Question:

What is the goal of our creation as human beings?

Answer:

There are stages for the purpose of our creation, the final one of which what is mentioned to the angels in Surat  al-Baqara when God created Adam:

 إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً

“Verily, I am going to make a vicegerent on Earth” – Holy Quran: 2: 30

So the purpose of our creation on Earth is to be God’s represenative. Many narrations also support this idea.

Note that the expression of ‘on Earth’ does not mean man’s authority will be limited to Earth, but rather, it means that the place of this appointment is on the Earth.

The path to that goal is worshipping, and hence God the Almighty says:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

“And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone)” – Holy Quran: 51: 56

Answered by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei

Admin Note: Please also see this related Q&A