What Is Our Purpose?What Is Our Purpose?

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W H Y ?Why do we need to know?

WHY ARE WE HERE?

WHY WERE WE CREATED?

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF LIFE?

By SALIM YUSUFALI adapted from Even Angels Ask by Jeffrey Lang:

Martin:"I don't think that the two major religions in America make much sense.”

"I don't think that ANY religion makes much sense. For example, from your religion's viewpoint, what is the purpose of life? Why did God create us to SUFFER here on earth?”

Mu’min: (Thinking back to Sunday School Lessons): “Umm…I believe He created us to test us."

Mu’min Meets Martin

Martin: "So your religion rejects the omniscience (Allah has all knowledge) of God, for otherwise, what could He possibly learn from testing us that He does not already know?”

"No, that’s not quite it…Yes!! We are created toworship Him!"

(With a smile of victory): "Then you must believe that God has needs and weaknesses, for why else would He demand our worship? When a human demands our devotion, we label him a tyrant or a psychopath. Do you hold that God has character flaws?"

Mu’min is Struggling

SORRY. You Lose. Try Again.

Go back to the basics and ask WHY?

Ameer al-Mu’mineen, Ali (R), said:

Allah’s mercy is upon the one knows: • where he is from,• where he is now,• and where he is going!

WHERE ARE WE FROM?

Allah (swt) created us for a purpose:

– Do you suppose that We have created you in vain? (Qur’an 23:115)

– I created jinns and humankind only so that they may worship me. (Qur’an 51:56)

BUT WHY DOES ALLAH WANT OUR WORSHIP?

What is “worship” (`ibadah)? How do we worship Allah? Why should we worship Allah?

WHERE ARE WE FROM?

What is worship?

Worship of Allah involves:

BELIEF: that we are absolutely, 100% creatures that are grateful and dependent upon a Creator who controls all aspects of our life, but who gave us FREEDOM in this world to fulfill a RESPONSIBILITY

PRACTICE: living our lives in accordance to our beliefs

Belief Practice

WHERE ARE WE FROM?

How do we worship Allah?

Husayn (R) explains the verse

I created jinn and humankind only so that they worship Me (Qur’an 51:56)

as

I created jinn and humankind only so that they know and understand Me

True worship of Allah (swt) = gaining knowledge of Allah (swt)

Knowledge of Allah

WHERE ARE WE FROM?

How do we worship Allah?

How to gain knowledge of Allah (swt):

- Reflect upon His most perfect Names

- Following the guidance (Qur’an, Prophet) He has given us and understand where we are

PracticePractice those acts of worship that He has those acts of worship that He has prescribed that will help us to believe in prescribed that will help us to believe in HimHim

WHERE ARE WE FROM?

Why do we worship Allah?

Worship does not benefit Him.

Allah (swt) tells us in the Qur’an:

He who PURIFIES his soul/spirit/self is SUCCESSFUL (Surah ash-Shams)

(The one who is successful) remembers the name of his Lord and says his prayers (Surah al-A`ala)

Worshipping Allah (swt) leads us to:Self purification, Success, Fulfilling the GOAL OF LIFE

THE WHOLE works

No picking, no choosing

•Belief in Allah and that our purpose is to worship Him throughout our lives•Acting upon that belief!

Allah (swt) says:Surely we have guided human being to the path. It is up to him whether he will be grateful or disbelieving (Qur’an 76:3).

With freedom comes responsibilities:Fulfilling the purpose of our existenceFulfilling the trust put on usEstablishing justiceWorking towards the perfection of this societyBe grateful to God and serve Him

WHERE ARE WE NOW? What are our responsibilities?

By serving others, we are worshipping Allah Dedicating our time, energy, money in the cause of

Allah Helping the needy, feeding the poor, assisting others

"Never will you attain righteousness until you spend from that which you love. And whatever you spend, indeed Allâh is Knowing of it" [Ale-'Imran, 3:92]

The Noble Prophet Muhammad (saw) has said: "The Auliya Allah - Friends of Allah (SWT) are, essentially and inherently, generous"

WHERE ARE WE NOW? What are our responsibilities?

The average life span in the United States in 1990 was about 75 years (National Institute on Aging).

Everyone shall have a taste of death. (Qur’an 3:185)

The hereafter (al-aakhirah) is a REALITY that has already been created. Allah (swt) has described two extremes:

JAHANNAM (Hell)AL-JANNAH (Garden of Heaven)What is the goal of life?

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

WHERE ARE WE GOING? The Purpose of Life

Worship of the elite is done not solely out of fear of hell or desire for heaven

Allah is worshipped because He deserves to be worshipped – whatever is with Allah is BETTER than what we can get anywhere else

"Say (O Muhammad) my prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death belong to Allah; He has no partner and I am ordered to be among those who submit, i.e.; Muslims" (6:162, 163)

WHERE ARE WE GOING? The Purpose of Life

What does the Quran say?

Surely we belong to Allah, and to Him is our return.(Qur’an 2:156)

And to Allah is your eventual destination (Qur’an 35:18)…

O’ human being, it is to your Lord that all your efforts are directed, and you will meet Him (Qur’an 84:6).

The goal of life is PLEASING ALLAH (swt).

WHERE ARE WE GOING? The Purpose of Life

Since Pleasing Allah is the goal of life:

Increasing Belief/Faith + Practice is what we do along the wayGain a perfect understanding of Tawheed and put that understanding into practice

OKAY…SO,

What’s next?

Remember Allah alwaysRead and reflect on the Quran

Help others in every way

Establish a just society

And…WORSHIP ALLAH!

Give charity and be purified