The purpose of our creation Islamic view

“Why did Allah (SWT) create man?” “For what purpose was man created?” This question is answered without any ambiguity in Allah’s final revelation.

Allah (SWT) informed humans that every human is born with an innate consciousness of God. “And mention when your Lord took from the children of Adam – from their loins – their descendants and made them testify of themselves, saying to them, “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes, we have testified.” This – lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, “Indeed, we were of this unaware.” Surah Al-A’raf: 172

Consequently, every human being is responsible for believing in Allah, which is imprinted in every soul. 

“وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ”

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (51:56)

“Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.” (20:14)

Thus, The purpose for which mankind was created is the worship of God. However, Allah (SWT) is not in need of man worship. Mankind is not a part of Allah’s need. If mankind doesn’t worship Allah, it would not diminish His Glory in any way, and if all of mankind worshipped Allah, it would not increase His Glory in any way. We need Allah (SWT), need His Mercy, and need to worship Him.

What is the meaning of worship?

Allah (SWT) says: “Then exalt Him with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.”

Worship’s meaning in English is “the performance of devotional acts in honor and adoration for a deity” according to the verse above we are instructed to show gratitude to Allah by glorifying Him (SWT).

In glorifying Allah (SWT) we choose to be in harmony with the rest of Allah’s creatures which are naturally glorifying their creator. For example,

“The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts Allah by His praise, but you do not understand their way of exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving.” (17:44)

In Arabic, the language of the final revelation, Worship of Allah is “Ibadah”, which is related to the noun “Abd” which means ‘a slave’. A slave is one who is expected to do whatever his lord wills.

worship Allah in the language of the final revelation means “submission to the will of Allah” Allah (SWT) the lord of All that exists.

• All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds –
• The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
• Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.
• It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
• Guide us to the straight path
• The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked Your anger or of those who are astray. Surah Al-Fatiha.

Every Act in Islam is Worship if we are conscious

Every Muslim’s act in Islam can be transformed into an act of worship. Allah (SWT) commands the believers to dedicate their lives to Him (SWT) alone. Allah (SWT) says in His Book:

“Say, “Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.”

Allah will accept our worship in two conditions:

1- The Act of worship must be done sincerely for Allah (SWT), not for the praise of any human being.

2- The believer has to be conscious of his Lord Allah (SWT) while doing the deed, and also to make sure that his deed is not something forbidden in the Quran or the Sunnah of the prophet. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) instructed his followers to follow his way as he was guided by Allah (SWT).

Abdallah b. Masood told how Allah’s messenger drew a line for them and then said, “This is Allah’s path.” Thereafter he drew several lines on his right and left and said, “These are paths on each of which there is a devil who invites people to follow it.” And he recited, “And that this is my path, straight; follow it…” in Surah Al-An’am. “And, moreover, this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow other ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.”

Who is Allah’s best creation?

Allah (SWT) answers this question in the Quran:

“Indeed, they who have believed and done righteous deeds – those are the best of creatures.” (98:7)

Those who believe in Allah, without partners or offspring, and do righteous deeds become the best of creatures.

This leads us to the following Question:

What is the Gravest Sin in Islam?

The gravest sin in Islam is worshipping another God besides Allah\ to give Allah a partner which is (Shirk) in Arabic. you may check our Islamic studies course

“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.” (4:48)

“And they rejected them, while their inner selves were convinced thereof, out of injustice and haughtiness. So see how was the end of the corrupters.” (27:14)

People of desires and materialists have no purpose beyond the fulfillment of their desires. Consequently, they don’t submit to Allah the only true God,

in Quran Allah says: “Have you seen the one who takes as his god his own desire? Then would you be responsible for him?”

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) reported about His Lord:
Allah (glorified and exalted be He) said: I am so self-sufficient that I am in no need of having an associate. Thus he who does an action for someone else’s sake, as well as Mine, will have that action renounced by Me to him whom he associated with Me.
It was related to Muslims (also by Ibn Majah).