AWARE Education Manager Purpose of Life (06) Hassan Taha AWARE Education Manager www.dawahmemo.com

You should have a purpose in life: "One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. "Which road do I take?" She asked. His response was a question: "Where do you want to go?" "I don't know." Alice answered. "Then," said the cat, "It doesn't matter." (Lewis Carol, Alice in Wonderland) Man has been granted full freedom of speech and action in this life in order to be tested (67:2)

1- Why are we in this world? Ans. (a) To worship God: We read in the Holy Qur'an: "I have only created Jinns and men, in order to worship Me. NO sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they feed Me." (51:56-57) (b) To be tested: God says: "He who created death and life, to test you who is best in deed, and He is Exalted in Might, Oft-forgiving." (67:2)

Our purpose in life will be fulfilled once the test is over Our purpose in life will be fulfilled once the test is over. Since the life in this world is considered as an examination for the individual, the death stage is considered as a resting period after the test. It could be easy for those who were faithful to God, and horrible for the wicked. (c) To develop the quality of our souls in order to prove and improve ourselves … patiently persevere, resist temptations… etc. (29:02)

3- Does worship in Islam mean only religious rituals and rites such as Prayer, Zakah, fasting, Hajj, etc? Ans. No – it means, sayings, acts, and thoughts that benefit you, others and please God. God says: "Behold, your Lord said to the angels: "I will create a (Khalifah) vicegerent on earth." (2:30)

4- What is the meaning of Khalifa? (a) Vicegerent/representative/inheritor of power: God says: "God has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them…" (25:55) (b) Caretaker: "He is that made you inheritors/caretakers in the earth: if, then, any do reject (God), their rejection (works) against themselves." (35:39) (c ) Trustee: "It is He who has made you (His) agents, trustees on the earth." (6:165)

(d) Progenitor: "But after them there followed a posterity who missed prayers and followed their lusts: soon, then, will they face destruction." (19:59) * (Marriage is half of religion) (e) Developer: "To the Thamud people (We sent) Salih, one of their own brethren. He said: "O my people! Worship God: you have no other god but Him. He is the One who has created you from the earth and settled you therein to develop it." (11:61)

(f) Successor: "Thy Lord is self-sufficient, full of Mercy: if it were His Will, He could destroy you, and in your place appoint whom He wills as your successor, even as He raised you up from the posterity of other people." (6:133) * To a Muslim, life on this world is meaningful and purposeful. He realizes that it will determine his permanent position in the next life.

4- Examples of acts of worship: (a) Thoughts/intentions: thinking of building an orphanage, school, hospital, etc. (b) Acts: Seeking knowledge, praying, working hard to earn a living, etc. (c ) Sayings: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "A good word you say to someone is regarded as an act of charity." (Muslim) (Joke + advice + good words)

5- What are the pillars of worship in Islam? (a) To love God: "There are men who take (for worship) others besides God, they love them as they should love God." (2:165) (b) To fear Him: "It is only the Devil that suggests to you the fear of his votaries: be ye not afraid of them, but fear Me, if you have faith." (3:175) (c) To anticipate His rewards: Say: "I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your God is one God: whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and admit no one as a partner in the worship of his Lord." (18:110)

Those whose aim in life is only to eat and drink are like animals or worse. (47:12) Some elements of happiness: (a) Learning something new (b) Achieving your goal (c ) Anticipation of rewards (d) Success after strong challenges (e) Good relations with others

7-An average Muslim is aware that: (a) He was created by God (b) His lifespan on this earth is short (c ) He will die (d) He will spend sometime in the grave (pleasant or difficult) (e) He will be resurrected to stand accountability on the Day of Judgment. (f) He will be judged by God (the Most Just)

8- Food for thought: (a) Everyone – even that who will die tomorrow – claims to be working for the future, so what is the real future? (b) If your purpose in life is wealth, after accumulating it: * what next? * what will your next goal be? * and what will happen to you in the end?

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