THE GOAL OF MAN

Purpose of Creation

Man is required to utilize his thinking capacity to reflect upon all the related aspects of existence and discover the truth through personal contemplation.

“I created the Jinn and mankind only so that they might worship Me.” (THE QURAN 51: 56)

WE learn the purpose of man's creation from the above verse of the Quran. Mujaahid Tabii, a disciple of Abdullah ibn Abbas (died. 687 CE) has explained worshipping God in terms of the realization of God. (Tafsir Al Qurtubi)

Realization or Maarifat means the discovery of God. Man is born with an extraordinary mind. Man is required to utilize his thinking capacity to reflect upon all the related aspects of existence. In this way, he discovers the truth through personal contemplation. He must take his place in this world on the basis of self-discovered truth.

That is to say, in a world where everything is subjected to compulsory submission, man should engage in voluntary submission given his developed mind.

Self-discovered truth is no simple matter. This state can be achieved only by saving oneself from distraction, by being focused in one’s thinking and by becoming a seeker in the full sense. When a person devotes himself fully to study and contemplation, he receives special divine help. He becomes God’s chosen servant (mukhlas) and starts to receive divine inspiration.

With his experience and study, and God’s special support, he discovers the truth and thus develops a realized personality. It is such individuals who have surrendered to God of their own free will, who epitomize the true purpose of creation.