Our existence: Purposeful or Purposeless?
One truth is we are alive today.
Another is that we all have to die tomorrow. Question is – Do we live and die
without a purpose? Or is there a purpose
behind our Existence?
Let us look around. Do we find
anything happening without a reason, a purpose? The answer is ‘No.’ Nothing
happens without a purpose, nothing is done without a purpose. How then can we
assume that the whole human race is here without a purpose? Yes, there is a
strong reason for our being here on Earth! It is important for every human
being to find out this reason before it is TOO LATE!
We did not arrive on this planet by
our own sweet will. And neither will we depart from this planet because of our
own desire. This implies the presence of a Supreme Being – the Creator, who
controls our birth and death. This
Creator has put us on the earth as a test.
To guide men in this test, He has put in every person a judgment of
right and wrong, good and bad.
“And by
the soul and He who proportioned it. And inspired it (with discernment) of its
wickedness and its righteousness.” (Qur’an 91:7, 8)
Further He helps man by choosing a man
amongst them and conveys His guidance to mankind through such chosen
messengers. He also revealed a series of scriptures to guide mankind. These
messengers are called as ‘Rishis’ in ancient India and ‘Prophets’ elsewhere.
The last in this series of Prophethood was a man by the name Muhammad (peace be
upon him). Born 1400 years back, in the desert of Arabia, himself being
unlettered, the word of God was revealed to him. That revelation is the Qur’an
– the word from our Creator. A Book
preserved by that same Creator through the past 1400 years, absolutely
unchanged.
“Indeed,
it is we who sent down the message (i.e. the Qur’an) and, indeed, We will be
its guardian.” (Qur’an 15:9)
This Qur’an is the last and final
message to the whole of mankind, from the almighty God, who is called as
‘Allah’ in the Arabic language. Well, let us find out what is the sustained
purpose of our life, what happens to us after death, etc., from the Designer
and Sustainer of this Universe.
The
Purpose of Our Existence
In the Qur’an, our Creator has clearly
stated the purpose of our existence:
“He who
created Death and Life, that He may TEST, which of you is best in deed”.
(Qur’an 67:2)
Yes, dear Brothers and Sisters – this
life is a TEST! The test is to find out whether a person does good deeds or
does bad deeds, whether he follows the truth or follows falsehood. This,
therefore, is an Exam. And the purpose why we are here on earth is to pass this
Exam.
The
Results Day
Question – When will the results of this exam be declared?
“Every
soul shall have a taste of death: and only on the Day of Judgment shall you be
paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted
to the Garden will have attained the object (Purpose of Life): for the life of
this world is but goods and chattels of deception.” (Qur’an 3:185)
After the life in this world there is
a life after death. We will all, every single one of mankind (past, present and
future) will be raised back to life. No one will be able to escape that day.
“Indeed,
the Day of Judgment is an appointed time – The day the Horm is blown and you
will come forth in multitudes.” (Qur’an
78:17, 18)
We will find ourselves alive once
again. But there will be no deeds then – only the results of our deeds. On that
day we won’t have our wealth, our possessions, our relatives, our spouses, our
parents, our friends. On that day everybody will be bare and alone, the same
way we were first born on earth. The only thing with us on that day will be our
deeds.
ALIVE
AGAIN? IS IT POSSIBLE?
“And it
is He who begins creation; then He repeats it, and that is (even) easier for
Him…” (Qur’an 30:27)
THE JUDGEMENT
“Then
shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good see it! And anyone who has
done an atom’s weight of evil shall see it.” (Qur’an 99:7, 8)
The record of our deeds will be
produced before us on that day. Everyone on whom wrong was done, justice will
be done to him.
“That
Day, we will seal over their mouths, and their hands will speak to us, and
their feet will testify about what they used to earn.” (Qur’an 36:65)
After the judgment our permanent abode
will be decided depending upon the weight of our good deeds. It will be either Paradise or Hell!
“Then
as for one whose scales are heavy (with good deeds) he will be in a pleasant
life (in Paradise). But as for one whose scales are light, his refuge will be
in the pit of Hell-fire. (Qur’an 101:6-9)
For
Sure!
Brothers and Sisters, all this is
surely going to happen.
“The
Hour (of Judgment) will certainly, certainly come; therein is no doubt (about
it).” (Qur’an 40:59)
The realization will dawn on everyone
that, ‘yes, I have been raised back to life by my Creator.’ That will be the
day of very severe regrets for the wrongdoer.
“The
Day that the wrongdoer will bite at his hands, he will say, ‘Oh! Would that I
had taken a (straight) path with the Messenger!’” (Qur’an 25:27)
It will be the Day
“the
guilty will be stuck dumb with despair.” (Qur’an 30:12).
What is
there at Paradise and Hell?
The Qur’an, the last Testament or Veda
from God reminds repeatedly about Paradise and Hell.
“No
soul knows what comfort has been concealed for them as a reward for what they
did” (Qur’an 32:17)
“Indeed,
they who have believed and done righteous deeds – those are the best of
creatures. Their reward with Allah will be gardens of perpetual residence
beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide for ever. Allah being
pleased with them and they with Him. That is for whoever has feared his
Lord.” (Qur’an 98:7, 8)
“(The
righteous will be) in an elevated garden, its fruit to be picked hanging near.
(They will be told): ‘Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you put forth in
the days past.’” (Qur’an 69: 22-24)
As the life in paradise will be
eternal and there will not be death or disease, all therein will be young and
beautiful, without any worries. There will be peace, security, good
companionship, pure spouses, and all that one’s heart desires... and enjoyment
in its most perfect sense.
At the same time, the Qur’an warns
severely about Hell, which will be the eternal abode for those who fail in this
test.
“Those
who reject Our signs, We shall soon cast into the fire; as often as their skins
are roasted through, we shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste
the penalty.” (Qur’an 4:56)
“Truly,
Hell is a place of ambush, a dwelling place for those who transgress (like
polytheists, hypocrites, sinners, criminals etc).They will abide therein for
ages, nothing cool shall they taste therein, nor any drink, except boiling
water, and dirty wound discharges - an appropriate recompense!” (Qur’an
78:21-26)
Similar warnings are there in
different chapters of the Qur’an and in the sayings of the last Prophet,
Muhammad (Peace be upon him)
An absolute Reality
Dear Brothers and Sisters, the Day of Judgment,
Paradise and Hell are not illusions, dreams or concoctions. They are as real as our present life. All
this punishment or reward will be borne by our physical bodies. We take so much
care of our bodies here. Why not take long term care and do more good acts?
See the Signs!
Today, we can’t see God Almighty, the
Day of Judgment, Heaven and Hell. But this is the test! The day when mankind will see all this
happening – NO ONE will disbelieve. But belief will be of no use then. The exam
will be over. The test is to believe in all this while they are unseen. There
are clear signs all around us to guide us.
What were we a 100 years back? Nothing. Today we are living and vibrant.
Who did this? Surely, our Creator!
“Does
not man see that We have created him from a (mere) sperm-drop. Yet, behold, he
(stands forth) as an open opponent. And he puts forth Us a parable, and forgets
his own creation. He says, ‘Who will
give life to these bones after they have rotten and have become dust?’” Say:
“He will give life to them who created them for the first time! And He is
All-knower of every creation!” (Qur’an
36:77079)
What
should we do to pass this test?
We should live a life of obedience to
the Creator. (This is what is called as ‘Islam’ in Arabic language). First, we should recognize Him as our Master
and accept all the Messengers and messages sent by Him. Next, we should do
whatever He enjoins us to do. Those are called good deeds (Punya). We should shun away from the deeds He prohibits (Papa). Man cannot decide good and bad
according to his own wishes or the community. As our final return is to God
Almighty, we should completely depend upon His guidance to pass this test.
“And upon Allah is
the responsibility to explain the straight path.” (Qur’an 16:9)
“Indeed
(incumbent) upon Us is the guidance, and, indeed, to Us belongs the Hereafter
and the First (i.e. the Present).” (Qur’an
92:12-13)
Today,
where can we find God’s true guidance?
It is true that the Creator has been
sending His Messengers and messages to mankind at all times and to all nations
and they were pure at that time. But later generations distorted them due to
ignorance or to exploit the people. Now, the latest message of God can be found
in the Holy Qur’an (the last Veda of God) and in the teachings of Prophet
Muhammad (the last Prophet).
About the Qur’an, God says,
“This
is the book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of
God.” (Qur’an 2:2)
The Qur’an also challenges and warns
those who do not believe in it:
“And if
you are in doubt about what We have sent down (i.e. the Qur’an) upon Our
servant (i.e. Prophet Muhammad) then produce a chapter the like thereof and
call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful. But, if
you do not – and you will never be able to – then fear the Fire whose fuel is
men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.” (Qur’an 2:23, 24).
Also God Almighty very authoritatively
proclaims in His Book:
“Truly,
the religion with God is Islam….” (Qur’an 3:19)
That is, the way of obedience or
submission shown through His Prophets is the only way that is acceptable to
Him. He also asks and warns:
“Do they seek other
than the religion of God, while to Him is submitted all creatures in the
heavens and earth, willingly or unwillingly. And to Him shall they all be
returned?” (Qur’an 3:83)
“And
whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him,
and in the Hereafter he will be of the losers.” (Qur’an 3:85)
Dear Brothers and Sisters, through
these verses our Creator and Master warns all those who show disobedience to
Him that they will be punished for their deeds. The biggest act of disobedience
to our Master is to worship others besides Him. This is a very grave sin
committed widely by people. He, who created us, sustains us and showers
boundless mercies on us warns against this very seriously.
“Verily,
joining others in worship with Allah is a great injustice” (Qur’an 31:13)
This major sin removes the sense of answerability for
one’s own deeds from human mind as it distorts God’s image in them. In fact
this is the root cause for the growth of sins and evil in the society. Further it
divides humanity into casts, tribes, sects etc. Almighty God informs us
that this as an unforgivable sin.
“Verily,
Allah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners in worship with Him, but He
forgives whom He pleases sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners in
worship with Allah, has indeed gone far astray.” (Qur’an 4:116)
“Verily
those who disbelieve among the people of the (earlier) scriptures and
polytheists will be in the fire of hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are
the worst of creatures.” (Qur’an 98:6).
Check
it for yourself
The Qur’an has brought these warnings
for mankind. Let us take heed. It is the book from our Creator. The Qur’an
invites all of mankind to come and examine it.
“Do
they not consider the Qur’an (with care)? Had it been from other than Allah,
they would have found therein many discrepancies.”
This is the standing challenge of the Qur’an.
Check the Qur’an. Scrutinize it. Examine it. You will not find in it even a
single contradiction!
Dear Brothers and Sisters. We have just one chance here on earth. The life
after death is the reality. The Judgment Day, Heaven and Hell are all true. Why
not sincerely search the truth and come to the purpose of our existence with
surety of faith. All this before it is too late!
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