Continuing Our Exploration of Life’s Ultimate Goal from an Islamic Perspective
Table of Contents
Introduction
In this second part of our series on “The Purpose of Life”, we delve deeper into understanding why we are here. If you haven’t read Part One, we encourage you to start there for better context.
Purpose of Life in Islam: From Theory to Practice
Let’s agree on something: when Muslims are asked, “What is the purpose of life?” they often immediately reply, “To worship ALLAH Almighty”. If you ask any Muslim to complete the verse where ALLAH says, “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except…“ they quickly add, “…to worship ME“1 (Suurat ‘Adh-DHaariyaat). This verse is well-known and memorized by all, which is great. However, sometimes this important piece of knowledge sits unused in the “recycle bin” of our minds.
From the Recycle Bin to the Operating System
Just like files on a computer that we don’t use often and eventually delete, some truths get neglected in our minds. Unfortunately, many essential facts, like the verse “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship ME“ (Suurat ‘Adh-DHaariyaat), are stored somewhere in our thoughts but are ignored. We don’t think about them, act upon them, or let them guide our behavior.
We need to retrieve this verse from the recycle bin and turn it into our operating system—something that runs our daily lives and governs our actions. Think of it as moving from neglect to active implementation.
Reflecting on Previous Stories
The stories we shared in Part One about the man who died after spending just one night in his palace, and another who didn’t even get to spend a single night, remind us of a profound saying by Ibn al-Qayyim, may ALLAH have mercy on him:
“A servant has a LORD whom he will meet and a house he will inhabit. He should seek his LORD’s pleasure before meeting HIM and build his house before moving into it“
This means we cannot escape meeting ALLAH, and we will have an eternal home in the Hereafter—either in Paradise or, ALLAH forbid, in Hell. Therefore, we should strive to please ALLAH before that inevitable meeting and work on building our eternal home now.
An Insightful Dialogue
A man once approached a righteous person and said, “I find that I dislike the Hereafter”. The righteous man asked, “Do you have wealth?” He replied, “Yes”. The man of wisdom advised, “Then send it ahead, for when a person sends his wealth ahead, he loves to join it”.
Just like the man in our earlier story who sent money to build his dream palace and became eager to see it, when we spend in the way of ALLAH, we become eager to see the results in the Hereafter. By doing good deeds and charitable acts, we are essentially building our eternal homes.
Understanding the True Meaning of Worship
When we say the purpose of life is to worship ALLAH, many people think worship is limited to rituals like praying all day, constantly reading the Quran, or endlessly reciting “Subhan ALLAH”. While these are important acts of worship, worship in Islam is much broader.
Worship includes everything ALLAH loves and is pleased with, whether actions or words, outward or inward. Any permissible and good deed done sincerely for the sake of ALLAH is considered worship. This means you can engage in activities you enjoy, serve your desires in a lawful way, and still be worshiping Allah if your intention is to seek HIS pleasure.
Aligning Worldly Goals with the Ultimate Purpose of Life
When your primary goal is to please ALLAH, seek the Hereafter, and attain Paradise, these noble objectives don’t replace your worldly goals. Instead, they guide, direct, and unify them, turning them into steps toward achieving your greater purpose of life.
Imagine you have scattered pieces of metal. If you bring a strong magnet near them, they will all be drawn to it. Similarly, when we have the overarching goal of pleasing ALLAH, all our smaller goals align and contribute toward that main objective.
So, pursuing success in your studies, career, relationships, and personal health doesn’t conflict with your spiritual goals. Seeking ALLAH’s pleasure actually enhances these pursuits by giving them purpose and direction.
Common Misconceptions About Happiness
Many people set goals they believe will bring them happiness:
- Fame: Someone might aim to have 25 million followers, thinking popularity equals happiness. However, many achieve fame without finding true contentment.
- Wealth: Another might strive to accumulate wealth to buy whatever they desire, yet still feel unfulfilled.
- Physical Appearance: Some might focus on changing their appearance through extreme measures, hoping it will bring satisfaction, but it often doesn’t.
- Education and Career: Others may prioritize prestigious degrees or careers but neglect their spiritual and emotional well-being, leading to dissatisfaction.
These pursuits, when disconnected from the purpose of pleasing ALLAH, often leave people feeling empty. They may jump from one goal to another, constantly searching for elusive happiness.
A Reminder from the Quran
This restless state is described in the Quran:
“And do not obey one whose heart WE have made heedless of OUR remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect“2
(Suurat ‘Al-Kahf)
A person who forgets ALLAH ends up scattered and unfocused, like beads from a broken string, never reaching true fulfillment—much like chasing a mirage in the desert.
Wealth and Children as Tests
Reflecting on those who prioritize worldly gains, ALLAH says:
“So let not their wealth or their children impress you. ALLAH only intends to punish them through them in worldly life and that their souls should depart [at death] while they are disbelievers“3
(Suurat ‘At-Tawbah)
While this verse specifically refers to disbelievers, it serves as a warning for anyone who becomes consumed by material possessions or family ties at the expense of their faith. Some Muslims may share traits with disbelievers by neglecting their duties to ALLAH, thereby experiencing anxiety and distress over their wealth and children instead of peace and happiness.
Looking Ahead
In Part Three, we will discuss how those who make pleasing ALLAH their greatest purpose of life organize their lives and find true contentment, In Shaa’ ALLAH.
Sources:
- Dr. Eyad Qunaibi. الهدف من الحياة. YouTube Video.
