The purpose of man’s creation and that of the universe is a question that puzzles most people at some point in their lifetime. Everyone, at some time or another, asks himself or herself the question, "Why do I exist? For what purpose am I here on earth? What is my role in this universe?"
We all realize that we exist for a purpose. We, therefore, need to know the purpose of our existence in order to make sense of this life.
These major questions in life have always had clear, unambiguous answers and explanations from the Creator Himself. Allah (SWT) has revealed these through His Prophets over the generations since these are fundamental questions in life and must be conveyed clearly to mankind. All Prophets convey the same explanation on this purpose of creation to their races and nations through the various books and scriptures that Allah (SWT) has revealed over time. The final Divine Revelation for all mankind is Al-Quran as revealed to the final Prophet and Messenger, Muhammad (SAW).
Why then did Allah create us? Allah does not need us. Allah is above all wants and praise. Allah created us so that we may worship Him.
I have only created Jinn and men, that they may serve Me. (Al-Dhariyat, 51:56)
Thus, the main purpose for which man was created is to worship Allah.
However, Allah is not in need of human worship. He did not create human beings out of a need on His part that He be worshipped. Even if not a single human worshipped Allah, it would not diminish His glory and greatness in any way. And, if all of humankind worshipped Him, it would not increase His glory in any way.
And Musa said: "If you show ingratitude, you and all on earth together, yet God is free of all wants, worthy of all praise." (Ibrahim, 14:8)
He created us and the universe and other creations to show and exhibit His Power, His Wisdom and His supreme characteristics. Allah is perfect. He alone exists without any need whatsoever. All created beings have needs. Therefore, it is man that needs to worship Allah.
The story of man’s creation began even prior to the creation of Adam, the first human being. Allah entered into a great divine dialogue with the angels.
Behold, your Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: "Will You place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood, whilst we do celebrate Your praises and glorify Your holy (name)?" He said: "I know what you all know not." (Al-Baqarah, 2:30)
It was Allah’s intention that a vicegerent would rule this earth and would succeed one another to perpetuate the human race.
A vicegerent (khalifah) also takes the meaning of a deputy. In the history of Islam, Abu Bakr (RA) was the deputy of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), meaning he deputized Prophet Muhammad (SAW) after his death. He did not succeed Prophet Muhammad as a Prophet but became a deputy, representing and continuing the work of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in leading the Muslim ummah and spreading the message of Islam. In a similar manner Allah (SWT) appoints a vicegerent to inhabit, administer and rule the earth that He created as a sign of His power and greatness.
To the Thamud people (We sent) Salih, one of their own brethren. He said: "O my people! Worship God: you have no other god but Him. It is He Who has produced you from the earth and settled you therein …" (Hud, 11:61)
Allah wanted humankind to populate this earth because the Jinn were incapable of doing this. It is said that the Jinn has the intelligence of a ten-year old boy and was less equipped to populate or develop this world. Man, on the other hand, was created with all the faculties required and is best suited to do the job.
The Angels, however, were not that confident in man’s ability as the following verse from Al-Quran reveals.
Behold, your Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: "Will You place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood, whilst we do celebrate Your praises and glorify Your holy (name)?" He said: "I know what you all know not." (Al-Baqarah, 2:30)
The Angels thought that man would have intrinsic weaknesses (one who will make mischief therein and shed blood). This was merely a statement rather than an objection because Angels never disobey Allah and always do what they are ordered. The Angels had witnessed the destruction on earth brought on by the Jinn when they had a free choice between doing good and doing evil. Now, this new creation, man, may do exactly what the Jinn had done and kill each other. Thus the above Holy verse means the Angels asked Allah (SWT) if He would place on earth a creature that will make mischief and shed blood like the Jinn did.
The Angels were also afraid and worried that it may have been because they (the Angels) had failed to worship Allah completely. They wanted to ask: “Have we lacked in praising and glorifying You that You create creatures other than us?” (…whilst we do celebrate Your praises and glorify Your holy (name)…). The Angels thought that this was probably why Allah needed to create mankind.
Thus the question from the Angels was two-fold. First of all, why would Allah create another being that could be as destructive as the Jinn and, secondly, whether it was because they (the Angels) had lacked in their worship of Allah. To this Allah replied:
He said: "I know what you all know not.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:30)
The Angels spoke amongst themselves and said, “Let our Lord create whatever He wishes, for He would never create any creature more honorable to Him or more knowledgeable than us.” The Angels thought that, compared to Allah’s other creations such as the heavens, earth, mountains, beasts and so on, they are the only creation that were never weary of praising Allah and relentlessly do as Allah commands without question or protest.
According to a Hadith narrated by Imam Ahmed, Al-Termizy, Ibnu Hibban, and many others, Allah created Adam from a handful that He gripped from the earth. Other Hadiths say that the Angels gripped the handful of earth and raised it to Allah.
Earth has a variation of colors such as white, red, black, and so on. This is why man is of several colors since Allah (SWT) created him from a handful that was gripped from the earth. Man is also of several characteristics – evil, good, easygoing, individualistic, and much more. The differences in the shapes, sizes, colors, personality, and characteristics of man are due to the variations of the earth’s colors, characteristics and nature.
This creation started from dust, which was wetted and became clay. That is why some verses of the Quran say that man was created from dust while others state that he was created from clay.
Behold, your Lord said to the angels: "I am about to create man from clay” (Sad, 38:71)
Clay is wet dust and, when wetted some more, the clay becomes sticky and binds, as the following verse from the Quran explains.
Just ask their opinion: are they the more difficult to create, or the (other) beings We have created? Them have We created out of a sticky clay! (Al-Saffat, 37:11)
Then Allah (SWT) molded man with His own honorable hands.
(God) said: "O Iblis! What prevents you from prostrating yourself to one whom I have created with My hands? Are you haughty? Or are you one of the high (and mighty) ones?" (Sad, 38:75)
Allah did not assign or delegate this creation to the Angels but molded him with His own hands and shaped him into a human figure. This clay was left for a while until it dried and became argil. Its color blackened while it dried as if it contained traces of ashes in it.
We created man from sounding clay, from mud molded into shape, (Al-Hijr, 15:26)
There are no contradictions between the various verses that mention dust or clay or aged mud. All of them are true, simply reflecting the sequence of man’s making.
It is We Who created you and gave you shape; then We bade the angels bow down to Adam, and they bowed down; not so Iblis; He refused to be of those who bow down. (Al-A’raf, 7:11)
We created man from sounding clay, from mud molded into shape; And the Jinn race, We had created before, from the fire of a scorching wind. (Al-Hijr, 15:26-27)
Behold! We said to the angels: "Bow down unto Adam": They bowed down except Iblis: He said, "Shall I bow down to one whom You created from clay?" (Al-Isra’, 17:61)
No comments:
Post a Comment