What is the purpose behind the creation of mankind?

Allaah, the One free of all imperfection and the Most High, did not create the creation in play (without any purpose). Indeed they were brought to exist only due to a great wisdom, embracing within its folds the secrets of happiness for this life and for the next. Allaah, the Most High, said:

“Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?” [Quran 23:115]

Allah سبحانه وتعالى has made clear the purpose behind Creating the Jinn and Ins (mankind), who are duty bound to act in accordance with His Statement:

“And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).” [Quran 51:56]

This noble Aayah directs us to the established fact upon which life is based, that there is a specified objective behind the existence of mankind and Jinn. This is signified in the execution of a noble task, the one who undertakes it has indeed accomplished the purpose behind his existence, and the one who fails to achieve this objective his life becomes aimless and devoid of its pure and genuine meaning. This specified objective (al-Ghayah al-Muhaddadah) is the worship of Allaah alone in the manner which Allaah has prescribed for His slaves to worship Him. The life of the 'Abd [1] in its entirety will never be upright unless it is in accordance with this noble task being directed to achieve the aforesaid objective.

[1] 'Abd [Lit. 'slave']. Mankind and Jinn are 'Ibaad (singl. 'abd) of Allaah meaning they surrender to Allah's Universal Pre-decree, none is able to escape His Pre-ordainment, because they are a Creation of His. So, whether believers or non-believers in Allaah, they are, in the general sense, slaves [Ibaad] of Allaah. He, the Exalted, said:

“There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Gracious (Allâh) as a slave.” [Quran 19:93]

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A general foundation regarding what Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, Creates and Legislates. This foundation is derived from His, the Blessed and Exalted, Saying:

“He is the All-Knower, the All-Wise.” [Quran 66:2]

And His Saying:

“Verily, Allâh is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.” [Quran 33:1]

As well as many other Aayaat that prove the affirmation of Hikmah (Perfect Wisdom) to Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, as regard to what He Creates and Legislates i.e. with respect to both, His Kawniyyah and Shar'iyyah Decrees. In fact, there is nothing which Allaah Creates except with wisdom, whether this is in the bringing of its existence or in making it non-existing. There is nothing that Allaah, the One free of all imperfection and the Most High, ordains but with wisdom, whether this is in the rendering of it to be obligatory, forbidden, or permissible.

However, these qualities of wisdom, comprised in Allah's legislative and universal Decrees, may be known or unknown to us, and it may be known to some people but not to others, depending on the degree of knowledge and understanding which Allah bestows upon them. Once this is decided, then we say that indeed Allaah has Created the Jinn and mankind for a great wisdom and a noble objective, and that is the worship of Him, the Most Blessed and Most High, as He (سبحانه وتعالى) Said:

There is wisdom in everything that Allah creates, whether in its presence or its absence; and there is wisdom in everything that Allah legislates, whether in its legalisation or its prohibition.

However, these underlying reasons embodied in Allah's universal and legislative ruling can either be familiar to us or unknown to us. They can also be known to some people but not to others, according to the knowledge and understanding bestowed upon them by Allah. Once this is decided, then we say that indeed Allaah has Created the Jinn and mankind for a great wisdom and a noble objective, and that is the worship of Him, the Most Blessed and Most High, as He (سبحانه وتعالى) Said:

“And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).” [Quran 51:56]

And He, The Most High, Said:

“Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?” [Quran 23:115]