2. Purpose of Creation
AllahistheCreatorofhumanbeingsandtheentireuniverse.InHisca-
pacityastheCreator,onlyHehastherighttodefinethepurposeofcre-
ation. He says in the Qur'ān:
“...Heisthe onewhohascreateddeathandlifesothatHemaytest
you to see who among you does good deeds.” (67:2)
“AndI havenotcreatedthejinnandthehumansexceptsothatthey
may serve Me.” (51:56)
Whenyoustudy thesetwoverses(andmany othersonthissubject),
youwillrealizethataccordingtoAllahthepurposeoflifeis:tosuccess-
fully go through the trials and tribulations in this world in order to
achievesalvationinthehereafter.Unlikethisworldlylife,thelifeinthe
hereafterwill have no end. The trials andtribulations can alsobe ex-
pressedasfollows:toenterintotheservitudeofAllahbyourown will
and choice.
Inordertounderstandtheconceptoftrialandtribulation,itisimport-
ant to understand the human being:
Ahumanbeingisaverydelicatecreature.Hehasaphysicalaspectas
well as a spiritual dimension. Our whole being revolves around two
mainpowers:thesoulandtheemotions.1.Thesoul(rūh)orthespiritis
thekingofourbeing.Theuntaintedintellectandthepureconscienceare
variousaspects of our spiritual dimension. 2. The emotions and other
physical faculties are also integral parts of our being. These emotions
and faculties can be broadly classified under ‘anger’ and ‘passion’.
Ourentireadultlifeisanarenaofstrugglebetweenthesoulandthe
emotions.Andhereinliesthetrialandtribulationofmankind.AMuslim
isexpectedtousethesoultocontrolthe emotions.Islamdoesnotpro-
mote the completesuppression of emotions and desires;it onlywants
theMuslimstousetheirreasontorestraintheirdesiresbyfulfillingthem
within the dictates of the Divine laws.
Imam‘AlibinAbiTālib(a.s.)hasbeautifullydescribedthisconceptas
follows: