What is the meaning and purpose of life?’ This is, perhaps, the most important question that has ever been asked. Throughout the ages, philosophers have considered it to be the most fundamental question.
‘Why do we sleep?’ ‘Why do we work?’ The answers we would get to these questions would be similar. ‘I eat to live.’ ‘I sleep to rest.’ ‘I work to support myself and my family.’ But when it comes to what the purpose of life is, people are confused. We see their confusion by the type of answers we receive. Youths may say, “I live for booze and bikinis.” The middle aged professional might say, “I live to save enough for a comfortable retirement.” The old man would probably say, «I’ve been asking why I’m here most of my life. If there’s a purpose, I don’t care anymore.” And perhaps the most common answer will be, «I really don’t know!”
Islam is the response to humanity’s search for meaning. The purpose of creation for all men and women for all times has been one: to know and worship God.
