Purpose of Creation

Purpose of Creation - Part 1 - From the Perspective of the Creator

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This question arises in the mind of every individual sometime or the other irrespective whether he is rich or poor, king or cooper, black or white, whether he lives in USA or India. Most of the human beings think that there has to be a Supreme Creator, Almighty God and because of Him we are here. However there is a small minority who do not believe in the existence of the Creator, Almighty God. They assume that the whole world has come into existence by chance and we human  beings too have come into existence by chance. Suppose you see the footprints of a person on the beach, immediately a logical person thinks that these footprints have been created by the walking of a person. A logical person will not assume that the footprints came into existence by chance or that the waves created the footprints.

The question of the purpose of creation can be answered from two perspectives.

1 - The perspective of the Creator, the Almighty God:

2 - The perspective of the Creation, the Human beings:

Those who do not believe in the existence of Almighty God and believe that we have come into this world by mere chance. According to this philosophy, there is no difference between the human beings and the other creations; there is no difference between human beings and animals. All have come by chance. These people do not have any particular purpose of life at all. They do not have a purpose for existence. They live the same way as animals. They eat, drink, sleep and procreate. Therefore they strive for excellence in eating, drinking, sleeping and procreating. They become materialistic and materialism becomes their god. Because of this such people create drugs and weapons of mass destruction to make a better living. They involve in pornography, fornication, adultery and homosexuality. It doesn't make any difference to them as to what they create or what they involve themselves in because they only believe in materialism.

1 - Purpose of Creation from the perspective of the Creator, the Almighty God:

Almighty God says in the Qur'an in Sura al Ghafir Chapter 40 Verse 57, "the creations of the heavens and the earth are far greater than the creation of the human being, but most of the human beings realize it not." Many human beings say that we are the greatest of the creations, but Almighty God says that the creations of heavens and earth are far greater, but the human beings do not realize it. One of the attributes of Almighty God is 'The Creator, The Best Creator' and Almighty God says in the Qur'an in Sura al Mominun Chapter 23 Verse 21, "Almighty God is the best to create." Since one of the attributes of God is 'the Creator', there must be a creation of His. But that does not mean that Almighty God is dependent on His creations. Almighty God says in the Qur'an in Sura al Zumur Chapter 39 Verse 62 "It is Almighty God, who creates everything and He is independent of all His creations." The Arabic word for 'Creator' is 'Khaliq' and the Arabic word 'Khalaqa' means 'to create'. 'Khalaqa' (creating) can be divided into two types. One meaning of 'Khalaqa' is 'to create something from something', which besides Almighty God even we human beings can do. For instance, a carpenter creates a chair from wood and nails. But the wood is obtained from the trees and nail from metal and the trees and wood have not be created by the carpenter. So all of the creations of human beings are dependent upon the basic elements created by Almighty God. So this type of creation is a limited type of creation. The ultimate and the true creation is to create something from nothing and this no one besides Almighty God can do. None of the creations can create something from nothing except the uncreated Almighty God, the Creator of all the creations. So He is the Creator, there has to be creation.

There are up to 99 attributes of God mentioned in the Qur'an and the authentic sayings of prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him). One of the attributes of God is "Ar Rehman, the Merciful", "Ar Raheem, the Kind", "Al Ghafir, the Forgiver". Human beings are a unique creation of Allah Almighty. Human beings have a free-will of their own. We can either obey or disobey our Creator. Because of having a free-will, we can sin. The other creations of Almighty God do not have any free will of their own and they can not sin. They follow each and every commandment of Almighty God. Only when the human beings sin and repent and ask for forgiveness can the Mercy of Almighty God, the Kindness of Almighty God, the Love of Almighty God, the Grace of Almighty God and the Forgiveness of Almighty God can be known.

The other attribute of Almighty God given in the Qur'an is Love. Almighty God says in several places in the Qur'an that He loves those people, who trust in him, those who are patient, those who are righteous, those who are pious, those who have patience and perseverance and those who approach Him. Almighty God commands the prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) in the Qur'an in Sura Ale Imran Chapter 3 Verse 31 to tell the people, "if you love Almighty God, follow me and Almighty God will love you and forgive your sins." According to a saying of prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) recorded in Sahih Tirmidhi Volume 2 Hadith 2805, prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) said that Almighty God says if you approach me, I will answer you. If you ask for forgiveness, I will forgive you, Even if your sins reach up-to the clouds, I will forgive you. Even if you sins are as big as the whole earth, I will approach you with the same forgiveness as long as you ask for forgiveness and do not associate partners with Me.

One of the attributes of Almighty God is 'the Grace'. It is mentioned in Sahih Muslim Volume 4 Hadith number 6765 prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) said that do good deeds to the best of your ability and be happy for no one can enter the heaven only on the basis of his deeds. The companions asked, what about you prophet Mohammed? The prophet replied, Not even I. I can not enter the heaven unless the Grace and the Mercy of Almighty God envelopes me. Almighty God says in the Qur'an Sura Anaam Chapter 6 Verse 160, "if you do any good deed, I will multiply it ten times into your account and if you do any evil deed, I will count it only as one. For Almighty God is the most Forgiving and He does not do anything wrong." Had both our good deeds and evil deeds been counted as one each without multiplication of our good deeds, none of us would have managed to enter the heaven. It is the Grace of Almighty God that He multiplies our good deeds ten times so that we may enter the heaven. So goods deeds are important, but the Grace of Almighty God is more important to enter the heaven.

One of the attributes of Almighty God is 'Absolute Justice'. Almighty God has divine knowledge of everything. The moment a person is born Almighty God knows whether he would do good deeds or evil deeds. Whether he would obey Him or disobey Him. Almighty God even knows whether this person would go to the heaven or to the hell. But if the moment a person is born Almighty God puts in the heaven, the person deserves the heaven and puts in the hell, the person who deserves hell. The people put in the heaven would not object. But the people put in the hell would object. Saying how come they have been put into the hell even without a test, without a chance to lead their lives? Almighty God is just. As the Qur'an says in Sura an Nisa Chapter 4 Verse 40, "Almighty God is never unjust in the least degree." That's why Almighty God lets the people live in this world and whoever follows His commandments would pass the test and whoever disobeys fails the test. Almighty God says in the Qur'an in Sura al Sajda Chapter 32 Verse 12 that these people who will go to hell on the day of judgement, they will never object to the justice of Almighty God. But they will bow down their heads and ask for forgiveness. They would agree with the Lord and would say that give us another chance and send us once again in the world and we would surely be believers this time. But Almighty God knows in His divine wisdom that if He forgives them and sends them back in the world, after whitewashing their memory of what they have seen in the hell, they would again commit the same mistakes. This is mentioned in the Qur'an Sura al Anaam Chapter 6 Verse 28 that if these people were again sent in the world, they would repeat the same mistakes because they are liars. So because of the attributes of forgiving, loving, kindness and grace are manifest in the Creator, Almighty God.

Now the question arises that is Almighty God dependent on His creation to ask His forgiveness or glorify Him to make Him somehow superior? Certainly Not:) We would discuss this in detail in our next post of this series and also discuss the all important question of destiny and free that since everything is destined by Almighty God, then why should we be responsible for any evil things we do, but rather Almighty God should be responsible because He destined so.

Previously, we discussed the Purpose of Creation from the perspective of Almighty God that what was the purpose of Almighty God for creating us. An important question often asked is that if Almight God has already destined everything then if I commit murder or rape or any other sins then God is responsible? And it is a very logical question. To answer this we must understand the conception of Destiny or Predestination correctly.

Destiny - Qadr
Certain things are fixed. Such as, where will you born, which family will you be born in, when and where will you die? These things are fixed.

Almighty God has Ilm-e-Gayb. Almighty God has perfect and infallable knowledge of the future. Almighty God knows in advance what you will do in the future out of your own will and choice. So Almighty God writes it down in advance that you will do it. So It is not because God has written it down that you do it. But it is because you will be doing it out of your own free-will that God has already written it down.

Let me explain it with an example of a classroom. Suppose the teacher has taught the class for the whole term and exams are approaching and the teacher makes some predictions in the classroom. The teachers says that Student A will come first in the class and Student B will fail in the exams. And after the exams when the results are declared, Student A comes first and Student B fails exactly as the teacher had predicted before the exams. Now Student B can not blame the teacher that she predicted that he will fail and that is why he has failed. Because the teacher had taught the class and had knew that Student A is a hard working student and will come first, but Student B does not study and plays all the time, hangs out with his friend and obiviously because of all this he will fail. So the teacher had knowledge of all this and with the help of her knowledge she made correct predictions. So Almighty God has perfect knowledge of the future, which never fails and thus Almighty God knows in advance what people will do and He writes it down in advance.

For instance, if in your life you come at a crossroad and there are three roads. Road 1, road 2 and road 3. You are free to chose whichever way you want and you chose you take road 2. Almighty God already knows in advance that you will choose road 2 out of your own will and that is why He has already written it down in your destiny. Or suppose if you choose road 2, but after walking a few steps you change your mind, get back and choose road 3. Almighty God already knows in advance that you will first choose road 2, but after a few steps you will change your mind and choose 3. So it is not that Almighty God has already written it down that you are choosing this road, but it because you will out of your own free-will choose this road and Almighty God knows it and He has written it down.

Lets try to answer the question of creation from the perspective of the creation, the human beings. That why Allah created us human beings. Allah says in the Glorious Qur'an Sura al Araaf Chapter 7 Verses 172 & 173 that He will bring out from the lions of the children of Adam (may peace be upon him) all the desendants and will ask them am I your Lord and all will say that we testify that you are our Lord lest on the day of judgement they may say that we were unaware that you are our Lord or that our ancestors worshiped somebody else and we just followed them so they should be punished not us. So before we were sent into this world Allah brought all the Children of Adam and asked them who is their Lord and they all testified that there is one Allah and He is our Lord and now is our test in this world.

Allah says in the Holy Qur'an Sura al Zariaat Chapter 51 Verse 56, "We have created the men and the Jinn not but to worship Me." The English word "Worship" according the Webster's Encylopedia Dictionary means 'acts of devotion honoring the Diety.' The Arabic word for 'worship' is "Ibada" derived from the root word "Abd", which means 'a slave'. It is the duty of the slave to be obidient to all the wishes and will of his master. So 'Ibada' means 'total submission to the will of the Creator, Almighty Allah.'

One of the forms of worship is Glorification of the Creator, Almighty Allah. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an Sura an Nasr Chapter 110 Verse 3 , "Glorify the praises of thy Lord." One may ask why does Allah require us human beings to glorify Him? Is Allah dependent on the praises of human beings? Even if all the human beings praise Allah, it will not make Him greater and if nobody praises Him, yet it will not diminish Him. He is the same. If you say 'Allahu Akbar' (God is the Greatest) a hundred times it will not make Him superior or if you do not say 'Allahu Akbar', it will not make Him less. He is the Greatest and He will remain the Greatest. Allah says in the Qur'an Sura Anfal Chapter 8 that Allah does not require us. It is we who require Him and He is worthy of all praises. So the question remains that why does Allah then require us to praise Him? In fact it is for our own benefit because it is human tendency that if we praise a person or a person is famous, we tend to follow his advice. For instance, if your mother is suffering from a heart disease and you have two options. One is the best doctor in the world and the other is a plain MBBS doctor and both are giving free treatement. Whom would you go to? Of course, you will go to the best doctor in the world and whatever advice he gives you, you will act upon it with your eyes closed because you accept him to be world famous, the best. That is the reason when we praise Allah and call Him the Greatest, the Most Merciful so the moment we praise Him, we tend to follow His advice, the Glorious Qur'an and the advice that He revealed to His Messengers including the final prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). For instance, when you agree that He is the Most Wise, then Allah, the Most Wise tells you not to have alcohol then stop having alcohol. Allah tells you not to rob then do not rob. So it is not for the benefit of Allah that we praise Him, it's for our own benefit because when we praise Him, it is human tendency that we will follow His advice. 

That is why Allah says in the Holy Qur'an Sura at Taha Chapter 20 Verse 14 that Verily I am Allah and there is no God besides Me, so remember Me regularly and offer (Salaah) prayer regularly. Allah is advising us to offer Salaah (prayer) regularly because there is so much evil around us that we tend to deviate at times and this Salaah (prayer) is a programing towards righteousness and we are getting programed. As a doctor say that we require 3 meals a day for a healthy body in the same way we require a minimum 5 times daily Salaah (prayer) for a healthy soul. So all forms of worship are beneficial for us.

Allah says in the Holy Qur'an Sura al Baqara Chapter 2 Verse 183 that fasting has been prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those, who came before you so that you may learn self restraint. So when we fast we learn self restraint. We learn to control our desires. Today psychologists tell us that if we control our hunger, we can control all our desires. When we fast, we abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset and when control our hunger, we learn to control almost all our desires. So who is benefitting we or Allah? Of course, we are benefitting; we are learning self restraint.

Allah says in the Qur'an in Sura al Maidah Chapter 5 Verse 90, "O you who believe! Verily intoxicants and gambling, dedication of stones (Idol Worship), divination of arrows (Fortune-telling), these are Satan's handywork. Abstain from this handywork, so that you may prosper." And Allah says in the next verse 5:91 that Satan creates enimity and hatred among the human beings through intoxicants and gambling and this takes you away from Allah. So here Allah is guiding us to offer Salaah, fast and not to drink.

Any commandment of Allah that you follow is a form of worship as long as you do it in the right way. Two critera are required. First, any act that you do, you should do it for the pleasure of Allah and not for golory, praise or fame. Second, it should be done the way Allah and His Messenger Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has told us. The way mentioned in the Qur'an and Saheeh Hadith (Authentic Sayings & Traditions of Prophet Muhammad). If you do in any other way it will not be accepted as worship. It is mentioned in Saheeh Muslim Volume 2 Hadith 1885 that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that the worst of all affairs is innovation in the religion. It is a curse and innovation in religion will take you to hell fire. So there is a general rule that all types of worship is prohibited except that mentioned in the Qur'an and Authentic Hadith (sayings & traditions of the prophet).

The purpose of creation of human beings is to worship Allah and when we worship Him, we benefit. It helps us.

It is a misconception that Islam is a new religion and prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is its founder. In fact, Islam is there since time in memorial, since man set foot on the Earth and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is not its founder. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the last and final Messenger of Allah. There have been many other Messengers as well. As Qur'an says that there is not a nation to which a messenger was not sent. There are names of 25 messengers mentioned in the Qur'an. Adam, Abraham, Noah, Moses, Aaron, Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them all) were messengers of God and they were Muslims.  The word 'Islam' comes from the root words 'Salam' meaning 'Peace' and Selm' which means 'Submission', so in short Islam means "peace acquired by submitting your will to Allah". Muslim is a person, who acquires peace by submitting his will to Allah. So all these prophets were Muslims, submitting their will to Allah. All the messengers brought the same message and anyone who submits his will to Almighty God, he is a Muslim. Moses was a Muslim. Abraham was a Muslim. Jesus was a Muslim. Since our Creator is one. Human kind is one. So the religion should be one. That is why Allah says in the Qur'an Sura ale Imran Chapter 3 Verse 19, "The only religion acceptable in the sight of Allah is Islam (peace acquired by submitting your will to God)." Allah repeats the message in the Qur'an Sura ale Imran Chapter 3 Verse 85 that if anybody desires any other religion besides Islam, it will never be accepted of him and he will be among losers. All the messengers taught the same message of submitting your will to Allah and worshiping Him alone and no one else.

Allah says in the Qur'an in Sura al Bayinah Chapter 98 Verse 6 that those who have faith do righteous deeds are the best of creation. There are many greater creations than human beings such as the Heavens and the Earth, but Allah calls human beings the best of creation because human beings have a free will of their own. If with this free will we follow the commandments of Allah, we reach the best of creation. We become even better than the angels because angels do not have a free will of their own and if human beings with their free will obey the commandments of Allah, they become superior to the angels. But if you with free will we disobey Allah, then we become the brothers of Satan. So human beings are the best creation of Allah.

The gravest sin mentioned in the Qur'an in Sura an Nisa Chapter 4 Verse 48 that if Allah wills, He will forgive any sin. But the sin of 'Shirk' He will never forgive for anyone, who has done Shirk has strayed far away. Allah repeats the message even in Verse 116 of the Chapter. The gravest sin any human being can do is 'Shirk' means associating partners with Allah and worshipping anyone besides the One true God Allah.

One of the qualities of Allah is Love. Allah loves His creation and that is why because of His Grace He has bestowed us with all the blessings He has given us. The air that we breathe. The water that we drink. For those of us, who follows His commandments, Allah has prepared a place for us in the paradise in the next life out of His love. It is mentioned in Saheeh Muslim Volume 1 Hadith 67 that Beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "that person has tasted the sweetness of faith, who do three things. One, who love Allah and His Messenger more than everyone in the World. Two, they love other people for the sake of Allah. Three, who hate to go back to disbelief from where Allah has saved them and they don't want to go to the hell-fire." Allah commands Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Qur'an in Sura ale Imran Chapter 3 Verse 31 to say that all those who love Allah, follow me for Allah will love and Allah will forgive you.

If we analyze, we love other people, our mother, father, wife and children because they have done certain favors upon us. For instance, we love our mother because they bore us in her womb for 9 months. She took care of us when we were young. She brought us up. We love our brothers  because either they have given something to us or we want something from them. In that context, if we count the favors Allah, the Almighty God has done upon us we won't be able to count them up. As Allah says in the Qur'an in Sura Ibrahim Chapter 14 Verse 34 that if you count the favors of Allah, you will not be able to add them up. Imagine, if we love our parents so much for the few things they have given to us, how much should we love Allah. Love differs. For instance, we love animals but our love for animals on a different level than our love for other human beings. In the same way, our love for Allah is on a much superior level than our love for other human beings.

It is mentioned in the Qur'an in Sura al Fatiha Chapter 1 Verse 5, "Thee alone we worship. Thee alone we ask for help." Allah says in Sura al Ghafir Chapter 40 Verse 60, "You ask me and I will answer your prayer." Allah says in Sura al Baqara Chapter 2 Verse 186, "O Messenger, when they ask you about Me, tell them that I am near to them and I will answer their prayers." So worship should only be done to Allah and no one else. He is the only One, who deserves worship and nobody else.

This is the last part of our series on the purpose of creation. Previous posts were:
1- Purpose of creation from the perspective of Almighty God
2- Destiny & Free-will

Now lets try to answer another question about the purpose of creation from the perspective of human beings that what is the purpose of our existance in this world. Allah gives the answer in the Holy Qur'an in Sura al Mulk Chapter 67 Verse 2, "It is Allah, Who has created death and life to test which of you is good in deeds." And Allah says in the Qur'an Sura ale Imran Chapter 3 Verse 185, "Every soul shall have a taste of death: and only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the fire and admitted to the garden will have attained the object (of life): for the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception." So this life of ours in this world is a test for the Hereafter. If you obey the commandments of Allah (God), you will go to paradise in the next life. But if you do not obey the commandments of Allah (God), you will go to hell.

Allah (God) says in the Qur'an in Sura al Ankaboot Chapter 29 Verse 2 that do you think that just by saying "we believe", We will let you go. We will surely test you. So one would not go scoot free just by saying he believes; Allah (God) would surely test him. And Allah says in Sura al Baqara Chapter 2 Verse 155, "Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere." Allah (God) says that He will test everyone.

Allah (God) test different people in different ways. Allah says in the Qur'an in Sura an Nahl Chapter 16 Verse 71 that He has favored some human beings in sustenance over others. Allah repeates the message in the Qur'an Sura al Anaam Chapter 6 Verse 160 that Allah (God) has given some human beings more gifts and based on what He has given you, He will test. Now a question often asked is that how can Allah (God) be just, when some people are born in a poor family. Some people are born in rich family. Some people are born healthy, while many others are born with diseases. It is unjust! This world has life and death, health and disease, wealth and poverty and these all are tests. Allah (God) says in Sura al Anfal Chapter 8 Verse 28 that surely your wealth and you progeny (children) are a test for you. And Allah (God) says in the Qur'an in Sura al Mumin Chapter 63 Verse 9 that let not your wealth and your children deviate you from the remembrance of Allah (God).

One of the best deeds in Charity. If all the people have the same wealth ,so how can Allah (God) test whether some people are charitable or not. This test can only take place, if some people are rich and some people are poor. One of the pillars of Islam is Zakat that every rich person who has the saving of more than the Nisab level (85 grams of Gold), he should give 2.5% of that saving in charity every lunar year. So a rich person has to give away this amount of money to get the marks, but many people do not give Zakat and they will fail. But a poor person does not have to give Zakat and he will get all the marks for Zakat. So it is more difficult for a rich person to go to paradise, but it is much easier for a poor person to go to paradise. Our beloved prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that it is more difficult for a rich man to enter paradise. So wealth is a test. 

It is stupidity that we often look upto the rich men that O lucky man! He is rich and look down upon the poor men that O this poor fellow! He does not have anything. But wealth is a test and there are high chances for a rich man to fail in this test thus making it difficult for him to enter Janah (paradise). Suppose if in last year's question paper a very difficult question came and none of the students could solve it, but in this year's question paper that question did not come. Now the student will not be sad that why such a difficult question did not come this year, but they would be happy. So since wealth is a great test, if a poor man does not have it, it only makes his test easier and it would be stupid to say that why his test is not more difficult.

The other test is contentment. It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Volume 8 Hadith 447 that our beloved prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that even if a person owns a valley of Gold, he would want to own another valley of Gold. The maximum he can take in his mouth is the dirt of the grave. Even if someone is the richest person in the world, he would still crave for more wealth. Most of the human beings are not content. Allah (God) says in the Qur'an in Sura an Nisa Chapter 4 Verse 32 that do not ask from Allah (God) that, which He has favored other people with. It would be loss for you. It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Volume 8 Hadith 328 that prophet  Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that look at those people, who are less fortunate than you. Do not look at those people, who are more fortunate than you; lest you would be ungrateful to your Lord. It is said that there was a man, who complained that he did not have shoes, until he came across a man, who had no feet and he started thanking Allah (God) that at least he had feet.

So contentment is a test. It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Volume 4 Hadith 304 that prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that the real wealth is contentment; it is not property. So whatever you have thank Allah (Almighty God) and such is a true Muslim, a true believer.

Some people ask that how come Allah (God) has created some people, who are born with disease. Maybe heart disease or handicapped. So isn't Allah (God) unjust? Allah (God) says in the Qur'an in Sura an Nisa Chapter 4 Verse 40 that Allah (God) is not unjust even in the least degree. All this is a test. Allah (God) tests different people in different ways. The children, who are born, are sinless. But Allah (God) says in the Qur'an in Sura al Anfal Chapter 8 Verse 28 that your wealth and your children are a test for you. Allah (God) repeats the message in the Qur'an in Sura al Mumin Chapter 63 Verse 9 that let not your wealth and your children deviate you from the remembrance of Allah (God). So maybe it is possible that it is a test for the parents. Whenever any calamity comes upon any person, it is either a test or a punishment. For those who have deviated from the true path of Allah (God), it is a punishment for them. For those are on the true path, it is a test for them. Maybe the parents are very good Muslim. They offer 5 times Salah (obligatory prayer). They pay Zakat (obligatory charity). They have gone for Hajj (pilgrimage). Now Allah (God) gives them a child, who has congenital heart disease. A true Muslim would say that Alhamdulillah! Thank you Allah! Allah (God) is testing them. While a person, who is ungrateful, would complain that why did Allah (God) give him a child with a disease.

More difficult the test; more higher is the reward. For instance, if you pass the Bachelor of Arts exams, you would become only a graduate. But if you pass the MBBS exams, besides being a graduate, you would Dr, Doctor written written in front of your name. But to pass MBBS is multiple times more difficult than to pass BA. So more difficult the test, the more higher the reward. So maybe Allah (God) wants to give those parents not only Janah (merely paradise), but Janat-e-Firdous (the Highest and the Best Paradise). So even though they are pious, Allah (God) wants to give them a higher reward. That is reason our beloved prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in Sunan Abu Dawud Volume 3 Hadith 3677 that when a person asked him, who had the maximum tests in this world. Prophet replied that the prophets of Allah (God) had the most difficult tests. After that those people had the maximum tests, who were like the prophets and after those who were like the second people. The more pious a person is, the more difficult would be his test. For instance, you get admission in MBBS, only if you got good marks in 12th standard. So MBBS is a more difficult test. So though the piety level of the prophets is high, still they were tested with more difficult tests. So if any calamity befalls a true believer, he says, "Alhamdulillah! Thank you Allah!" He takes it as a test. So any calamity is either a test or a punishment. The prophets of Allah (God) were pious, so it was a test for them and they passed the tests.

If any good things happens to you, it is either a reward or a test. Maybe you have done good deeds and Allah (God) has rewarded you with wealth or maybe Allah (God) wants to test you with wealth. For those, who have deviated from Allah (God), they pray for wealth and Allah (God) gives them wealth and tests them and they fail. So in this world, they would have the luxury. But in the Hereafter, it is nothing but loss. So Charity is a test. Contentment is a test. Children are a test.

Many a times, we complain that we pray to Allah (God) and nothing happens. Allah (God) says in the Qur'an that you ask Me and I will answer your prayer. And here we ask and ask and nothing happens. So it sounds contradictory that Allah (God) says that He will answer our prayers, but we pray everyday and nothing happens. Allah (God) says in the Qur'an in Sura al Baqara Chapter 2 Verse 216 that you may like a thing, which is not good for you and you may hate a thing, which is good for you. You know not, but Allah (God) knows. For example, a young boy is praying that Allah (God) give me a BMW motorcycle. But Allah (God) does not give him a motorcycle. Because Allah (God) knows that if He will give him a motorcycle, he will ride fast and have an accident. So by not answering his prayer, Allah (God) is answering his prayer. Because he is a good person and he is asking for something, which is not good. He does not know, but Allah (God) knows.

Allah says about the hypocrites in Sura al Baqara Chapter 2 Verse 15 & 16 that Allah gives them grow, so that they go to and fro. So many people, who are associate partners with Allah (God), they ask for wealth and Allah (God) gives them wealth. Allah (God) is testing them and they are digging their own graves. So we should never despair, Allah is always there. Have faith in Allah (God). That is why committing suicide is prohibited in Islam. Allah says in the Qur'an in Sura an Nisa Chapter Verse 29 that kill not yourselves. The moment a person commits suicide, he is being ungrateful. Saying that Allah (God) has given him so much trouble. He is unjust. It is not worth living and he ends his life. Allah (God) says in the Qur'an in Sura al Baqara Chapter 2 Verse 286 that Allah (God) does not lay a burden, greater than he can bear. This is the first part and the other part of the verse we pray that O Allah (God) lay not on us a burden, greater than we can bear. Since Allah (God) has already promised that he will not lay on anyone a burden that he can not bear, then why do we have to pray that lay not on us such a burden that we can't bear. It is because we dig our own grave. We lay a burden upon us that we can not bear. We are responsible. We ask, "give me wealth" and Allah (God) gives us wealth. So we pray to Allah (God) that do not make us the cause to put a burden on ourselves, greater than we can bear.

So we should faith in Allah (God) and worship Him alone. The purpose of our existence in this world is to worship Allah (God) and no one else. This life is a test for the Hereafter. Obey his commandments and be grateful. Whatever test He gives you, a true believer is thankful to Allah, the Almighty God. We often complain that we do not have this or that. The most important thing for living is the air that we breathe. If we do not air for a few minutes, we will die. But how many times have we thanked Allah (God) for the air, He has given us? Since its free, we do not even realize it. We should reflect upon the signs of Allah (God) and thank Him for the blessings that He has given to us.

Now lets come to the last question that why did Allah (God) create this world? What is the purpose of this world? Allah says in the Qur'an in Sura Ibrahim Chapter 14 Verses 32 & 33 that Allah (God) has created the Heavens and the Earth and let water come from the sky; with it He has given fruits. Has caused the ship to sail by the commandment of Allah (God). He has caused rivers to flow for human beings. He has made the sun and moon for you. He has made the night and the day for you. So all these creation and the world is for human beings. All this world is for us human beings. And it is our duty to thank Allah for all these blessings and besides thanking, it is our duty to take care of these things. Allah (God) has created animals, but killing animals is prohibited. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that do not kill animals for target practice. But for food among the Halal (permitted) animals, for which Allah (God) has given permission that you can have, with the way the prophet of Allah (God) has showed us. But for target practice, NO! People wanna conquer these blessings. They kill animals to place their heads on the walls of our house to show off. Allah (God) has created mountains, but instead of giving thanks people wanna conquer them. Hundreds try to climb mount Everest each year and several of them die. Though Allah says in the Qur'an that the camels have been created to carry your load, but we have to love them and respect them. It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Volume 8 that there was a man, who gave water to a thirsty dog by going into the well and carrying the water in the socks and he was granted Janah (paradise). In another Hadith mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Volume 8, there was a prostitute, who gave water to a thirsty dog and he was granted Janah (paradise) for this. Companions asked that do we get reward even for giving water to a thirsty dog. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), yes why not! Even the animals, which is prohibited to come into our house, even if we give water to that animal Allah will reward us for that. There is a Hadith that a lady tied a cat and did not give it food and Allah put her in hell for this. At least she should have let it go free and it would have fed on roadents. So we have to love and take care of the animals and even the vegetations. You can eat them for food, but you can not kill the plants unnecessarily. Even in war, prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that do not cut down the trees and do not burn the vegetation. All these are creations of Allah, the Almighty God. 

In the Qur'an in Sura al Adiyat Chapter 100, Allah swears by the steeds of war and says that sparks come out from the hooves of these horses. Clouds of dust rise. They enter the enemy with, that these horses are without any fear. Just because their master, the horse rider commmands them. Allah, the Almighty God swears by these animals that when their master commands them, they run into the enemy lines without fearing the enemy, their swords and other weapons. At the end Allah, the Almighty God says, "But man is ungrateful." Meaning that the horse is obeying his master by hook or crook, but we human beings are ungrateful to our Master, our Lord. That is why it is the duty of every human being to reflect upon the purpose of creation that why have we been created. Allah, the Almighty God is our Creator. He is Merciful. He is Kind. He is Forgiving. He is Just. It is the duty of every human being that he should worship Allah, the Almighty God. Worship Him and no one else. We should remember that this life is a test for the Hereafter. If you follow His commandments, you will go to Janah (paradise). But if you do not follow His commandments, you will fail the test and you will go to Jahanam (hell). And we have to take care of the blessings that Allah has given us.

Duty of Muslims -

Allah says in the Qur'an in Sura ale Imran Chapter 3 Verse 110, "O ye Muslims! You are the best of people evolved for mankind." We are called the best of people, which is a honor and whenever there is honor; it comes with a responsibility and there is no honor without responsibility. Allah tells us our responsibility in the same verse. "Because you enjoin what is good and you forbid what is bad and you believe in Allah." It is the duty of every Muslim that whatever you know, if you know the purpose of creation, tell it to the others. That why were created. That we should worship Allah, the Almighty God alone. Exhort people to the truth and prevent them from going towards wrong. It is the duty of every Muslim. Dawah (exhorting people to the truth) is compulsory and if we do not exhort people to the truth and do not prevent them from going towards wrong, then we are not fit to be called Muslims; we are not fit to called as the best of people. Allah says in the Qur'an in Sura an Nahl Chapter 16 Verse 125, "Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious."