Thurrock Muslim Community

Dear Reader,

You are reading this today, for a reason.

I want you to give me your answer to the question:

What is the purpose in life?

Write it down. Make a list if you want. Now scroll down to see what you may have come up with…

 

• to be happy
• to have fun
• earn money
• look good
• get married
• to be loved
• to have a family
• have kids
• get famous
• get educated
• travel the world
• to eat/drink/sleep
• whatever else you added

 

These things are accepted by many as common pursuits of life. But are they really the purpose of our existence? Does failure to attain these imply that it’s not worth living anymore? Are people who cannot attain these worthless?

 

Let’s get real. Sure everyone wants to be happy, but sometimes we become sad. Does that mean we shouldn’t bother living anymore? No! Of course not!

The same can be said about having fun, life’s not always fun, is it? I’m just being honest.

Money…so what happens when you go broke? What about those in poverty or unable to earn?

And about looking good… well, define good-looking for a start… and then decide, is beauty and youth everlasting, or ephemeral? (Botox does not count, those who’ve been there and done that can tell you all about it!)

The same about everything else on that list. You may have it, you may lose it, you may never attain it, and if you do, it will not last forever. Ultimately, we do have an end. Agreed? That’s a nod.

 

So then, all these things are ephemeral pursuits in life. What’s more, they may not be attainable to everyone. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth living. Because life has meaning. It’s got to be far deeper than merely getting by before you die.

 

What is the purpose of life?!

Quite simply, this is the very question which many have failed to answer adequately.

But when the answer comes from the Supreme Creator of all existence, things become a whole lot clearer.

As Muslims, we believe in One Supreme Creator of the universe and all existence. You may say God, we prefer to use Allah- you can’t add gender or plurals to the latter.

Allah is The Supreme Creator of all. Everything has a beginning and an end. But Allah is The Ever-Living, The Self-Existing, The Originator.  Allah created you and me, and everything. Allah owns everything, including you and me. We belong to Allah. And we will return to Allah soon…

Allah informs us that we were created for a purpose, and that purpose is to worship none but Allah alone, without partners or associates.

“and I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship me (alone). [Qur’an, chapter 51: verse 56 (English interpretation of Arabic)]

I haven’t finished this letter yet. Thanks for your time though, I’m going to have to continue it soon, if Allah wills…