Is Life Without Purpose?

 (G. A. Parwez) By admin | May 26, 2008-

 (by Allamah Ghulam Ahmad Parwez)

The Holy Quran tells us that the Almighty created man and the universe for a supreme purpose. These were not brought into being merely for sport. “We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in mere idle play: none of this have We created without (an inner) truth- but most of them understand it not” (44: 38-39)The Quran informs us why the universe was created: “And Allah has created the heavens and the earth in accordance with (an inner) truth, and (has therefore willed) that every human being shall be recompensed for what he has earned, and none shall be wronged.” (45:22)The Almighty directs a question to the children of Adam: “Do you think that We have created you in vain and that you will not be returned to Us”? (23: 115)This verse establishes the inescapable responsibility of human actions. Man is not created in vain: he will be returned to his Lord to face the consequences of what he does in this life. “Does man think hat he will be left aimless?” (75:36). This kind of thinking is invalid. Man has not been left to go about at will without accountability. The caravan of life does not go on without destination.

HIGHER PLANES

The creation of man is not without purpose. Every breath of his life indicates whether he is reaching towards his goal, or moving away from it. He has to traverse many terrains, and the purpose of his life on earth is that he must endeavour to develop and nourish his personality, to such an extant that after his physical death he may become capable, and adequately equipped to rise and progress to even higher planes. Death, actually, is the ultimate test of the fact that to what degree ha has succeeded in attaining his purpose in life. “He Who has created death and life that He might put you to a test (and thus show) which of you is best in conduct….” (67 : 2)The same fact has been explained in the following words in Surah Yunus: “He initiates the first creation, then he reproduces it, so that He may reward with equity those who believe and do good.” (10 : 4) Life after death is thus the first step towards the fulfilment of this purpose. “And this is indeed the most certain Truth (in which there is absolutely NO room for doubt).” (56 : 95)

-------THOUGHT

The Search for rational foundations in Islam may be regarded to have begun with the Prophet(S) himself. His constant prayer was: “God! Grant me knowledge of the ultimate nature of things!”(Allamah Sir Mohammad Iqbal)

(Courtesy: Al-Balaagh, South Africa)

http://www.islam21.info/?p=55