Understanding the

purpose of life as a believer

Nasreen Abdur Raheem

They say that a fool lives to eat and a wise man eats to live, but then the question remains, for what purpose does the wise man live?

Majority of humans look for a purpose in something materialistic – discoveries, inventions, making money, etc. …

But surely there has to be a much greater purpose for us in this life…

Introduction:

An Arab poet expressed his uncertainty about the purpose of life in his poem “Puzzles”.

“I came not knowing from where, but I came. And I saw a pathway in front of me, so I walked. And I will remain walking, whether I want this or not. How did I come? How did I see my pathway? I do not know!

Where from? Where to? And why?

Am I new or am I old, in this existence? Am I free and unrestrained? Or do I walk in chains? Do I lead myself in my life? Or am I being led? I wish I knew but… I do not know!

Where from? Where to? And why? (contd.)

To worship Allah(swt)

*اَّل, ,نُس. ِا 2 َخ2َل2قُت. ِالِج,ٌن4 َو2 ِاِأل َو2 مَا.ُد.َو.ن 2عُب ,َي ( ( ل

“And I did not create the Jinn and Mankind except to worship Me.”

(Surah Adh Dhariyath, v: 56)

1-To worship the creator and know Him

In order to worship Allah, we need to know Him and recognize Him.

Recognize Him the way He(swt) described Himself in the Glorious Qur’an and how the Prophet Muhammad (saw) taught us.

If we try to find Allah in other sources, then we will surely go astray.

Know the Creator

Duniya is a test for the Aakhirah.

.م) .َو2ُك 2ُبَل ,َي 2َوَة2 ل َي 2َق2 ِالَم2َوَت2 َو2 ِالَح2 *ِذ,ى َخ2َل ِال.م أحَس2ٌن. َع2َم2ًال̀ َو2 ُه.َو2ِالع2ُز,يُز. ِالَغ2ُف.َور gُك (أي

“He who created death and life to test you(as to) which of you is best in deeed, and He is the exalted in Might, the Forgiving.”

(Surah Al Mulk, v: 2)

2-To Believe that present life is a test

Slight doubt makes other beliefs meaningless. If there was no life after death, it would mean

injustice to those who suffered in this world. *ِذ,يٌن2 2ِجع2ُل. ِال 2م ن 2رض ِا ُد,يٌن2 ِف,ى ِااَّل .َوِا ِالَص2َال,َحَاَت, ُكَالَم.ُفَس, َع2َم,َل

(َء2ِام2نَوِا َو2*ق,َيٌن2 ُكَا لُف.ِج*َار 2ِجع2ُل. ِالَم.َّت 2م ن ( أ “Or should we treat those who believe and do

righteous deeds like corruptors in the land? Or should we treat those who fear Allah like the wicked?”

(Surah Saad,v:28)

3-To Believe in Recompense with certainty

The path of our future…

To Enter Jannah

Life of WorldThe GraveBlowing of

HornResurrection

Al Hashr

Accountabilit

y

Scrolls of

Deeds

The Meezan

Test of Believers

HypocriteDisbeliever

SiraatBeliever

Al Janna

h

An Naar

Shafa’ah Al-Haud

Al Qantarah

SubhanAllah!

Remember: This life is an exam and

“The Qur’an” has all the answers… so, wouldn’t it be a shame to fail an

open book exam??

Reflect…

So, if a fool lives to eat and a wise man eats

to live then, a believer lives to worship

Allah (swt), seeking only His pleasure by

which he wishes to enter Jannah!

JazakAllahu Khairan!

Conclusion