Golden Words of Allah

By Abdullahi Yusuf

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All perfect praise be to Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Allah says concerning; The purpose of mankind.

The Quran provides a clear and profound perspective on the purpose of mankind. According to the Quran, the primary purpose of human life is to worship Allah, serve Him, and live according to His guidance. Here are some key points that outline this purpose:

1. Worship of Allah (Ibadah)
The Quran emphasizes that the ultimate purpose of human existence is to worship Allah. This concept of worship (Ibadah) extends beyond rituals like prayer and fasting to encompass every aspect of a believer’s life, turning all actions into acts of worship when done in accordance with God’s guidance and with the right intention.
Verse Reference: “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Quran 51:56)
Hadith Reference: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Allah says: ‘I am as My servant thinks I am, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I also remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than them…’” (Sahih al-Bukhari 7405, Sahih Muslim 2675)

2. Being Khalifah (Vicegerent) on Earth
Humans are appointed as God’s representatives (Khalifah) on earth. This means that mankind has the responsibility to care for the world, establish justice, and ensure that the earth is managed in a way that aligns with divine principles.
Verse Reference: “And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority (Khalifah)…'” (Quran 2:30)
Hadith References:
Sahih Muslim (Hadith 1157):The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “Indeed, the world is sweet and green, and verily Allah is going to install you as vicegerent (Khalifah) in it in order to see how you act. So beware of the world and beware of women…”

3. Moral and Spiritual Growth
Life is seen as a test, where individuals are given free will to choose between right and wrong. The purpose of this test is to cultivate moral and spiritual qualities, striving to perform righteous deeds and develop a strong character in alignment with God’s commands.
Verse Reference: “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.” (Quran 67:2)
Hadith References:
Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 9):
“The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: ‘The best among you are those who have the best manners and character.’”

4. Establishing Justice and Goodness
Another purpose is to establish justice and promote goodness in society. This involves standing up for what is right, protecting the weak, and ensuring fairness in all aspects of life.
Verse Reference: “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives…” (Quran 4:135)
Hadith References:
Narrated by Abu Huraira: The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “Whoever has wronged his brother with regard to his honor or anything else, he should seek his pardon today before the time (i.e., the Day of Judgment) when there will be neither a dinar nor a dirham (to compensate for wrong deeds), but if he has good deeds, those good deeds will be taken from him according to the wrong he has done, and if he has no good deeds, the sins of the wronged person will be loaded on him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2449)

5. Preparing for the Hereafter
The Quran reminds believers that this life is temporary, and the ultimate purpose is to prepare for the hereafter by living a life that pleases God.
Verse Reference: “And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement. And indeed, the home of the Hereafter—that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew.” (Quran 29:64)
Hadith References:Narrated by Ibn Umar: The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler.” Ibn Umar used to say, “If you survive till the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening. Take from your health for your illness, and from your life for your death.”

In summary, the Quran teaches that the purpose of mankind is to worship and serve Allah, act as stewards of the earth, develop morally and spiritually, establish justice, seek knowledge, maintain a balanced life, and prepare for the eternal life in the hereafter. These objectives guide us Muslims in leading a life that is fulfilling both in this world and in the next.

And Allah knows best…

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