Knowledge of the purpose for which Allah created mankind may answer many questions that the atheists raise in order to confuse people, and by which some Muslims may be influenced. These issues include the idea that Allah created mankind in order to put some of them in Paradise and the others in Hell! This is a mistaken notion. It is not for this purpose that Allah created mankind and brought them into being. As Allah says in Qur’an: “And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)” (Al-Dhariyat, 51:56). He told us that he created the universe so that His slaves might know the perfection of His power, the all-encompassing nature of His knowledge, which requires knowing Him and His names and attributes, and affirming His oneness. Just as it is proven that there is wisdom behind the creation of man from the standpoint of Sharee’ah (Islamic law), it is also proven from the standpoint of reason. The wise man cannot but accept that things have been created for a reason, and the wise man regards himself as being above doing things in his own life for no reason. Secondly, prior to the question if a man forgets the purpose of his/her life I would rather give different opinion. In my opinion, there last place of rest will be very terrific. In this present era life of a man is surrounding around money, cars, bank balance, and all other luxuries. Thus, if a man Indulge with these luxuries of life his/her ending of life and the limitless life after death will not good. Indeed, this word is so small in this context. As Allah said in his Holy Qur’an: “Those who deny (their Lord), for them will be cut out a garment of Fire. Over their heads will be poured out boiling water. With it will be scalded what is within their bodies, as well as (their) skins. In addition, there will be maces of iron (to punish) them. Every time they wish to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be forced back, and (it will be said), ‘Taste the Penalty of Burning!’” (22: verse 19-22).
Why Did Allah Create Mankind?
The essential purpose for which humankind was created is the worship of God. However, the Almighty is not in need of human worship. He did not create human beings out of a need on His part. If not a single human worshipped God, it would not diminish His glory in any way, and if all of humankind worshipped Him, it would not increase His glory in any way. God is perfect. He alone exists without any needs. All created beings have needs. Consequently, it is humankind that needs to worship God.
To understand why human beings, need to worship God, one must first understand what is meant by the term ‘worship’. The English term ‘worship’ comes from the old English ‘weorthscipe’ meaning ‘honor’. Consequently, worship in the English language is defined as ‘the performance of devotional acts in honor of a deity’. According to this meaning, man is instructed to show gratitude to God by glorifying Him. In the Qur’an, God says: “Glorify the praises of your Lord…” (Qur’an, 15:98). It should be noted that ‘will’ in this quote means ‘what God wants human beings to do’ and not ‘what God permits humans to do’, because nothing happens in creation without the will (permission) of God. The ‘will of God’ is contained in the divinely revealed laws which the prophets taught their followers. Consequently, obedience to divine law is the foundation of worship. In this sense, glorification also becomes worship when humans choose to obey God’s instructions regarding His glorification.
After knowing why Allah created mankind there might be a question rises in the mind of a person that when He made all this so He also knew that this question will rise in the minds of people who thinks so He himself answered the question. Allah said in Holy Qur’an: “And indeed, We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in six Days and nothing of fatigue touched Us” (Qaf, 50:38).
Allah said in Holy Qur’an that He created mankind from a drop of wet earth and everything is made of water. As He said in Qur’an: “Verily We created man from a product of wet earth; then placed him as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging; then We fashioned the drop into a clot, then We fashioned the clot into a little lump, then We fashioned the little lump into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators!” (Qur’an, 23:12-14).
Purpose of One’s Life
One of the greatest attributes of Allah is wisdom, and one of His greatest names is al-Hakeem (the Wisest). It should be noted that He has not created anything in vain rather He creates things for great and wise reasons, and for sublime purposes. Allah has stated that in His Holy Book, where He says that He has not created mankind in vain, and He has not created the heavens and the earth in vain. “Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?”. “So Exalted be Allah, the True King: La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Lord of the Supreme Throne!” (Qur’an, 23:115,116).
The purpose of life is very simple, Allah created mankind to worship Him. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala states: “And I did not create the Jinn and mankind except to worship Me” (Qur’an, 51:56-58). Allah states in Qur’an that he has created man to be Khalefah, His trustee on Earth (Qur’an 2:30). Mankind basic trust, our responsibility, is to believe in and worship Allah. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala sent Prophets for every nation with a message to worship and obey Him. Allah also sent Messengers to educate people about their well-being in this life and in the Hereafter.
Consequences if One Forgets the Purpose of Life
If a person forgets the purpose of life his life becomes meaningless, he doesn’t have an end goal and leads a depressing life. In the light of Islam, the purpose of life is to worship Allah and if person forgets the purpose of life, then Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala states: “And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind” (Qur’an, 20:124). As Ashraf-ul-Makhlooqat we have been given the sense of right and wrong. It’s the nafs of a person that leads him to good or bad deeds. A person doing good deeds will please Allah and will be rewarded paradise and a person doing bad deeds will be punished in hell. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala states: “They belied (the verses of Allah- this Qur’an), and followed their own lusts. And every matter will be settled (according to the kind of deeds: good deeds will take their doers to Paradise, and similarly evil deeds will take their doers to Hell)” (Qur’an, 54:3). When Allah wants someone to be on the right path Allah gives them the knowledge of Deen. Allah is so Rehman ur Raheem that once he set His gaze upon you, you will forever remain in His sight.
Conclusion
It is concluded from the above writing that Allah created mankind and all other things for His worship and so that all species would glorifies His greatness and oneness. One’s purpose of life should be to obey Allah in every aspect of life and do everything according to His teachings so that our every act would be an act of worship. We should never disobey Allah. We have to follow the path He gave us. If a person forgets the purpose of life his life becomes meaningless.