WHY ARE YOU HERE? – REASON BEHIND THE CREATION OF MANKIND
WHY ARE YOU HERE? REASON BEHIND THE CREATION OF MANKIND.
Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the noblest of mankind, the seal and best of the Prophets, Prophet Muhammad.
By the will of Allaah, this write-up will be deliberating on the purpose for which mankind was created. If someone acknowledges himself as part of mankind and that he exist, then such a being should not hide away from what has been established of the truth concerning this. For indeed, his creation was not in vain and was not purposeless, rather he was created for a reason.
Being alive comes with experiences, and amongst those experiences are lessons we can learn from various sources or through various mediums. As we live on, there are some phenomenons or occurrences that happen to us or around us that leave some space for reflection or send some messages to our senses. Some of these occurrences we by ourselves pursue or cause to happen while some happen without our own knowledge or efforts. Amongst those lessons that we learn by virtue of being alive is to come to the realization that everything that exist or is created has a reason for its existence or creation. Things do not just happen or are not just created for no reason, rather there is a reason behind its occurrence or creation. And common sense itself is capable of realizing this.
And logical reasoning also realizes that not fulfilling the purpose for which something has been created or exist will render it unproductive or bring forth negative consequences. This is usually a bitter story to tell; a lamentable experience. What does it look like when one dedicates and exerts time, efforts and the necessary resources to the creation of a particular thing and then it eventually does not serve the expected purpose or benefit? What does it look like when someone embarks on a journey or mission or pursues a particular thing, utilizing time, efforts and resources in the way of that thing, but eventually does not achieve it? Such a situation is regarded as a failure case and is marked with a sign of negativity. But when such purposes are achieved, it is regarded as success and is marked with positivity and prosperity.
If the above lines are digested and understood, then what about man? What is the state of man in this world? – talking about man who is alive. Indeed, a man who is alive is in a state of existence which makes the above lines to be applicable in his case too. Man does not just exist on the surface of the earth for no reason, and indeed, the existence of man was never by mistake. So if man recognizes himself as an existing entity, then he should realize that he exists for a reason. So there is man, being in a state of existence and recognizing that his existence is for a reason, if he is wise, he is consequentially thrown in the search for the reason for which he exist and how to be successful in fulfilling it. This is wisdom and this is common sense.
If you were created into this world, which is obviously and truly not by your will or effort, then why are you in this world? You did not just think, and then you made the decision to create yourself and send yourself to this world. It was not you who sent yourself into the womb of your mother who bore you. You definitely did nothing about your creation into this world. It just so happened that you exist. Why? Not that you fashioned your existence all by yourself. Even the mind reposes the idea. What idea? That you were there somewhere in existence, then you thought and decided to create yourself the way you are and you sent yourself into this world? Is that possible? The mind says no. So why are you here?
As man contemplates on the reason why he is here so does he think about how he will be successful. Man does not want to fail on this journey of life. He meets himself here and finds no need to hide away from the fact that he is already here. Even if he knows that he did nothing to the fashioning of his existence, he realizes and accepts the fact that he exists and finds no need to hide away from it. So how does he not fail in his journey of life? Man seeks to become successful.
When man gets into the world, he does not live his whole life being the only one in existence. Man meets other existing things, some of whom are living and some are not living. As man lives on, as he relates with the people and the environment around him, as he passes through different experiences, his mentality and senses consequentially gets affected. However, those effects which his mentality experiences are usually driven by his free will; he chooses to believe or accept something and he chooses to disbelieve or deny something. Man sees things and messages are sent to his brain. Man hears things and messages are sent to his brain. It also happens when he feels things. As man gets into different experiences, messages are sent to his brain. The state of man’s mentality then determines how those messages are interpreted and how the situation is understood. And driven by his free will, man gives his judgment on a particular situation based on how he understands or views it.
But how is the wisdom and logic of man? How reliable is it? Someone is a man and he lives on the surface of this earth, how reliable is his logic and wisdom being a man? Man has been created in such a way that his wisdom and logic is not totally reliable. Amongst the sons of Adam are those whose intellectual ability are deficient and lower to some others. This quality of being intellectually deficient will possibly get in the way of their thinking and affect their reasoning and sense of judgment. So how reliable is the wisdom of man?
Amongst the sons of Adam are those who seek pleasure and satisfaction through obnoxious and detestable means. Amongst them are those who copulate with someone of their own gender. Amongst them are those who copulate with animals. Why would some people want to do all that? But man has been created in such a way that makes it possible for his mentality and inclinations to be influenced by the manipulations of the Shaytan. So how reliable is the wisdom of man?
The brain of man basically does not by itself develop the knowledge about something, unless it is instilled into it. If he does not go through any experience that causes the knowledge about a particular thing to be instilled into him, the knowledge cannot just develop by itself. So how reliable is the knowledge of man?
So for man to judge or conclude by himself, based on his reasoning or wisdom, the reason why he exists on the surface of the earth is not a good approach. It is not an idea that can be bought. It is not a means that a wise man would pursue. If we are to go that way, we will find that men may be giving different opinions on the issue because the state of their mentality may not be the same. What has affected one man’s mentality might not have affected the other. So if people give different opinions on this issue, then how do we judge which opinion is correct? So such approach is not good, man then furthers his search for the truth. What is the purpose of man’s existence. Why is he here on earth? How do we answer this question? It is a very simple thing to achieve, in shaa Allaah.
Think about this. Why is it that people refer to the instruction manual of a product as a guide for them in the course of utilizing the product? When a product is brought before man, his brain has been fashioned in such a way that it may start having some ideas about how such product can be utilized. When he beholds the product, some messages are sent to his brain. The man might have some knowledge about the technicality of the product. He might have some experience about dealing with such product. So when these messages are sent to his brain, the brain interprets them, and based on the man’s knowledge or logic or experience in relation to that product, he may start developing ideas about how the product may be utilized. But still, he may not want to reach conclusions on how the product may be utilized based on his own knowledge or reasoning and wants to refer to the instruction manual. Why?
Because he thinks that the one who has created the product should have knowledge about what he created that is enough for him to give a guide on the pros and cons of the product and how it may be utilized. So if man believes the fact that he didn’t create himself, then he is not in such a position as the one explicated above to judge or conclude on the reason why he exist on earth. So who is in such position? Definitely, his Creator. Knowing the reason why man exist is a very simple thing to accomplish if he refers the case to his Creator. So if the Creator created him, then why did He create him?
Indeed, mankind was created by a Creator, and this is a fact of which there is no doubt. If you sight footsteps on a path, it doesn’t appear to the mind that those footsteps just appeared there on their own; rather you know that a person has passed that path. If you hear the moo of a cow from somewhere, it doesn’t occur to the mind that such a moo just sounded on its own; rather it indicates that there is a cow around. Something that cannot just create itself or fashion its own existence or occurrence, if such a thing exists, then there must be someone who fashioned its existence. If man believes the fact that he did not fashion his own existence, and he also believes that he exists, then he must believe that he has a Creator who created him.
So who is this Creator? If man were to search this whole world, can he ever find someone amongst his fellow men or other living creatures who can create something like the fashion in which he has been created? Search everywhere in this world. Who is that person that can be so knowledgeable or so powerful or so skillful to create something like him? Which machine or tool has ever been produced in this world that is capable of fashioning a structure or creation like that of man? Like that of man is way too far, isn’t it? What about like that of an ant? Creating the structure or body of an ant and blowing life into it to make it look and live like the real ant, has there been any case in history where such has ever been accomplished?
So if man realizes that there is no one of the surface of this earth that is so capable of creating something like the fashion in which he was created, then he realizes that the one who fashioned his existence is one who is far superior, far more powerful, far more knowledgeable than all the creatures who dwell on earth. Indeed, man is incapable of producing something like man. No matter how knowledgeable you are, no matter how much technology you have got in your capacity and how advanced it gets, no matter how high your potentials get, you being a human, can never create something like man. Indeed, man was created by one who is far superior to him. So who is this Creator?
Undoubtedly, it is Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. Praise be to Allaah, for by acknowledging and believing in the existence of Allaah and the fact that he created mankind, then the search for the reason for the creation of mankind is easily accomplished, in shaa Allaah. So what is the reason for the creation of mankind?
Indeed, there is wisdom behind the creation of mankind. Quoting from islamqa.info:
One of the greatest attributes of Allaah is wisdom, and one of His greatest names is al-Hakeem (the most Wise). It should be noted that He has not created anything in vain; exalted be Allaah far above such a thing. Rather He creates things for great and wise reasons, and for sublime purposes. Those who know them know them and those who do not know them do not know them. Allaah 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. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“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 Allaah, the True King: Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Lord of the Supreme Throne!”
[al-Mu’minoon 23:115, 116]
“We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a (mere) play”
[al-Anbiya’ 21:16]
“And We created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, for mere play.
We created them not except with truth (i.e. to examine and test those who are obedient and those who are disobedient and then reward the obedient ones and punish the disobedient ones), but most of them know not”
[al-Dukhaan 44:38]
“HaaMeem.
[These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’aan, and none but Allaah (Alone) knows their meanings.]
The revelation of the Book (this Qur’aan) is from Allaah, the AllMighty, the AllWise.
We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except with truth, and for an appointed term. But those who disbelieve, turn away from that whereof they are warned”
[al-Ahqaaf 46:1-3]
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, so how about Allaah, the Wisest of the wise?
Hence the wise believers affirm that there is wisdom in Allaah’s creation, and the disbelievers deny that. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.
Those who remember Allaah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted are You above all that they associate with You as partners). Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:190, 191]
And Allaah says, describing the attitude of the disbelievers towards the wisdom of His creation (interpretation of the meaning):
“And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them without purpose! That is the consideration of those who disbelieve! Then woe to those who disbelieve (in Islamic Monotheism) from the Fire!”
[Saad 38:27]
So it is proven that mankind was not created without purpose. In case man thinks that he was created by mistake or he was created for no reason, Almighty Allaah says that No, mankind was not created in vain. So if Allaah created mankind for a purpose, then what is the purpose? Quoting from islamqa.info:
Allaah has not created man to eat, drink and multiply, in which case he would be like the animals. Allaah has honoured man and favoured him far above many of those whom He has created, but many people insist on disbelief, so they are ignorant of or deny the true wisdom behind their creation, and all they care about is enjoying the pleasures of this world. The life of such people is like that of animals, and indeed they are even more astray. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“while those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as cattle eat; and the Fire will be their abode”
[Muhammad 47:12]
“Leave them to eat and enjoy, and let them be preoccupied with (false) hope. They will come to know!”
[al-Hijr 15:3]
“And surely, We have created many of the jinn and mankind for Hell. They have hearts wherewith they understand not, and they have eyes wherewith they see not, and they have ears wherewith they hear not (the truth). They are like cattle, nay even more astray; those! They are the heedless ones”
[al-A’raaf 7:179]
It is well known to wise people that the one who does a thing knows more about the wisdom behind it than anyone else and for Allaah is the highest description (cf. al-Nahl 16:60); He is the One Who has created mankind and He knows best the wisdom behind the creation of mankind. No one would dispute this with regard to worldly matters. All people are certain that their physical faculties have been created for a reason. The eye is for seeing, the ear is for hearing, and so on. Does it make sense for his physical faculties to have been created for a reason but for himself to have been created in vain? Or does he not agree to respond to the One Who created him when He tells him of the reason behind his creation?
Allaah has told us that the creation of the heavens and the earth, and of life and death, is for the purpose of testing, so as to test man. Whoever obeys Him, He will reward him, and whoever disobeys Him, He will punish him. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six Days and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds. But if you were to say to them: “You shall indeed be raised up after death,” those who disbelieve would be sure to say, “This is nothing but obvious magic”
[Hood 11:7]
“Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the AllMighty, the OftForgiving”
[al-Mulk 67:2]
From this test results a manifestation of the names and attributes of Allaah, such as Allaah’s names al-Rahmaan (the Most Gracious), al-Ghafoor (the Oft Forgiving), al-Hakeem (the Most Wise), al-Tawwaab (the Accepter of Repentance), al-Raheem (the Most Merciful), and other names of Allaah.
One of the greatest reasons for which Allaah has created mankind – which is one of the greatest tests – is the command to affirm His Oneness (Tawheed) and to worship Him alone with no partner or associate. Allaah has stated this reason for the creation of mankind, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And I (Allaah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)”
[al-Dhaariyaat 51:56]
Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
i.e., I have created them so that I may command them to worship Me, not because I have any need of them. ‘Ali ibn Abi Talhah said, narrating from Ibn ‘Abbaas: “except that they should worship Me (alone)” willingly or unwillingly. This is the view favoured by Ibn Jareer. Ibn Jurayj said: i.e., except that they should know Me. Al-Rabee’ ibn Anas said: “Except that they should worship Me”, i.e., for the purpose of worship. End quote.
Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/239
Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sa’di (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Allaah, may He be exalted, created mankind to worship Him and to know Him by His names and attributes, and to enjoin that upon them. Whoever submits to Him and does what is enjoined upon him will be one of those who are successful, but whoever turns away from that, they are the losers. He will inevitably gather them together in the Hereafter where He will reward or punish them for what He commanded and forbade them to do. Hence Allaah mentions how the mushrikeen (polytheists) denied the reward or punishment, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“But if you were to say to them: ‘You shall indeed be raised up after death,’ those who disbelieve would be sure to say, ‘This is nothing but obvious magic’”
[Hood 11:7]
i.e., if you were to speak to these people and tell them about the Resurrection after death, they would not believe you, rather they would reject your words vehemently and deny the message you brought, and they would say, ‘This is nothing but obvious magic,’ but in fact it is obvious truth. End quote.
Tafseer al-Sa’di, p. 333
And Allaah knows best.
Praise be to Allaah, who has revealed the Quran and decreed that man should never be led astray by it rather in it is guidance for mankind. By referring to the Creator concerning that which man seeks to know (i.e. the reason behind his creation), we have come to know the truth and the reason behind our creation. If man knows and he believes, then it is left for him to strive to fulfill his purpose in life and be amongst the successful; for him to strive that his life should be marked with positivity and auspiciousness; for his life not to be marked with negativity and failure and for him not to end up being a loser.
And Allaah is the Source of strength.
To get a fatwa on islamqa.info – of which Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al – Munajjid is the General Supervisor – concerning this issue, you can see the fatwa through the link: https://islamqa.info/en/45529
May Allaah bless and reward the Shaykh abundantly.
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