What is the purpose of humans living on earth?

Every human being, sooner or later, will come to a point in his life where he stops for a moment, looks up at the sky, and asks himself, “Why am I living? What is the meaning of all this?”

We are born, grow, learn, work, get married, have children, grow old, and then die. Between all these phases, humans often wander aimlessly, swayed by the waves of a world full of endless ambitions, desires and fatigue. Many are busy building the world, but forget that the world is not the real place to live.

In fact, God Exalted has answered that big question long before we looked for it. In His great word, Allah Exalted said,

I did not create jinn and humans except for worship

“And I did not create jinn and humans except them to worship Me.” (QS. Adz-Dzariyat: 56)

This verse is not just a statement, but an answer to the nature of human existence on this earth. God created us not just to live and enjoy the world. However, there is a big purpose behind all of this, namely to know Him, love Him, and submit to Him.

However, how many people forget this goal. They exchanged worship for momentary pleasures, exchanged dhikr for worldly music, and exchanged closeness to God for the pursuit of mortal creatures.

The path to true devotion

Worship (al-‘ibadah) in the Islamic view is not just prostration and bowing. It is much broader, covering all aspects of life that were intended for God. Sheikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyah God bless explain very deeply,

Worship is a comprehensive term for everything that Allah loves and pleases, including external and hidden words and actions

“Worship is a term that includes everything that Allah loves and pleases, whether in the form of words or deeds, visible or hidden.” [1]

This means that working to earn a living for the family, studying, helping others, even smiling at other people, can all be worship if done for the sake of Allah.

Unfortunately, many people think that worship is just a ritual routine. In fact, true worship is a lifestyle, a perspective that makes every second of life valuable in the sight of Allah. It is full awareness that every step we take is seen, recorded, and will be held accountable.

A world of testing and rest

Worldly life is not a place of rest, but a test field. Allah Exalted said,

It is He who created death and life to test you, which of you has the best deeds.

“(He is Allah) who created death and life to test you, which of you has the best deeds.” (QS. Al-Mulk: 2)

This verse emphasizes that life is not about how long you live or how many works you do, but how good and sincere your deeds are. Al-Fudhail bin ‘Iyadh God bless explain the interpretation of this verse with very deep sentences,

The best practice is the most sincere and truest.

“What is meant by ‘best deed’ is the most sincere and truest.” [2]

Sincerity is when someone does good only because of Allah, without expecting human praise. The truth is if the deeds are in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. These are the two conditions for accepting charity, namely being sincere and following the instructions.

Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam also reminds us that the world is not a place for fun, but a place for self-restraint and struggle. He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

The world is a prison for believers and a paradise for unbelievers

“The world is a prison for believers and paradise for unbelievers.” (HR. Muslim)

A believer restrains himself from forbidden desires, not because he does not want to be happy, but because he knows that true happiness awaits in the afterlife. Meanwhile, disbelievers have no hope after death, so all their “paradise” is finished in this world.

God looks at a servant’s heart, not his outer appearance

In the world, glory is often measured by position, wealth and fame. But in the sight of Allah, that measure means nothing without piety. Allah ‘Azza wa Jalla mentioned in Surah Al-Hujurat verse 13,

The most noble person in the sight of Allah is the most pious person.

“Indeed, the noblest person among you in the sight of Allah is the one who is most pious.” (QS. Al-Hujurat: 13)

The story of a noble friend, Abdullah bin Mas’ud May god bless you, provide in-depth lessons. When other friends laughed at his small and thin calves, Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, His scales are heavier than anyone else’s.

“By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, those two calves on the Day of Resurrection will be heavier on the scales on the Day of Resurrection than Mount Uhud.” (HR. Ahmad)

This is a great lesson. Humans judge based on appearance, but God judges based on heart and deeds. Abdullah bin Mas’ud may be small in the eyes of humans, but great in the eyes of Allah because of his obedience, qiyamullail-, his steps towards the mosque, and his sincerity in seeking knowledge.

Make life worth living

Hasan Al Bashri God bless said,

O son of Adam, you are just days, and if one day passes, then part of you is lost too.

“O son of Adam, truly you are just a collection of days. If one day passes, then part of you is lost.” [3]

These words are like a thunderbolt to the heedless heart. Every day that passes is actually a piece of life that will never return. How many days do we spend on useless things? How much time is wasted just for temporary pleasure?

Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

A servant’s feet will not move on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked about his life and how he spent it, his knowledge of what he did, and his wealth and where he got it from. And what he spends it on, and on his body, and what he uses it for.

“A servant’s two feet will not move on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked about his age, where he spent it; about his knowledge, how he practiced it; about his wealth, where he got it from and where he spent it; and about his body, where he used it.” (HR. Tirmidhi)

Imagine that day, when all our deeds are opened before Allah. There is no longer any place to hide, no excuses to deceive. Only charity and intention will speak.

True happiness is being close to Allah

Many people think that happiness lies in abundant wealth, a magnificent house, or a high position. But in reality, there are many who wallow in wealth but their hearts are troubled, many have power but their souls are empty.

Allah ‘Azza wa Jalla said,

Indeed, by remembering Allah, the heart becomes peaceful

“Remember, only by remembering Allah, the heart becomes peaceful.” (QS. Ar-Ra’d: 28)

True calm does not come from outside, but from within, from a heart that knows God. Every prostration, every dhikr, every tear in a third of the night is a source of happiness that cannot be bought with the world.

Ibnul Qayyim God bless said,

In the heart there is a feeling of turmoil that can only be felt by turning to God

“In the human heart there is an emptiness that cannot be filled except by returning to God.” [4]

The world is only a short journey away

Life is a short journey to eternity. The world is just a temporary stopover, a place to plant charity to be harvested in the afterlife. Allah says,

Worldly life is nothing but the enjoyment of deception.

“And the life of this world is not but deceptive pleasure.” (QS. Ali ‘Imran: 185)

So, don’t let the world deceive us. Don’t let time pass without meaning. Make every breath an act of worship, every step a path to Allah’s pleasure, and every difficulty a means of getting closer to Him.

In the hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah May god bless you, Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam ever prayed a beautiful prayer,

O Allah, improve for me my religion which is the protector of my affairs, and improve for me my world which is the place of my livelihood, and make death a mercy for me from all evil.

“O Allah, make for me my religion which is the guardian of my affairs. And improve for me my world in which I live. And make death a mercy for me from all evil.” (Muttafaqun ‘alaihi)

May God make our lives full of blessings, our time worthy of worship, our hearts always attached to Him, and the end of our lives closed with happiness. Husnul Khatimah.

Wallahu Ta’ala a’lam bish-shawab.

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Writer: Gazzetta Raka Putra Setyawan

Article Muslimah.or.id

Footnote:

[1] Sharh Buku Al-Farqu baina ‘Ibadati Ahlil Islam wal Iman wa ‘Ibadati Ahlis Shirki wan Nifaq li Ibni Taimiyah, 2: 4; through Maktabah Syamilah.

[2] Tafsir Al-Qur’an Al-Azhim8:176.

[3] Hilyatul Awliya’, 2: 148.

[4] Madarij As-Salikin, 3: 156.