Islamic Philosophical Perception on the Nature of Human 2/2

"It is Allah Who has created you: further, He has provided for your
sustenance; then He will cause you to die; and again He will give you
life. Are there any of your (false) "Partners" who can do any single one
of these things? Glory to Him! and high is He above the partners they
attribute (to him)! " - The Noble Qur'an 30:40

The Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] explained that when Allah created Adam, He
took from him a covenant at a place called Na'maan on the 9th day of the
12th month. He then extracted from Adam all of his descendants who
would be born until the end of the world, generation after generation,
and spread them out before Him to take a covenant from them also. He
spoke to them, face to face, making them bear witness that He was their
Lord. Thus, the essential purpose for which humankind was created is the
worship of God. However, the Almighty is not need a human worship. He
did not create human beings out of a need on His part. Is not a single
human worshipped God, it would not diminish His glory in any way, and if
all of mankind worshipped Him, it would not increase His glory in any
way. God is perfect,. He alone exists without any needs. All created
beings have needs. Consequently, it is humankind that needs to worship
God.

"The One who created death and life for the purpose of distinguishing
those among you who would do better. He is the Almighty, the Forgiving."
- The Noble Qur'an 67:2

Thus, the purpose for the creation of human beings in this world is to
test their conduct [Qur'an 11:7]. This world of life and death, wealth
and poverty, sickness and health, was created to sift out the righteous
souls from evil souls. Human conduct in this world is the measure of
faith.

It should be noted, however, that the test of conduct are not to inform
God about humankind, for He knew everything there was to know about them
before He created them. The test serve to confirm on the Day of
Judgment that those going to hell deserve it and those going to paradise
only got there by God's grace. With regard too human beings in this
life, the test to conduct serves two basic purposes: one. human
spiritual growth, and the other, punishment or reward.

Without knowledge of the purpose of creation, human beings wander
aimlessly through life, like ships at sea without rudders. Their goals
are either wrong due to incorrect religious teachings, or materialistic
and thus confined to this world. It is, therefore, essential for their
own well-being that they know God created them.

"Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is
right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. If only the
People of the Book had faith, it were best for them: among them are some
who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors. " - The
Noble Qur'an 3:110


Bibliography:

The Noble Qur'an, Authorized English Translation of Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Saudi Arabia: Dar al Wahi Publication, 2009.

The Purpose of Creation, Dr. Bilal Philips
Saudi Arabia: The Islamic Propagation Office in Rabwah, 2007.

Islam: Spirit and Form, Osman Nuri Topbas
Turkey: Erkam Publishing, 2009.