Opinion | Purpose Of Life

What is the purpose of my life? How can I make the best out of it? What happens after death and how to prepare for the after life?

From the smallest particles to the big stars and vast galaxies, every thing is running smoothly according to a perfect plan. The universe didn’t come into being by an accident and doesn’t run on its own.
Common sense dictates that there must be a Creator behind this great scheme, and there is, (God Almighty, Allah), Who controls everything. How things in the cosmos can run so smoothly for millions of years without a supreme Operator to manage and regulate them. Allah (the supreme Creator) is All
Mighty, All Wise, All Powerful and Most Beneficent and Merciful. Whatever has happened in the past, whatever is happing now and whatever is going to happen in future – that is all in the complete control of Allah alone. He is One, worthy of all worship and He has no partners. Time and space belong to Him and the past, present and future is all in His supreme knowledge and control.
Allah Almighty is showering countless blessings upon us everyday. His universe and whatever is in there is in constant service to mankind providing him water and food and every thing which is necessary for his
survival. So many organs from head to toe are ceaselessly functioning within the human body, and each is indispensable and can’t be replaced. Every heart-beat, every single breath and every eye-blink demands us that we should thank Him, though we cannot thank Him enough for His blessings.
The remembrance of the Creator is the very soul of the universe. The purpose of religion is to correct our relationship with our Creator and with the rest of His creation. Islam is the only religion, which truly establishes this relationship. Its simple guidelines are applicable in every walk and every aspect of life; be it belief, worship, individual, collective life and life’s physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects.
Allah Almighty sent prophets as guides to teach people the purpose of life and how to lead it. The prophets as role-models for mankind ideally demonstrated how to lead life. They taught how to achieve success in this temporary life and the eternal life of the Hereafter. Muhammad (Peace be upon him, SAW) was the final messenger who was sent as a mercy to the entire mankind. He was a reformer, orator, commander, philosopher, statesman, administrator, and a revolutionary leader. The movement which he started to reform mankind goes on and will go on till the end of this world. His miraculous Achievements as a leader have been acknowledged by historians and men of letters by Muslims and non Muslims alike. Even his worst enemies attested to his honesty, and integrity.

The Holy Qur’an is a complete code of life and a living miracle across space and time. Hundreds of thousands of people, including small children, have memorized this book from cover to cover. Not a single word or letter in the Qur’an has been changed in the last 14 centuries! The Holy Qur’an mentions
facts regarding the creation of the universe, birth of human being, formation of clouds, movement of sun and moon in orbits and other scientific facts which were not known to mankind at the time of its revelation. This proves that it is a direct word of God Almighty Who not only has complete and total
knowledge, but is the very source of knowledge. This life is a one-time opportunity to achieve everlasting happiness in the Hereafter. Every moment has a great potential if positively used to raise status and rank
in the sight of our Creator. Strong faith and good deeds bring peace and comfort in this life, in the grave and in the Hereafter.

This world is but a station, not the destination. It is a place where we are sent to be tested. It is not a place to become lost in its wonders and temptations and be inactive, lazy or lethargic. “So did you Think that We created you for nothing, and that you will not be brought back to us?” [23:115]
Every action we do and every word we speak is being recorded. For complete success in this world and in the Hereafter, man needs to reform and change his life. He should quit the pursuit of desires and temptations and pursue the life of submission and obedience. Paradise is a reality – with rivers of milk
and honey, palaces of gold and silver, delicious food and fruits, beautiful companions, always happy, always young, always healthy – a great kingdom for ever and ever for an unending enjoyment and bliss.
Compete with each other to strengthen faith and excel ingood deeds and hasten to seize every fleeting moment and turn into gold by a productive activity; sow seeds today to reap a rich harvest tomorrow and rush at the available opportunity before it is lost for good.
Convert time into gold. Today is the day of action, rush to do good deeds. Repentance and asking forgiveness could clean up mistakes of the past. Good intentions lead us to a golden future. Even ordinary daily acts like eating and sleeping can become acts of worship if done the way told by Allah and
His beloved Prophet (SAW). This is how every single act may bring us closer to our Creator. What a great bargain to earn unimaginable and countless rewards in the everlasting life of the Hereafter. Imagine a believer who always remembers and seeks help from his Creator, praises Allah by his tongue, in his
heart, expresses gratitude for His bounties, is patient in hardships. He supplicates in all earnestness and always has good intentions. He follows the ways of the beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him, SAW) in his
outward appearance and in his manners, conduct and etiquette. He is getting rewards at every step. Worshipping our Creator, acquiring knowledge to become an ideal believer, serving humanity, making
efforts in helping fellow human beings to be loved by Allah should be our mission. Deeds done with a pure heart, sincere intentions, with humility, love and care fulfills the mission of life. Islam teaches universal brotherhood as indicated and expressed in our daily prayers and our pilgrimage to Makkah. “O
mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into races and tribes, that you may identify one another. Surely, the noblest of you, in Allah’s sight is the one who is most pious of you. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” [Qur’an 49:13]
Islam’s mission is to serve humanity. Islam teaches us to help the needy without any discrimination of color, creed, race, nationality or religion. Islam gives a second chance to every human being to bring his life back on track, find the way to salvation and to prepare for Paradise. Embracing Islam washes away
previous sins. Repentance is the way to protect from punishment in the life of the Hereafter. The human heart has hidden treasures of matchless jewels. If found and applied, ordinary people on the street can
become means of guidance to their communities, fountains of light, flag-bearers of justice and mercy, making the world a cradle of learning and illuminating the universe with divine knowledge.
Our goal is educate people to produce better believers, law abiding responsible citizens with high morals and characters living peacefully in the society as community members having strong faith, performing
good deeds, and have a sense of accountability to Almighty Allah. May Allah, the Lord of Honor and Power, guide us all to the right path! Ameen