Why did Allah Create Mankind on Earth?

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The answer to this can be found in the Holy Quran

"Who created death and life to test you (as to) which of you is best in deeds, and He is the Mighty, the Protectively Forgiving." (67:2)

"That which is on earth We have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them, as to which of them are best in conduct." (18:7)

So, the purpose for the creation of human beings on this earth is to test their conduct. This world of life and death, wealth and poverty, sickness and health, was created to sift out the righteous souls from the evil souls. The test for the conduct serves two basic purposes as follows:

I- Human Spiritual Growth
II- Punishment or reward.

I- SPIRITUAL GROWTH: The tests of this world are primarily for the spiritual growth of human beings. Test purifies the moral character of the believer. Although not every test is passed, even in failure the believer grows by learning spiritual lessons to help him or her in future tests. Always find an opportunity in every difficult situation. Even failure is a blessing so that we can prepare well for the next test. The Lessons are as follows:

A. Generosity and Contentment
B. Greed
C. Charity
D. Envy
E. Calamities
F. Patience
G. Despair
H. Hope

A. GENEROSITY AND CONTENTMENT: In all human societies the qualities of generosity and contentment are considered among the noblest characteristics. Generosity is the noblest of the character because:

    a. We fight with our inner self to give money
    b. We are not greedy and we spend on others. By being generous, the society gains.
    c. It’s a fight with our inner desire to hoard more money.

However none of these traits can develop if everyone has the same amount of wealth. Generosity can only be acquired when the human soul struggles against its desire to hoard its possessions. Contentment is produced when the soul defeats the evils of envy and greed.

Allah says:

"Allah has bestowed His gifts of sustenance more freely on some of you than on others; those more favoured are not going to throw back their gifts to those whom their right hands possess, so as to be equal in that respect. Will they then deny the favours of Allah?" (16:71)

B. GREED: Greed and stinginess are corrupt forms of natural human desires to posses. Possessions exist in this world before humans are born and they remain there after they die. If wealth is used according to the divine instructions, it benefits those who have it, in both the worlds. But, if it is selfishly used, it becomes a curse in this life and a cause of punishment in the next. Wealth is not happiness if spent in wrong ways. Wealth is a bounty from Allah, but it depends on how we acquire it and spend it. Allah says in the Quran:

"O ye who believe! let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. If any act thus, the loss is their own." (63:9)

Allah has created man with immense desire for wealth. So we should be very careful that the desire for wealth should not make us forget the remembrance of Allah, else we become losers. Even children shouldn’t be an excuse for not remembering Allah. Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah's Apostle said, "If adam's son had a valley full of gold, he would like to have two valleys, for nothing fills his mouth except dust. And Allah forgives him who repents to Him." (Bukhari)

C. CHARITY: Allah says in the Quran:

"Of their wealth take alms, that so thou mightest purify and sanctify them; and pray on their behalf. Verily thy prayers are a source of security for them: and Allah is One Who heareth and knoweth."(9:103)

This ayat says that, we should give away from our wealth, so that Allah cleans it and purifies it for us.

"And in their wealth and possessions (was remembered) the right of the (needy), him who asked and him who (for some reason) was prevented (from asking)." (51:19)

However charity should be done sincerely for the pleasure of Allah and not for show. When we do something not for the sake of Allah, it will have no weight on the day of resurrection.

Allah says in the Quran:

"O ye who believe! Cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury― like those who spend their substance to be seen of men, but believe neither in Allah nor in the Last Day. They are in Parable like a hard, barren rock, on which is a little soil; on it falls heavy rain, which leaves it (just) a bare stone. They will be able to do nothing with aught they have earned. And Allah guideth not those who reject faith." (2:264)

D. ENVY: Craving for wealth is further enhanced by envy. Allah has instructed us not to desire what He has given others.

Allah says in the Quran:

"And in no wise covet those things in which Allah hath bestowed His gifts more freely on some of you than on others: to men is allotted what they earn, and to women what they earn: but ask Allah of His bounty: for Allah hath full knowledge of all things." (4:32)

The Prophet (SAW) has said: “ Look to those less fortunate than you, and do not look to those above you; it is better for you, in order that you do not deny what Allah has blessed you with.” No matter how difficult circumstances may be, there are always others in more difficult situation. It is in this struggle of avoiding envy that the higher quality of contentment develops. Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Riches does not mean, having a great amount of property, but riches is self-contentment." (Bukhari)

E. CALAMITIES: Tests of this life also come in the form of misfortune and calamities. They in turn contribute to the spiritual growth of the true believer and purify him of sins.

F. PATIENCE: Calamities are the foundation on which the higher spiritual quality of patience is developed. Sa’ad reported that he asked the Prophet (SAW) who among mankind had the most trials, and He (SAW) replied, “ The prophets, then the most like them and then those most like them. Man is tested according to the level of his faith. If his faith is firm, his trials increase in severity, and if he has weakness in his faith, he will be tried accordingly.” (Ibn Majah)

True patience is the product of complete trust in Allah at the time of calamity.

Allah quotes Yaqub (AS) in the Quran:

he said; "O my sons! Enter not all by one gate: enter ye by different gates. Not that I can profit you aught against Allah (with my advice): none can command except Allah: on Him do I put my trust and let all that trust put their trust on Him." (12:67)

Allah further assures humankind that if they put their trust in Him, He will be sufficient for them in their most trying times and He will provide him from a place unthought-of.

"And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if anyone puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish His purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion. " (65:3)

When Allah befalls a calamity on us, we should believe that Allah knows what’s good for us in that calamity. By putting trust in Allah we become light hearted. Trust in Allah is embodied in the firm belief that Allah alone knows what is best for humankind.

Allah says in the Quran:

"… But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth and ye know not." (2:216)

Allah creates trial for each person according to their abilities in order to bring out the best in them. Surely Allah s truly just.

Allah says in the Quran:

"On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray): "Our Lord! condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; Our Lord! lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; help us against those who stand against faith." (2:286)

It’s the trial which befalls on us that our trust in Allah increases. We feel that if one trial He made easy for us, then any other trial He can make easy for us. So in this way, our trust in Allah increases. Furthermore, the Almighty promises that the difficult situations which humans face in life will be followed by the periods of relief.

Allah says in the Quran:

"So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief: Verily with every difficulty there is relief." (94:5,6)

G. Despair: Due to the rejection of faith, people fall into utter despair. As they say “Life is so unfair that it is pointless to go on living.”

Allah says in the Qur’an:

"…and never give up hope of Allah's Soothing Mercy: truly no one despairs of Allah's Soothing Mercy, except those who have no faith." (12:87)

That is why suicide is strictly prohibited in Islam.

 Allah says in the Qur’an

"O ye who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities: but let there be amongst you traffic and trade by mutual good-will: nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily Allah hath been to you Most Merciful. " (4:29)

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "He who commits suicide by throttling shall keep on throttling himself in the Hell Fire (forever) and he who commits suicide by stabbing himself shall keep on stabbing himself in the Hell-Fire." (Bukhari)

H. HOPE: Hope in the mercy of Allah is an essential part of faith. Those who believe in Allah and patiently strive to do what is right have the right to hope for Allah’s Mercy.

For Allah promises in the Qur’an:

"O ye who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere." (2:153)

Allah is telling us directly that he is with us. So if we face any calamity, be patient and pray to Allah because Allah is with those who are patient.

Allah says in the Quran:

"Those who believed and those who suffered exile and fought (and strove and struggled) in the path of Allah,―they have the hope of the Mercy of Allah; and Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful." (2:218)

Of course, Paradise is the reward for patience based on the sincere belief in Allah.

Allah says in the Quran

"Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives and the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Who say: when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah we belong and to Him is our return." (2:155,156)

Patience is also based on the belief that whatever befalls mankind is fundamentally a consequence of their own evil deeds. Allah says in the Qur'an:

"Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because of the things your hands have wrought, and for many (of them) He grants forgiveness." (42:30)

The fact is, Allah has excused humans for much of their evil.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

"If Allah were to punish men according to what they deserve, He would not leave on the back of the (earth) a single living creature: but He gives them respite for a stated Term: when their Term expires, verily Allah has in his sight all His servants. " (35:45)

Consequently, both the trials of good and evil benefit the believer. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” (Muslim)

If the believer experiences a life devoid of any problems, it should be taken as a sign, for success and happiness often bind people to the trials of life. This is not to say that the believers should yearn for problems. Instead they should thank Allah for whatever trials He has spared them.

HYPOCRISY: Trials and tests expose those who falsely claim faith.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

"Do men think that they will be left alone on saying "We believe" and that they will not be tested? We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false." (29:2,3)

REMINDER: Tests sometimes serves as a punishing reminder to those who have gone astray and encourage them to return to the correct path.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

"And indeed We will make them taste of the Penalty of this (life) prior to the supreme Penalty in order that they may (repent and) return." (32:21)

II- PUNISHMENT: Those who transgress the limits set by Allah expose themselves to punishment in this life and the next.

Allah gives a warning in the Qur’an:

"…let those beware who withstand the Messenger's order, lest some trial befall them, or a grievous Penalty be inflicted on them." (24:63)

The punishment may come in a variety of different ways. And when the punishment comes it is not limited to the evil, but affects the society as whole.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

"And fear the Fitnah (affliction and trial) which affects not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong (but it may afflict all the good and the bad people), and know that Allâh is Severe in punishment." (8:25)

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