Answer
Asalamu Alaikum,
Thank you for contacting About Islam with your question.
Dr. Shabir Ally addresses this question in the video below:
Transcript:
Safiyyah Ally: So, how would a religious person answer the question: why are we here?
Dr. Shabir Ally: Well, in the Quran, there are two verses that would say that God created jinns and human beings for the only purpose of worshiping Him.
And this becomes the focus of many Islamic sermons and discourses.
But it is very important also to note that in the eleventh chapter of the Quran, the 119 verse, that there is a mention of those whom God has been merciful to.
And then, this verse says [quoting Quran in Arabic] and it is for that reason that God created them.
So, the short of this is that God created people for His mercy. And how do we understand this?
Safiyyah Ally: So, what does that mean?
Dr. Shabir Ally: It would mean that God is so mercifully, so abounding in mercy that in fact this mercy needs to be applied somewhere. Because who’s [God] going to be merciful to if God is all alone?
Well, He created creatures to be merciful to them and human beings in particular so that He can be merciful to them.
So, it’s like God’s mercy is overflowing and people can just receive from that overflowing mercy if there are people. So, we should put the two together and say that, yeah they’re verses that would say that God created people to worship Him.
And now there’s a verse that says that God created humans for His mercy. And we could say that God created humans to worship Him. And so, to receive His mercy. Just as we have to go to the water fountain to get that water, in a similar way, we have to come to God to get His mercy.
And the way to come to God, the way to approach God is through prayers. But even so, there are people who didn’t quite approach the fountain, but [he/she] may get some of the drizzles or the moisture from around the fountain.
Safiyyah Ally: That’s so beautifully put.
I hope this helps answer your question. Please keep in touch.
Walaikum Asalam.
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