The Parrot asked, "Why Did Allah Create Mankind on Earth? Why Did Allah Create the World?" The Shama said, "The answer to this question can easily be found in the final revelation, in Surah al-Mulk[67]:2, "[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving."
And in Surah al-Kahf[18]:7,"Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed."
Thus, the purpose for the creation of human beings in this world is to test their conduct. This world of life and death, wealth and poverty, sickness and health, was created to sift out the righteous souls from the evil souls. Human conduct in this world is the measure of faith. However, the tests of conduct are not to inform Allah about humankind, for He knew everything there was to know about them before He created them. The tests serve to confirm on the Day of Judgment that those going to hell deserve it and those going to paradise only got there by Allah's grace. With regard to human beings in this life, the test of conduct serves two basic purposes: one, human spiritual growth, and the other, punishment or reward.
The tests of this world are primarily for the spiritual growth of human beings. Just as an intense fire separates pure gold from the rough ore to which it is bound in nature, tests purify the moral character of the believers. They force the believers to choose their higher spiritual qualities over their lower desires. Although not every test is passed, even in failure the believer grows by learning spiritual lessons to help him or her in future tests.
Tests of this life can be in the form of 'misfortune' and calamities which contribute to the spiritual growth of the true believers and purify them of sin. Conversely, life's tests of misfortune remind errant believers to return to the correct path, and they punish disbelievers in this life before the next.
Calamities are the foundation on which the higher spiritual quality of patience is developed. Consequently, it is not surprising to find that the righteous are subject to many tragedies and difficulties in their lives. Man is tested according to the level of his faith. If his faith is firm, his trials increase in severity, and if there is weakness in his faith, he will be tried accordingly.
True patience is the product of complete trust in Allah at the time of calamity. Trust in one's Lord is an important aspect of worship and the natural consequence of real faith. Since belief in Allah means accepting that nothing takes place in the universe without His permission, then only Allah deserves humankind's complete trust. For, it is only Allah's promise that is never broken. No matter how righteous a human being may be, he or she is capable of error. Humans will always let each other down due to their erring nature.
The trials by which Allah tests human beings are specifically tailored to their own individual needs and circumstances. Allah creates trials for each person according to their abilities in order to bring out the best in them. It would be unfair and unjust for human beings to be tried beyond their capacities and then be punished for their failures. If Allah is truly just, it means that the trials human beings face in this life are not beyond their ability to handle: In order to reassure humankind.
Furthermore, Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'Ala promises that the difficult situations which humans face in life will not be without intervals of rest. If trials were continuous they would certainly become unbearable. Consequently, every test is followed by a period of relief.
The divine promises of justice and mercy fill the believers with the confidence necessary to patiently face the difficulties of this life. Consequently, hope in the mercy of Allah is an essential part of faith. Those who believe in Allah and patiently strive to do what is right have the right to hope for His mercy, for He has promised to help and support those who are patient. Of course, paradise is the reward for patience based on sincere belief in Allah. Patience is also based on the belief that whatever befalls mankind is fundamentally a consequence of their own evil deeds.
The fact is, Allah has excused humans for much of their evil. Were He to punish them strictly according to their deeds, they and all on earth would be destroyed. Consequently, both the trials of good and the tests of evil benefit the believer. The lives of the true believers are balanced between the extremes of human behavior. They neither become so happy with life's successes that they forget Allah, nor do they become so depressed with life's difficulties and failures that they lose hope in Allah. Instead, they remember their Lord and Benefactor, and trust in His decisions.
On the other hand, if the believers experience a life devoid of any problems, it should be taken as a sign that something is wrong. Under such circumstances, the true believer must take time out and reflect on the realities of his or her life. Either the tests are not obvious and they are unaware of them or they have deviated from the right path. Allah informs the believers that the apparent enjoyment which the disbelievers take from their great wealth and children is only a prelude to their punishment.
This is not to say that the believers should yearn for problems and calamities in their lives, for Allah has taught them to pray, in Surah al-Baqarah[2]:286, "Our Lord, do not put on us a burden like what you placed on those before us." Instead, they should thank Allah for whatever trials He has spared them. However, in times of ease they must remain vigilant and not become oblivious to tests, for success and happiness often blind people to the trials of life.
Tests sometimes serve as a punishing reminder to those who have gone astray and an encouragement for them to return to the correct path. When people deviate, they seldom listen to the advice of those around them. However, when a calamity strikes them or those near and dear to them, it jolts those who still have some faith into recognizing their error.
Those who transgress the limits set by Allah expose themselves to punishment in this life and the next. The punishment may come in a variety of different ways. Throughout the Qur'an, Allah describes numerous past nations who rejected divine guidance and were subsequently destroyed. These stories serve as warnings to humanity of the consequences of rebellion against the commandments of Allah.
Finally, the purpose for which the world and its contents were created, relative to humankind, is specifically defined in the Quran. In Surah Ibrahim[14]:32-33, "It is Allah who created the heavens and the earth and sent down rain from the sky and produced thereby some fruits as provision for you and subjected for you the ships to sail through the sea by His command and subjected for you the rivers. And He subjected for you the sun and the moon, continuous [in orbit], and subjected for you the night and the day." In also in Surah Al-An'am[6]:96-97, "[He is] the cleaver of daybreak and has made the night for rest and the sun and moon for calculation. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing. And it is He who placed for you the stars that you may be guided by them through the darknesses of the land and sea. We have detailed the signs for a people who know."
The contents of this world were created for the service of humankind. Whether they are products of man's invention, like ships, or they are nature itself, all have been granted by Allah for the benefit of human beings. However, such gifts are not without responsibility. Humans are required to recognize Allah's bounties and mercies and give thanks to Him and glorify him.
Human beings also carry the responsibility to govern the creation according to the laws of Allah. This is man's purpose relative to the rest of creation. They are commanded to utilize the contents of this world according to the laws of Allah. In Sahih Muslim, Aboo Sa'eed al-Khudree quoted Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying, " The world is beautiful and green, and Allah has made you governors over it to see how you will act." Human beings are not free to do with the world as they please.
According to the final revelation, killing animals for sport is forbidden and sinful in the sight of Allah. Taking the life of any living animal is prohibited unless it is for food, for protection of human life, or for clothing. Killing for fun and enjoyment is fundamentally evil. And, even when the life of a human is taken for crimes against society, or the life of an animal is taken for food, it must be done as painlessly as possible. Caring for animals is enshrined in the divine law, even in the case of dogs, which are generally barred from Muslim homes. Harming animals is a major sin according to Islamic law.
There are circumstances where it is necessary to inflict pain on animals, such as hitting animals to get them to move and branding them for identification. However, even in these situations, Allah gave instructions to protect them. Jaabir reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) prohibited striking animals in their faces or branding them on their faces.
Humankind's responsibility of looking after this world does not stop at serving animals. The vegetable kingdom is also highly regarded in divine law. So much so, that Muslims engaged in war are forbidden to destroy fruit trees, and even
the planting of trees is considered an act of charity. Human beings have a responsibility to look after all aspects of the environment in which they were created as a sacred duty to Allah. This requires an active opposition to the massive pollution and destruction of natural habitats."
Then the Shama said, "O my brothers and sisters, without knowledge of the purpose of the creation, human beings wander aimlessly through life, like ships at sea without rudders. Therefore, essential for their own well-being that they know why Allah created them. Fundamentally; Allah created in order to manifest His attributes. Consequently, creation is the consequence of His being the Creator, paradise manifests His Mercy and Grace, hell His Justice, humankind's errors His Forgiveness, living
and non-living beings His Generosity, etc. The significance of knowing that creation is a means by which Allah manifests His attributes is that human beings can then correctly recognize Allah and accept His decree and their destiny. However, it is of even greater importance that human beings know the purpose for which they were created. The final Revelation, the Quran, teaches that it is to worship Allah because humankind must worship Him in order to attain righteousness and the spiritual status necessary to enter paradise. The significance of this knowledge is that human beings understand that worship is as much a necessity as eating and breathing and that it is not a favor they are doing for Allah.
It is also essential that human beings grasp the importance of this world's bounties and trials. Without knowledge of the purpose behind their creation, humans tend to look at this world as being hostile to them. However, Allah created it primarily for their benefit. The tests of good and evil are designed to bring out the higher spiritual qualities of the human being. However, humans are not able to benefit from the tests unless they put complete trust in Allah and have patience in what He has destined for them. For those who reject Allah, the trials of this world become a punishment for them in this life prior to the eternal punishment in the next world.
Knowledge of the purpose of the world also makes the believer environmentally conscious. Humankind is responsible to utilize the bounties of this life justly. The creatures of the earth and seas, the vegetation and the atmosphere have been put in his care. Consequently, humans should take great care to preserve the environment and the living creatures within it as a means of giving thanks to Allah. With such a comprehensive consciousness of purpose, human beings become whole. They are transformed into guides for humankind, showing the way to righteousness. And Allah knows best."
(Part 1)"I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me. Indeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength." - [QS.51:57-58]"
Reference :
- Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips, The Purpose of Creation, IIPH
