
warning came in the form of
the form of anotherdiseasecalledherpes,
another disease called herpes,
which
which became
became widespread
widespread among
among thethe sexually
sexually promiscuous
promiscuous
beginning
beginning in thethe 1960s and '70s.
1960sand '70s. It was
was declared
declared anan epidemic
epidemic
in America in the
America the mid-seventies,
mid-seventies, and
and there
there is no known
known cure
cure
for it until today.
today. People's
People's attention
attention switched
switched from it by thethe
end
end of the '70s
of the '70s because
because it was
was not fatal,6e
fatal,69 while AIDS was.was.
6t
" coflected
Collected by M~iah and
by Ibn Maajah authenticated in gafueefisunan
and authenticated s.ab.eeb. Sunan lbn
Ibn Maajah,
Maajah,
vol.
vol. 2. 2, p.
p. 370,
370, no.
no. 3246.
3246.
tt when
69 When symptoms
symptoms occur,
occur, fever
fever and
and malaise
malaise are
are followed
followed byby burning
burning pain
pain in
in
the genital
the genital area area and
and enlargement
enlargement ofofttre
the lymph
lymph nodes
nodes in
in the
the groin.
groin. Blisters
Blisters and
and
small
small ulcers
ulcers are are usually
usually found
found inin the
the area
area of
of infection.
infection. and
and there
there is
is severe
severe
pain
pain and and burning
burning upon urination. (?"he
upon urination. (The New
New Encyclopaedia
Encyclopaedia Britannica,
Britannica,
vvol.
o l . 221.
1 , pp.. 5536.)
36.)
 The Purpose
Purpose of
ofCreation
Creation

Create the World?

Why Did God Create
\ilhy
RELATIVE TO HUMANKIND, l'OR
TO HUMANKIND. FOR which
which
fTtHEHE PURPOSE,
PURPOSE, RELATIVE

T II
'the
-the world
world and
and its
defined in the
defined
Ibraaheem and
Ibraaheerr
contents were
its contents
the final
final revelation.
a/-An 'aam:#
and al-An' aam:#
is specifically
created is
were created specifically
says in Chapters
revelation. Allah says Chapters

(.~U
CF.J rt ~L.. ~WI cr JJiJ ./}~'J
iJ' Jtit ~\)U\ 6lt
; sltl r]l;Lr-lt ~ .riJr
~..u, drr|
.i»1}
"I.-Jt
oy!4 ~\
0...... J
.,r.Jr,/ ,-?~~,
g;ts cllilr F~ ,*,
~J ts ~ u;,\ij) c;rr.:lt
~'."..:J';r
gr t4.!
~) ~h ~\)
Jutg-;Tr r*.Jrl ~\
r..l'Jr ~
F ~). JI+i~' F
-pS. .ltgr1r~ r*:
~)
{J~\J #'#J
j.:J\ ~
{rreJ';
"Allah
"Allah is
is the
the one
one Who created
created the
the heavens
heevensand the
earth and
earth and sent
sent down rain from the
the and with it
sky and
brought out fruit
fruit for your provision. He hashas put
ships
shipsin
in your service,
service,sailing through the
sailingthrough seaby His
the sea
command;
command; and and likewise
likewise HeHe has
has put the rivers in
the rivers
your
your service.
service.HeHe has
hasalso
alsoput the and moon
sun and
the sun moon in
their orbits to be of service
their orbits to be of senice to
to you;
you; and
and He
He made
made
the
the night
night and
and day
day in your service."
in your setryice."
Qur'an 14:32-33
Qur'an 14:32-33

~\~ ut,-.r ~\J

eJ-J'i \,;4-'- ~\J ~
-jrrl.p;Jr, ~\ ~J
u(,.plr r.~~\ JIj}
]ql3l'r)t du)
~
..# ~ ra \J~
r;-ua:l~~\
f3z"Jl~F ~ jtt I$jJ\ rrr .~\
giiit Jib) 'n'lrlt jtjAl\;..J.Aj
-iiFt ./-$i
{iJ~
{O-r"t--~~
pyJ ~4~\ .ri ~\J.r.3\
Ll-4, J,j
.:u-lt W,.aj ,r,Jt, ,Jt ~~+t Ib
 The Purpose ofCreation

"[It isisHe]
"[It Hel who
who causes
causesthe thedaybreak,
daybreak, mademadethe
the night
night
for rest,
for rcst,and
andthe
thesun
sunandandmoon
moonforfor calculating
calcu}rting [time].
[timel.
That is
That is the
the determination
determination of of the
the All-Mighty,
Al-Mighty, thethe
All-Knowing. It
All-Knowing. It is
is He
He who
who has
has made
made the
the stars
stsnsfor
for
your guidance
your guidancein in the
the darkness
darknesson on land
land and
and at
at sea.
sea.
II have
hsve explained
explained in in detail
detail these
thesesigns
signsfor people
people
who ktrow.tt
who know."
Qur'an
Qur'an 6:96-7
6:96-7

The contents
The contentsof this world
of this world were
were created
createdfor the
the service
service
humankind.Whether
of humankind. whetherthey
theyare productsof man's
areproducts man's invention,
invention,
like ships,
like ships,or they
they are
arenature
natureitself,
itself, all
all have
havebeen
beengranted
grantedby
God
God for the benefitofkuman
the benefit of humanbeings.
beings.However,
However, such
suchgifts are
are
not without
not without responsibility.
responsibility.Humans
Humansare are required recognize
requiredto recognize
bountiesand
Allah's bounties and mercies
merciesand give thanks
and give thanks to Him and
and
gloriff him. For example,
glorify example,He taught
taught the believers
believers in Chapter
Chapter
az-zukhrufto pray
az-Zukhrufto pray as
as follows whenever
whenever they
they ride an animal
animal
or vehicle:
vehicle:

~ F+JL-dl
{.-L/, ~J""--"I t5l
1~1 F-l
~J i*rj ~ lJJSii
IJ.?.lJ d~ o-l-f+li..P 'J~}
0 JJf1' isle t1..rdj}
-U!,f
~1
s-JI U1J ~~
-f.r. dJ
.y 15
LoS" [r1
lot J ljl
l,la Ul
l;l .~ ~.lJI
,r.- .g;jJr IJ~
rtUr= . : IIi
, jiJJ
j1ol
{IJ~I~U
{o11;;*l r{,
"For you to
"For to mount
mount the
the backs
backs [of
[of animalsl
animals] then
then
remember
remember your your Lord's
Lord's blessing,
blessing, saying:
saying: Glory
Glory be
be
to
to He
He who
who made
made this
this subseruient
subsenrient to to us,
us, and
and we
we
could
could not
not have
have done
done so
so ouruelves.
ourselves. And
And indeed our
indeed our
return
return is
is to
to our
our Lord."
Lord."
Qur'an 43:
Qur'an 43:l3
13
 The Purpose ofCreation

Human beings
Human beingsalso
also carry
carry the responsibility to
the responsibility govern the
to govern the
creation according
creation according to to the
the laws
laws of God. This
ofGod. This is
is man's purpose
man's purpose
relative to the. rest
relative to the restof of creation.
cteation. They
They are
are commanded
commanded to utilize
to utilize
the contents ofthis world according
the contentsofthisworld according to laws of
the laws
to the God. Aboo
ofGod. Aboo
Sa"eed al-Khudree quoted
sa'eed al-Khudree quotedAllah's Allah's Messenger
Messenger (#E)
(~) as
as saying'
saying,
,,The
HThe world
world is beautiful and green, green. and Allah-be Heexalted
andAllalr-be He exalted
-has made
-has made you governors
governors over it to
it see see how you
you will
will act."10
act. ,,70
Human beings
Human beings areare not free with the world as
free to do with as they please.
please.
Consequently, the negative
Consequently, the negativeattitude attitude of
of secular
secular materialist
materialist
society towards nature
societytowards contrary to divine revelation.
nature is contrary revelation.
Materialist
Materialist society regards nature
society regards nature as an
as enemy to be
an enemy be
conquered.
conquered. It is
is not
not enough
enough to appreciate
appreciate the
the bbauty
beauty of
of mount
mount
Everest,
Everest,instead,
instead,lives haveto be
lives have be lost year in conquering
everyyear
lost every conquering
it by
by climbing
climbingto to its
itssummit.
summit.It is not ~ufficient
is not maruelat
sufficientto marvel at the
the
exotic
exotic animals
animalsof the the world,
world, instead,
instead,during duringthe safarisof
the safaris
the
the past
pastcentury,
century,manymanyof of these
theseanimalsanimalswere lruntedinto
werehunted into
extinction
extinction to to provide
provide trophies
trophiesfor Westernliving
for Western rooms'
living rooms.
Although
Althoughsafaris
safarishave
havenownowbeen
beenstopped, the reduced
stopped,the reduced numbers numbers
of animals
of animals like
like the
the rhinoceros
rhinoceros continue
continue to bethreatened
to be threatened with
with
extinction
extinctiondue to the importance
duetothe imporfance of as an ingredient
hornsas an ingredient
theirhorns
of their
for
for Far
FarEastern
Easterntraditional medicines
traditionalmedicines and aphrodisiacs'
andaphrodisiacs.

Animals
Animals
According
According to tothe
thefinal
finalrevelation, killing animals
revelation,killing for
animalsfor
'Abbaas
Ibn"Abbaas
sportisisforbidden
sport forbiddenand thesight
sinfulininthe
andsinful sightof God.Ibn
of God.

70'oSahih
SohihMuslim.
Muslim,vol.
vol.4,4. p.p' \432,
1a32.no.
no.6606.
6606.
 -:,z1
The Purpose of
The .Purpose of Creation
Creatiln .

reportedthe
reported the Messenger ofAllah (~)
MessengerofAllah (49)asassaying,
saying,"Do not take takeas
as
a target
tqrgetany thing. ,,71 Taking
livingthing."Tr
anyliving Takingthe the life of any
any living animal
animal
is prohibitedunless
is prohibited unlessit isis for food, protectionof human
food, for protection humanlife,
life,
clothing.Killing
or for clothing. Killing for fun and enjoyment
fun and enjoymentis is fundamentally
fundamentally
evil.
evil. And,
And, even when the
evenwhen the life of
of aa human
humanis is taken
takenfor crimes
crimes
against society,or the
against society, the life of anan animal
animal is is taken
takenfor food,
food, it
mrist be
must doneas
be done painlesslyas
aSpainlessly possible.Shaddaad
as possible. Shaddaadibn ibn Aws
recounted
recountedtwo things which he
thingswhich he remembered
rememberedthe the Messenger
Messenger
of Allah (~)
(*) saying,
saying,"Surely
"'Surely Allah has hasenjoined goodnessfor
enjoinedgoodness for
everything;so
everything; sowhenlnu execulesomeone.
when you execute someone,do do so god way
so in a good wry
when you slaughter an
and when an animal,
animal,do do so god way.
so in a good wuy. Let
every one of
every one of you sharpen
shrpen his lorife ami
his/entre wtd al{ow
all.owthe
the slaughtered
slaughtered
animal
animal to die comfortab~v.,,72
to die comfortablv."lTAIthough
Although some some~'animal
an imal lovers'
lovers'
in Western
in Western countries
countries have haveopposed
opposedthe the Islamic
Islamicmethod
methodof of
slaughtering
slaughtering animals,
animals, the
the Westepr
Western alternative
alternative of stunning
stunning the
the
animals
animalsby by electric
electricshock crushingblows
shockor crushing blows to the the head
headare
are
far
far more painful to the
more painful animals.When
the animals. When thethe neck
neck is is cut by an
an
extremelysharp
extremely knife, the
sharpknife, the animal
animal does
doesnot
not feel
feel it and quickly
and quickly
loses
loses consciousness
consciousness as
as the
the heart pumpsits
heartpumps its blood
blood outout of the
the
carotid
carotid arteries.
arteries.

" Sahih
71S o h i hMuslim,
M u s l i mvol.
v, o l . 3.
3 . p.
p . 1079.
1 0 7 9 .no.
n o . 4813.
4813.
Hishaam
Hishaam ibn Zayd Zayd reponed
rcportedthat when he
that when he and
and his grandfather:Anas ibn
his,erandfather.'Anasibn
Maalik.
Maalik. visited
visited the home ofHakam
the home of Hakam ibn ibn Ayyoob.
Ayyoob, [they
[they saw]
saw] some
some people
people
using hen as
using aa hen as aa target
targetfOT
for their arrows.Anas
their arrows. Anas related
relatedthat
that Allah's Messenger
Messenger
had
had forbidden the tying of
forbidden the of animals
animals[as targets].Sahih
[as targets]. Sahih Muslim, vol. 3.
Muslim, vol. p.
3. p.
1078.
1078.no. 4182.
no. 4182.
1' Sohih Muslim,
7Z Sahih Muslim, vol.
vol. 3,
3, p.
p. 1078.
1078.no. 4810.
no.4810.
 The Purpose
The Purpo...e of
ofcrearion
Creation f

Caring for
Caring for animals
animals is is enshrined
enshrined inin the
the divine law, even
divine law, even
the case
in the case of
of dogs,
dogs, which
which are are generally
generally barred from Muslim
barred from Muslim
(~)
73
homes.
homes.tt Aboo Hurayrah
Hurayrah quoted
quoted the
the Prophet
Prophet (fr) as
as saying,
saying,
"A manman became
became lhirsty
thirsty while walking,
walking, soso he climbed down
he climbed down
drankfrom it. On coming out he saw
a well and drankfrom sclwa thirsty dogdog
'This
panting
panting and eating mud.
mud. TheThe man said [to
[to himseffi,
himselfl, 'This
animal is as as thirsty asas II wss.'
was. ' So he climbed down
So he down the well
andfilled
filled his shoe
hisshoe with water.
water. He then
then held his shoe between
shoe between
his
his teeth,
teeth,climbed out and gave the dog water.
gave lhe Allah thanked
water. AIIah thanked
him andforgave
him andforgave him
him [and
[and put him
him in paradisej.,,74
paradisr|-"'o The
The people
people
asked,"0
asked, "O Messenger
Messengerof Allah! Allah! Do Do we get reward for
we get a reward
serving
serving animals?"
animals?"He He replied,
replied,"ln service ofl
[the service
"In [the every living
oj) every
being there is a reward.
heing there is reward."75Aboo ,,75 Aboo Hurayrah
Hurayrah also
also narrated
narrated that
that
Allah's Messenger(~)
Allah's Messenger (H) said, "Allahforgave aaprostitute
said,"Allahforgave prostitute
[among the Israelites
[among the IsraelitesJ16 /6 who
who tied
tied her
her shoe
shoe to
to her scarf and
scarfand
drew
dra,voutoutsome
somewater
water[from wellJfor
[fro* a well] for a dog that-s^he
dog that she saw dying
saw dying
of thirst. Because
of thirst.Because ofthat,
of that, Allah forgave
Allahforgave her-""
her." 77 Conversely,
Conversely,

73Muslims are dogsas pets.However,

aspets. guard
However,guard
73 Muslims arediscouraged
discouragedfrom
from keeping
keepingdogs
dogs,
dogs.sheep
sheepdogs
dogsand
andhunting
huntingdogs dogsare permined.Ibn'
arepermitted. Ibn 'Umar quotedAllah's
Umar quoted Allah's
Messenger
Messenger (~)
(*) as
assaying,
saying,'"'., Whoever
lvhoever keeps
keeps a
a dog
dog for
for other
other than
than v'atching
watching
the
theherd
herdor
or hunting,
hunting,will
wi[l lose
losethetheweight
weightoftwo mountdinsfrom
of twomountains his[scale
front his [scale
ofgood]
of goodJ deeds
deeds daily.'·
daity'^ (Sahih
(Sahih Muslim.
Muslim' vol.3-
vol. 3. p.
p. 826.
826, no
no, 38l5')
3815.)
'n Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol.
74 SohihAl-Bukhari,vol.1.l. p.p. 120. no.174.
120.no, 174.
,t Sahih
75 SohihAl-Bukhan',
Al-Bttkhari.vol.
vol.3, pp.322-3.
3,pp. no.551.
322-3.no, 551.and lvfuslint.
SahihMuslim.
and Sahih vol.4.
vol. 4.
pp.
p p .1215-6.
l 2 l 5 - 6 .no.
n o .5577.
5577.
'"
76 Sahih
Snlrih A/-Bukhari.
Al-Bukhari,vol. vol.4.4.pp. 448-9. no.
pp.448-9- 673.
no.673.
,, Sahih
77 SohihA/-Bukhari.
Al-Bukhari,vol. pp.338-9.
vot.4.4.pp. 338-9.no, andSahih
538.and
no.538. SahihMuslim. vol.
lvluslim.
vol.
4.4 .p.p .1216.
1 2 1 6no.
n. o 5579,
.5579
 rn" Purpose
The nrpgts ofCreation
yf Cr:ttW lT4
_ |

harming animals
harming animals is is aa major
majorsinsinaccording
accordingto to Islamic
Islamiclaw.law.
'Abdullaah ibn 'Umar
'Abdullaah ibn 'Umar relatedrelatedthat
that thethe Messenger
Messengerof of Allah
Allah
o'Awomwt wasptmished
said, "A
said, woman was punished and placed in
andplaced in hell
helt because
becauseof of
a cat which
a cat which she sheimprisoned
imprisoned until
until itil died
died. She
Sheneither
neither gave
gave itit
nor water,
food nor water, nor
nor did
did she
sheset
set itfree
itfree to to eatfrom
eatfrom thethe rodents
rodents
ofthe
of the earth."
earth."18
78

There are
There arecircumstances
circumstances where
whereit is is necessary
necessaryto to inflict
pain on
pain on animals,
animals,such
suchasashitting
hitting animals
animalsto to get
get them
them toto move
move
and branding
and brandingthem
them for identification.
identification.However,
However,even evenin in these
these
situations, God
situations, gave instructions
God gave instructionsto protect
protectthem.
them.Jaabir
Jaabir
reported that
reported that the
the Prophet (#) prohibited
Prophet(j:$) prohibited striking animalsanimals in
theirfaces
their faces or branding them them on
on their faces. 79
theirfaces.le

Vegetation
Vegetation
Humankind's
Humankind's responsibility
responsibility of
of looking
lookingafter this world
after this world
does not stop
does stopat serving
servinganimals.
animals.The vegetable kingdom
The vegetable kingdom isis
also
also highly
highly regarded
regarded in divine
divine law.
law. So
So much
much so,so, that
that Muslims
Muslims
engaged in war are
engaged are forbidden
forbidden to destroy
destroy fruit trees,to
trees,80 and
and even
even
the planting
the planting of of trees
trees is considered
considered an an act
act of
of charity.
charity. Jaabir
Jaabir
quoted
quoted Allah's Messenger
Messenger (#)(~) asas saying,
saying, "Any Muslim
Muslim who
who
plants a tree gains the reward
reward of giving in charity. What
ofgiving What is
eaten from ilit is chmity,
eaten from charity, wlmt
what is stolenfrom it, what the animals
it, wlnt

SahihAl-Bukhari,
"78 Sahih A/-Bukhari, vol. 4, p.
vol. 4, p. 456.
456. no.
no. 689.
689. and
and Saftift
Sahih Muslim, vol. 4.
Muslim, vol. p.
4. p.
11215.
2 1 5nno.
. o .5573.
5573.
1e
79 Sahih
Sahih Muslim.
Muslim. vol. 3, pp. t1163,
vol. 3. 163.no.
no. 5281.
5281.
to
80 Muwatta
Muwatta Imam Malik, p.
Imam Malik p. 200,
200, no.
no. 958.
958. and
and authenticated
authenticated by
byal-Albaanee
al-Albaanee
in
in lrwaa'al-Ghaleel,
Irwaa' al-Ghaleel, vol. 5. p.
vol. 5. p. l3-4.
13-4. no.
no. I190.
1190.
 The Purpose
Putpose o[
of Creation
Creatlon fl

eat and
frd what
wlnt the the birds eat,
eat, is all
all charity. Anyone or or anything
that
tlnt takes from it earns
takesfrom earnsforfor the
the planter
planter thethe reward
reward ofof[giving
[giving
in]
,nJ charity.
clrorty.'*l,,8] Islam encourages that no effort should
Islamencouragesttrat shouldbe be spared
spared
in planting,
planting, eveneven ifif it becomes
becomesthe the last that the
last thing that the believer
believer
can
can do
do in this life. Anas
Anas related
relatedthat the Prophet
that the said, "If
(~) said,
Prophet (48) "ff
'the
-the [signs oj} the beginning
fsigts ofl ttrc beginningof the ofthe Day ofResurrection
of Resurrection appear
appesr
and one of you has
one ofyou has a seedling
seedling in his hand,
hand, he he should plant
plant
it if
,f hehe is'
is able to do so so before
before thethe resurrection begins. ,,82
resurre.ctionbegins."82
Consequently,
Consequently,human human beings
beingshave responsibility to look
have a responsibility
after aspectsofthe environment
afterall aspects environmentin which which they
they were
were created
created
as
as aa sacred
sacredduty duty to God.
God. This requires
requiresan an active
active opposition
opposition
to the
the massive pollution and
massivepollution and destruction
destructionof of natural habitats
natural habitats
caused by today's materialistic,
caused today's materialistic,consumer consumer societies
societies the
the world
over.
over. According
According to revela.tion, negligenceof
revel4tion,negligence this duty is
of this
considered
consideredaa sin sin while fulfillment of it is is an
an act of worship.
act of worship.

" Sahih
II SahihMuslim,
Muslim,vol. 3, p.
vol. 3, 818,no.
p. 818, no. 3764.
3764.
12Collected by Ahmad in al-Musnad. vol. 3. pp. 183,
vol.3.pp. 183,]84
184and l9l, and
and 191, and
11 Collected byA[mad inal-Musnad.
al-Bukhaaree
al-Bukhaareein al-Adab
al-Adab al-Mufrad.
al-Mufrad, no. and authenticated
479. and
no. 479. authenticatedby al- al-
Albaanee
Albaaneein
in Silsilah
Silsilahal-A!J.aadeeth ag-$afteeftah.
al-Ahaadeetha§.-s.a!1ee!J.ah. vol. I,
vol. p. ]I 1,
l, p. l. no. 9.
no. 9.
 The ~rpose ofCreation

Conclusion
Conclusion
ITHOUTKNOWLEDGE
ITHOUT KNOWLEDGE oFTHE
OF THEPURPOSE
PURPOSE oF creation,
OF cTeation,

Wwrong due
wrong
human beings
human
ships
ships at
dueto
beingswander
at sea
to incorrect
wanderaimlessly
without rudders.
seawithout
incorrectreligious
aimlesslythrough
rudders.Their
religiousteachings,
throughlife,
Their goals
goalsare
life, like
areeither
teachings,or materialistic
like
either
materialistic
and thu~ confined to this
and thus confined to this world.
world. It is, is, therefore,
therefore,essential
essentialfor
their own
their own well-being
well-being that
that they
they know why whyGod God created
createdthem.them.
Fundamentally; AJIah
Fundamentally~ Allah created
createdin in order manifestHis
order to manifest
attributes.Consequently,
attributes. consequently,creation
creationis is the
the consequence
consequenceof of His
being the
being the Creator, paradisemanifests
creator, paradise manifestsHis Mercy and and Grace,
Grace,
hell His
hell His Justice,
Justice,humankind's
humankind'serrors errorsHis Forgiveness,
Forgiveness,living
and non-living beings
and beingsHis Generosity,
Generosity,etc. etc. The significance
The significance
of knowing
knowingthatcreation
that creation is is ~a mean,s
meansby which which Allah manifests
manifests
atfibutes is
His attributes isthathuman
that human beings
beings can can then
then correctly
correctly recognize
recognize
God and
God and accept accept His decree
decree andand their destiny.
destiny. However,
However, it is of of
~ven greater
eJen greater importance
importance thht that h-uman
hpman belngs beings know the p.urpose
p'urpose
for which they they were
were created.
created. TheThe finalRevelation
final Revelation tbachesthat
teaches that
it is to worship
worship God because
because humankind
humankind must must worship
worship Him in
order to attain
attain righteousness
righteousness and the spiritual stafus status necessary
necessary
to enter paradise.
enter paradise. The significance
significance of of this knowledge
knowledge is is that
that
human
human beings beings understand
understand thatthat worship
worship is is as
as much
much aa necessity
necessity
as
as eating
eating and breathing
breathing and and that
that itit is
is not
not aa favor
favor they
they are
are doing
doing
for
for God.
God.
ItIt is
is alsoessential
also essential that
that human
human beings beings grasp
grasp the
the importance
importance
of this world's
of this world's bounties
bounties andand trials.
trials. Without
Without knowledge
knowledge of ofthe
the
purpose
purpose behind behind their
their creation,
creation, humans
humans tend tend toto look
look atat this
this
 The Purpose of
of Creation
Creation

world as as being
being hostile
hostile to them.
them. However,
However, God created it
God created
benefit. The
primarily for their benefit. The tests of good
tests of good and
and evil areare
designed to bring out the
designed the higher spiritual qualities
higher spiritual qualities ofof the
the
human being.
human being. However,
However, humans
humans are are not
not able benefit from
able to benefit
the tests
the tests unless they put complete
unless they complete trust
trust in God
God andand have
have
patience in what
patience what He has has destined
destined for them. those who
them. For those
reject God,
reject God, the trials of
the trials become a punishment
this world become
of this punishment for
them in this
them this life prior to the eternalpunishment
the eternal punishment in the the next
next
world.
world.
Knowledge
Knowledgeof the purposeof the
the purpose world also
the world makesthe
also makes the
believer environmentally conscious.
believer environmentallyconscious. Humankind
Humankind is
is ible
responsible
respons
to
to utilize
utilizethe bountiesof
the bounties this life justly.
of this justly. The creaturesof
The creatures of the
the
earth
earth and
and seas,
seas,the
the vegetation
vegetationand and the atmospherehave
the atmosphere have been
been
put
put in his
his care.
care.Consequently,
Consequently,humans
humansshould
shouldtake greatcare
take great care
to preserve
preservethethe environment
environmentand andthe living creatures
the living within
creatureswithin
it as
asaa means
meansof giving
givingthanks
thanksto to God.
God.
With
With such
suchaa comprehensive
comprehensive consciousness
consciousness purpose,
of purpose,
human
human beings
beings become
becomewhole.
whole.TheyThey are
aretransformed
transformedinto into
guides
guides for for humankind,
humankind,showing
showingthe way to righteousness.
the way righteousness.
Consequently,
Consequently, Allah
Allah describes
describes them
themas asthe bestof mankind
the best mankind
in
in the
the final
final revelation:
revelation:

~ J~4 IJJytb;UJ
Jt---iJ Jsi.l.f*lr+
JF-e IJrJ.f-sf Jr G...r WJ ~.ri ,.- ~}
i.i ;?"-
r-;ri 4..i ft.5l
{~4
{aU0~jiJ
uril ~\ f,*tt
"You are
"You are the the best
best people
people chosen
chosen for mankind
mankind
because
becauseyou you command
command righteousness,
righteousness'forbid evil evil
and
and believe
believein in Allah."
QUf'an
Qur'an 3: I l0
3:110
fA Purpose
The nrprt" of Creation
"f
Cr"tt*" l-?sI
_t

Index of
Index of Hadeeths
Hadeeths
*
"[Allah createdJmercy
[Allah created} mercywith
with one
onehundred
htmdredparts...." Ig
parts....,' 18

*AIIah
"Allah forgave aa prostitute [among
[among the
the Israelites}
IsraelitesJ 73
7j
who tied her shoe...
who tied her shoe...""

*Allah, theAlmighty,
"Allah, the Almighty, has said: 0O son
has said: son ofAdam, as 22
of Adam, ds Zz
as you call on
long as on Me: .."
Me..."

man became
"A man became thirsty while walking,
walking, so
so he
he 73
73
climbed down
climbed down a well and drankfrom it...."

"Any Muslim who plantsplants a tree gains the reward

reward 74
74
of giving in
ofgiving charity."
charity. "

"A woman
woman was was punished and placed
placed in hell
hell 74
because
because of
ofaa cat."

"Be aware that ifif the whole of

ofmankind
mankind gathered 17
17
together... ""
together...

"Do not
"Do not take
take as
as aa target
target any
any living
living thing."
thing. " 72
72

"Don't
"Don't you
you htow
know that
that Allah
Allah created
createdparadise
paradise and
and lg
19
hell..."
hell..."
 lrat
Itlrr
ThePurpose
The of Creation
hrpose of Creati?n . .

"He who innovates

innovates something
something in this matter of 38
of 38
ours
ows that is not of
of it will
will have
have it rejected.
rejected.""

"He who
who loves for Allah and hates
lovesfor Allah... .."
for Allah...
hatesfor 43
43

*If Allah
"If loves a servant
Allahloves seruantHe informs
informs angel
angel Gabriel 45
45
that
that He
He loves
lovesSo-and-so... "
So-and-so..."

"If
"If a
o man of gold, he
man had a valley ofgold, he would desire
desire 52
52
another...."
another...."

"If
"If the
the {signs
[signs ofl
ofl the
the beginning of
of the
the Day of
of 75
75
Resurrection
Resurrectionappear... ,-
appear..."

"If ask in proyer,

"If you ask prayer, ask
ask only Allah. .. "
Allah..." 46
46

"If
"If you did not commit
commit sinssins and turn to Allah l8
18
seeking
seekingHis forgiveness ... "
Hisforgiveness...

"Look to those
those less fortunate than
lessfortunate you, and do
than you, do not 54
54
look
look to
to those
thoseabove
aboveyou..."
vou..."

"O Allah, thanks

"0 thanla is due
due to You,jor
You,for it is You
You who 37
37
has
has clothed
clothed me
me with it. "
it. "

"0 people of
"O people of Quraysh,
Quraysh, secure
securedeliverance from
deliverancefrom 48
48
Allah. .. "
Allah...
The Purpose ofCreation

"...prohibited striking
"...prohibited striking animals
animals in
in their
their faces
faces or
or 74
74
branding them
branding themin
in their
theirfaces."
faces. "

"Retlect on
"Reflect the creation
on the creation ofAllah
of Allah but
but do
do not
not reflect
reflect 25
Zs
on Allah."
on Allah."

"Satsn will come

"Satan cometoto everyone
everyoneofyou
of you and
and ask:
ask:Who
Who 25
25
that?*
created this and that?"

is worship.
"Supplication is worship."" 46
46

"Surely Allah
Allah has enjoined goodness
has for
goodness -fo, 72
72
everything..."
everything. ., "

"The afair
"The affair of the believer
ofthe believer is
is amazing..."
amazing. .. " 63
63

"The prophets,
prophets, Ihen
then those
those most
most like them
them and those
those 56
rnost
most like
like them..."
them... "

"The world
world is beautiful
beautiful and green,
green, and AIIah
Allah has 71
7l
made
made you
you governors
governors over it..."
it... "

"To
"To give
give Allah
Allah aa partner
partner even
even though
though He
He created
created 39
39
v1rt."
you. "

"Try
"Tryyour
your best
best to
to do right... "
do right..." 23
23
The Purpose
The Purpose ofCreation
of Creation

'Wealth
is not [measured]
"Wealth is [measuredJ in
in property,
property, but
but in 55
55
contentment."
contentment. "

"Wen Allah
"When AIIah created
created the universe. He
the universe, He made
madean
an 18
l8
obligation on
obligation on Himself.."
Himself..."

When Allah created

When created Adam,
Adam, HeHe took
took from
from him
him aa 27
27
covenantat
covenant placecalled
at aa place calledNa'maan...
Na'maan...

"Wlteneverpromiscuity
"Whenever promiscuity is
is openly practiced among
openlyprflcticed among 68
68
a people,
people, a plague and anguish will
will spread among
them..."
them..."

"Pfhoever po.ese^rses
"Whoever possesses [the
fthe followingJ three 43
following] three 43
characteristics has
characteristics has tasted
tastedthe
the sweetness
sweetnessoffaith.
offaitlt..... "
The Purpose 0/ Creation

Index of Qur'anic Verses

Index Verses
"Abraham
"Abraham was was neither aa Jew
Jew nor aa 3:67
3:67 35
35
Christitn...tt
Christian..."

"Allah created all things and He is

"Allah created is the 39:62
39:62 16
16
agent..."
agent...tt

"Allah
"Allah does
does not burden aa soul
soul beyond
beyond 2:286
2:286 59
59
its capacity."
capacity."

"Allah
"Allah has
has favored some of you
favored some over
youover 16: 7] 51
16:71 5l
sustenance.tt
others in sustenance."

"Allah is
"Allah is the one
one Who
lVho created
created the 14:32-3
14:32-3 69
heavens
heavens and the earth.•."
earth..."

*And Alleh
"And created you all and whatever
Allah created 37:96
37:96 16
16
you do.tt
do."

"And ifif Allah were to punish

"And punish people
people for 35:45
35:45 62
62
what
what they earned...tt
earned•.•"

*And
"And in their
their wealth the beggars
beggars and 51:19
5l : 19 53
53
needy...tt
needy•.."
 l^-h
The Purpose ofCreation
of Creation Irrr
qJT

"And
"And they
they denied
denied [the
[the signs)
signsfwrongfully 27:14
27: 14 4l
41
and
and arrogantly..."
arrogantly..."

"And
"And whoever desires aa religion
whoeverdesires religion besides
besides 3:85
3:85 36
36
Islam will not...tt
will not..."

"And
"And your Lord does
does not
not oppress 18:49 58
oppress 18:49 58
anyone."
anyone.tt

"Beware
"Beware of aa trial which will
will not afflict 8:25
8:25 68
68
only the
the sinful..."
sinful.,."

6tButif
"But if they returned..."
they were returned..." 6:28 2l
6 : 2 8 21

"Corruption
"Corruption has
has appeared
appeared on
on the
the land 30:41
30:41 65
65
and
and in the
the sea..."
sea...tt

"Do
"Do not be be awed
awed by their wealth or 9:85
9:85 64
64
..."
their children ..."

"Do
"I)o not kill youruelves,for surely Allah
kill yourselves, 4:29
4:29 59
59
is merciful,.."
is merciful..."

"Do not wish for that by which Allah 4:32

4:32 54
54
has
has favored
favored some..."
some...tt
 r-1-
fnt Purpose
The Prrp"tt ofCreation
,f Cr""ttm Ld

"Do people imagine

"Do people imagine that
that they
they will
will be
be 29:2
29:2 66
66
left alone...t'
left alone..."

"For surely with every

"For surely everT difficulty comes
comes 94:5-6
94:5-6 59
59
[a
[a period
period o{l
of] ease..."
ease..."

you to mount
"For you mount the
the backs
backs [of
[of 43:
43:13
l3 70
i0
animalsl then
animals] then remember..."
remember.,."

"Glorify
"Glorify the praisesof your Lord."
the praises Lord." 110:3
I l0:3 28
Zt

seen the
"Have you seen the one
one who takes
takes his
his 25:43
25:43 42
42
desiresas
desires as his
his god?"

cannot be
"He cannot questionedas
be questioned as to what He 21 :23
ZI.23 25
25
does..."
does...tt

"He raised
raised some
some ofyouov€rothersin
of you over others in 6: 165 52
6:tGS 52
rank..."
rank...tt

"If only you could

"If could see
see [the
[the timel
time] when
when 32: 12
3Z:lZ 20
Z0
the sinners
sinners will
will bow..."
bow..."

o'ff
"If you really love
love Allah, follow me..."
me..." 3:3 1 22
3:31 Zz

"If you try

"If try to count Allah's blessings..."
blessings..." 14:34
l4:i4 43
43
ThePurpose
The Purpose ofCreation
of Creation

*'I did
"I did not
not create the jinn and
create the and the
the 51 :56
5l:56 27
27
humankind except..."
humankind except..."

'slndeed,it
"Indeed, it is
is in
in the
the remembrance
remembranceof 13 :28 56
of 13:28 56
Allah..."
Allah..."

"Indeed, the creation

"Indeed, the creationof the
the heavens
heavensand
and 40: 57
40:57 13
l3
the earth is greater..."
the earth is greater..."

"It is He who causes

"It is causesthe
the daybreak,
daybreak, made
made 6:96-7
6:96-7 70
70
the night..."
the night..."

"[It is He]
"[It is Hel who created
createddeath
death and
and life to 67:2
67.2 49
49
test which..."
test which..."

"I make them

"f will make them taste
taste a lesser
lesser iZ:Zl
32:21 65
65
punishment before..."
punishment before..."

"Know that your wealth

"Know wealth and
and children
children 8:28
8:28 52
Sz
are a test.tt
test."

"Let those
"Let those who contradict his command
command 24:63
24:63 67
beware..."
beware...tt

"No calamity strikes

"No strikes except
except by
by Allah's
Allah's 64: 11I
64:l 17
17
permission.tt
permission."
The
ThePurpose
PurposeofCreation
of Creation

"0 believers! Do
"O believers! Do not
not allow
allow your
your wealth
wealth 63:9
63:9 52
Sz
and children..."
and children,.,"

"0 believers,do
"O believers, do not
not destroy
destroyyour
your acts
acts 2:264
2:264 54
54
of charity..."
of charity..."

"0 believers!Remember
"O believers! RememberAllah
Allah often."
often." 33:41
33:41 32
32

"0 believers,seek
"O believers, seekhelp pati€nceand
help in patience and 2: 153
2:153 61
6l
prayer.tt
prayer."

"0 you who believe!

"O you believe! Fasting
Fasting has
has been
been 2:
2:l183
83 jz
32
prescribed for you..."
prescribed you..."

"Perhaps
"Perhaps you may dislike something
something 2:2 I6
2:216 58
58
good for you,.,"
good you..."

"Satangotthe
"Satan got tbe betterofthem
better oftbem and
and caused
caused 5B:19 33
58: 19 33
them... tt"
them...

"Satan's plan is to incite

"Satan's incite enmity and 5:91
5:91 33-34
33-34
hatred among you...t'
you..."

"Say: I seek
seek refuge
refuge in
in the
the Lord
Lord of
of the
the I] 13: -2
13: I1-2 I16
6
dawn."
dawn.tt
The Purpose ofCreation

'f have
Mu!amma'd]: 'I
"Say [O Mu!!amma~]:
"Sry [0 haveno power
no power 7:
7:188
I 88 47
47
to bring
to good..."
bring good..."

"Say: 'Surely my prayer,

prayer, my sacrifice, 36
"Say: 'Surely my sacrifice, 6: 162 36
6:162
my living...'
living...' ""

...so announce
""...so announce glad glad tidings
tidings [of
[of 2: 62
155-6 62
2:155-6
paradisel to those..."
paradise] those..."

"Surely religion is
"Surely Allah's religion is Islam."
Islam." 3:
3: 19
l9 35
35

forgive the
"Surely Allah will not forgive the 4:48
4:48 40
40
others..."
worship of others..."

"Surely 1 I have
have created
created all that is on 18:
l8:77 49
49
earth as
as its ornaments..."
ornaments..."

"Surely only a disbelieving

disbelieving people
people 12:
128787 60
60
despair..."
despair..."

"Surely, those
"Surely, those who believe
believe and
and do 98:6
98:6 3
399
righteous
righteous deeds..."
deeds..."

"Surely those
"Surely those who believed,
believed, emigrated
emigrated 2:218
2:218 661t
and stroYe...tt
strove..."
ThePurpose
The Purposeof
of Creation
Creatiotr

'oSurely,those
"Surely, those whom you call
whom you j:lg4
call on
on in
in 7: 194 46
46
prayer..."
prayer..."

"Take charity from

"Take charity from their wealth
their wealth to
to 9: 103 53
9:103 53
them..."
purify them..."

He may
"That He punish the
may punish the hypocrites,
hypocrites, 48:6
48:6 60
60
men and
men and women..."
women...t'

'oThe decision
"The decision rests
rests only
only with Allah.
AIIah. I 12:67
12:67 57
57
trust..."
put my trust..."

"There are among

"There are among men
men those
those who
who 2: 165 42
2:165 42
worship others..."
worship others..."

"There is
is nothing
nothing like Him and
and He is
is 42: 11
4T:ll 15
15
hearer and seer
seer of
of all.tt
all."

"The seven
seven heavens
heavens and the earth and 17:44 Zg
17:44 29
whatever is in them glorify
glorify Him..."

"They will
will only encompass
encompass of
of His 2:255
2:255 24
knowledge
knowledge what
what He wishes."
wishes."
The
The Purpose
Purpose ofCreation
of Creation

"Those
"Those who,
who, having
having done
done something
something 3:
3:135
135 34
34
shameful.,.tt
shamefuL.."

"Verily,
"Verilyr I am
am Allah,
Allah, there
there isis no god
no god 20:14
20:14 32
32
beside
besideMe, so
so worship Me...':
Me...'l

"Warn
"\lVarn your nearest
nearestrelatives."
relatives." 26: 214 48
26:214 48

"Whatever
"Whatever befalls
befallsyou
vou is
is aa result
result ofwhat
ofwhat 42:30
42:30 62
62
hands..."
your hands..."

"When My servants
servants ask you (0
ask you [O 2: 186
2:186 45
45
Muhammad]
Mulammadl about
about Me..."
Me..."

"When your Lord extracted

extractedfrom the
the 7: 172-3 26
7:172-3 26
loins
loins of Adam's..."
Adam's..."

"Whoever
"Whoever brings good deed,
brings aa good deed, shall
shall 6: 160
6:160 23·
23
have
have ten
ten like it..."
it..."

"Whoever
"'Whoever trusts
trusts in Allah will find Him 65:3
65:3 57
57
sufficient."
sufficient."

"You are
are thethe best people chosen
best people chosen fur
fior 3: I l0
3: 110 77
77
~"
mankind,.."
mankind..
 fnt Purpose
The P"rp:tr ofCreation
rf Crtt!*" t_ eof

Bibliography
Bibliography
Albaanee,Naasirud-Deen
Albaane~, Naasirud-Deenal-,
al-,Irwaa
Irwaa'J al-Ghaleel Beirut:
al-Ghaleel, Beirut:al-
al-
Maktabal-Islamee,
Maktab al-Islamee,1st
lst ed.,
ed..1979.
1979.

-----------, ~a!J.eeh. SunanAbee

$afteehSunan AbeeDaawood,
Daawood,Beirut:
Beirut: al-Maktab
al-Maktab
al-Islamee,
al-Islamee, 1stlst ed.,
ed.,1988.
I988.Daawood
Daowood

SafteehSunan
-----------,, Sab.eeb. Sunanat-Tirmithee,
at-Tirmigfiee,Riyadh:
Riyadh:Arab Arab Bureau
Bureau
Educationfor
of Education for the
theGulf States,
States,1st
I st ed.,
ed..1988.
l9gg.

gafueehSunan
-----------,, Sab.eeb. SunanIbn
lbn Maajah,
Maajaft, Beirut:
Beirut: al-Maktab
al-Maktab al-
al-
Islamee,3rd
Islamee, 3rd ed.,
ed., 1988.
1988.

-----------,, Silsilah
Silsilah al-Ahaadeeth a~-Sab.eeb.ah, vol.
al-Ab.aadeeth a;-gafoeehah, vol. 1, Beirut:
l, Beirut:
al-Maktab al-lslamee,
aJ-Maktab al-IsJamee, 4th4th ed., J985.
ed., 1985.

-----------,, Silsilah
Silsilah al-Afuaadeeth a~-Saheehah, vol. 4, Riyadh:
al-Ahaadeeth as_-$afoeefiah, Riyadh:
Maktabah
Maktabah al-Ma'aarif,
al-Ma'aarif, 4th
4th ed.,
ed., l9gg.
1988.

Chambers
Chambers Pocket
Pocket Dictionary, Edinburgh: W &
Dictionary, Edinburgh: & R Chambers,
Chambers,
1992.
1992.

Hasan,
Hasan, Ahmad,
Ahmad, Sunan
Sunan Abu
Abu Dawud [English], Lahore:
Dawud fEnglish], Lahore: Sh.
Sh.
Muhammad
Muhammad Ashraf
Ashraf Publishers,
Publishers, I1st ed., lgB4.
st ed.. 1984.
 of Creation
The Purpose of Creation

Khan, Muhammad
Khan, Muhammad Muhsin,
Muhsin, Sahih Al Bukhari,
Sahih Al Bukhari. [Arabic-
English], Riyadh:
Englishl, Maktabah ar-Riyaad
Riyadh: Maktabah ar-Riyaad al-Hadeethah,
al-Hadeethah,
1981.
1 981.

Rahimuddin, Muhammad,
Rahimuddin, Muwatta Imam
Muhammad, Muwatta Imam Malik [English],
[English],
Lahore: Sh.
Lahore: Muhammad Ashraf.
Sh. Muhammad 1980.
Ashraf, 1980.

W.L., Dictionary ofPhilosophy

Reese, W.L..
Reese, Religion. lrlew
of Philosophyand Religion, New
Humanities Press.
Jersey: Humanities
Jersey: 1980.
Press. 1980.

Robson,
Robson,James, Mishkat Al-Masabih,I-ahore:
James,Mishkat Sh.Muhammad
AI-Masabih, Lahore: Sh. Muhammad
Ashraf,
Ashraf,1981.
1981.

Siddiq.
Siddiq.Abdul Hamid.Sahih
Abdul Hamid. SahihMuslim
Muslim [English], Lahore:Sh.
fEnglish],Lahore: Sh.
Muhammad
MuhammadAshraf Publishers.1987.
AshrafPublishers. 1987.

The
The Living Webster
\I/ebsterEncyclopedic Dictionary, Chicago:
EncyclopedicDictionary, Chicago:The
The
English
EnglishLanguage
LanguageInstitute America,1975.
Instituteof America, 1975.

The
The New
New Encyclopaedia
EncyclopaediaBritannica. Chicago:Encyclopaedia
Britannica,Chicago: Encyclopaedia
Britannica,
B r i t a n n i c a15th
l .5 t h ed.,
e d . .1991.
1991.

The
TheWorld
WorldBook
BookEncyclopedia. Chicago:World
Encyclopediq,Chicago: World Book,
Book, 1987,.
1987.
 Tableof
Table of Contents
Contents

Introduction ..,
Introduction -'3

Why Did
Why Did God
God Create?
Create? 13
l3

Why Did
Why Did God
God Create
CreateMankind?
Mankind? 26
26

God Create
Why Did God CreateMankind
Mankind on
on Earth?
Earth? 49
49

Why Did God

God Create
Create the
the Wortd?
World? 69
69

Conclusion
Conclusion 76
76

Index
Index of
of Hadeeths
Hadeeths 7788

Index
Index of Qur'anic Verses
of Qur'anic Verses 82
82

Bibliography
Bibliography 90
90
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