Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
One of the greatest attributes of Allaah is wisdom, and one of His
greatest names is al-Hakeem (the most Wise). It should be noted that
He has not created anything in vain; exalted be Allaah far above such
a thing. Rather He creates things for great and wise reasons, and for
sublime purposes. Those who know them know them and those who do not
know them do not know them. Allaah has stated that in His Holy Book,
where He says that He has not created mankind in vain, and He has not
created the heavens and the earth in vain. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose),
and that you would not be brought back to Us?"
So Exalted be Allaah, the True King: Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has
the right to be worshipped but He), the Lord of the Supreme Throne!"
[al-Mu'minoon 23:115, 116]
"We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them
for a (mere) play"
[al-Anbiya' 21:16]
"And We created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is between
them, for mere play.
We created them not except with truth (i.e. to examine and test those
who are obedient and those who are disobedient and then reward the
obedient ones and punish the disobedient ones), but most of them know
not"
[al-Dukhaan 44:38]
"HaaMeem.
[These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'aan, and none but
Allaah (Alone) knows their meanings.]
The revelation of the Book (this Qur'aan) is from Allaah, the
AllMighty, the AllWise.
We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them
except with truth, and for an appointed term. But those who
disbelieve, turn away from that whereof they are warned"
[al-Ahqaaf 46:1-3]
Just as it is proven that there is wisdom behind the creation of man
from the standpoint of sharee'ah (Islamic law), it is also proven from
the standpoint of reason. The wise man cannot but accept that things
have been created for a reason, and the wise man regards himself as
being above doing things in his own life for no reason, so how about
Allaah, the Wisest of the wise?
Hence the wise believers affirm that there is wisdom in Allaah's
creation, and the disbelievers deny that. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the
alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of
understanding.
Those who remember Allaah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting,
and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of
the heavens and the earth, (saying): Our Lord! You have not created
(all) this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted are You above all
that they associate with You as partners). Give us salvation from the
torment of the Fire"
[Aal 'Imraan 3:190, 191]
And Allaah says, describing the attitude of the disbelievers towards
the wisdom of His creation (interpretation of the meaning):
"And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between
them without purpose! That is the consideration of those who
disbelieve! Then woe to those who disbelieve (in Islamic Monotheism)
from the Fire!"
[Saad 38:27]
Shaykh 'Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sa'di (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Allaah tells us of His perfect wisdom in creating the heavens and the
earth, and that He has not created them in vain, i.e., in play with no
beneficial purpose.
"That is the consideration of those who disbelieve" in their Lord,
because they think that which does not befit His Majesty.
"Then woe to those who disbelieve (in Islamic Monotheism) from the
Fire!" Allaah created the heavens and earth in truth for truth. He
created them so that His slaves might understand the completeness of
His Knowledge and Power and the extent of His Might, and that He Alone
is the One to be worshipped, and not those who have not created even
an atom in the heavens or on earth. And that they might know that the
Resurrection is true and that Allaah will judge between the people of
good and evil. The one who is ignorant of the wisdom of Allaah should
not think that Allaah will treat them equally when judging them. Hence
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Shall We treat those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah Islamic
Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds as Mufsidoon (those who
associate partners in worship with Allaah and commit crimes) on earth?
Or shall We treat the Muttaqoon (the pious) as the Fujjaar (criminals,
disbelievers, the wicked)?"
[Saad 38:28]
This does not befit Our wisdom and Our judgement. End quote.
Tafseer al-Sa'di, p. 712
Secondly:
Allaah has not created man to eat, drink and multiply, in which case
he would be like the animals. Allaah has honoured man and favoured him
far above many of those whom He has created, but many people insist on
disbelief, so they are ignorant of or deny the true wisdom behind
their creation, and all they care about is enjoying the pleasures of
this world. The life of such people is like that of animals, and
indeed they are even more astray. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"while those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as cattle eat;
and the Fire will be their abode"
[Muhammad 47:12]
"Leave them to eat and enjoy, and let them be preoccupied with
(false) hope. They will come to know!"
[al-Hijr 15:3]
"And surely, We have created many of the jinn and mankind for Hell.
They have hearts wherewith they understand not, and they have eyes
wherewith they see not, and they have ears wherewith they hear not
(the truth). They are like cattle, nay even more astray; those! They
are the heedless ones"
[al-A'raaf 7:179]
It is well known to wise people that the one who does a thing knows
more about the wisdom behind it than anyone else and for Allaah is the
highest description (cf. al-Nahl 16:60); He is the One Who has created
mankind and He knows best the wisdom behind the creation of mankind.
No one would dispute this with regard to worldly matters. All people
are certain that their physical faculties have been created for a
reason. The eye is for seeing, the ear is for hearing, and so on. Does
it make sense for his physical faculties to have been created for a
reason but for himself to have been created in vain? Or does he not
agree to respond to the One Who created him when He tells him of the
reason behind his creation?
Allaah has told us that the creation of the heavens and the earth, and
of life and death, is for the purpose of testing, so as to test man.
Whoever obeys Him, He will reward him, and whoever disobeys Him, He
will punish him. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six Days
and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you
is the best in deeds. But if you were to say to them: "You shall
indeed be raised up after death," those who disbelieve would be sure
to say, "This is nothing but obvious magic"
[Hood 11:7]
"Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is
best in deed. And He is the AllMighty, the OftForgiving"
[al-Mulk 67:2]
From this test results a manifestation of the names and attributes of
Allaah, such as Allaah's names al-Rahmaan (the Most Gracious),
al-Ghafoor (the Oft Forgiving), al-Hakeem (the Most Wise), al-Tawwaab
(the Accepter of Repentance), al-Raheem (the Most Merciful), and other
names of Allaah.
One of the greatest reasons for which Allaah has created mankind –
which is one of the greatest tests – is the command to affirm His
Oneness (Tawheed) and to worship Him alone with no partner or
associate. Allaah has stated this reason for the creation of mankind,
as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And I (Allaah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they
should worship Me (Alone)"
[al-Dhaariyaat 51:56]
Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
i.e., I have created them so that I may command them to worship Me,
not because I have any need of them. 'Ali ibn Abi Talhah said,
narrating from Ibn 'Abbaas: "except that they should worship Me
(alone)" willingly or unwillingly. This is the view favoured by Ibn
Jareer. Ibn Jurayj said: i.e., except that they should know Me.
Al-Rabee' ibn Anas said: "Except that they should worship Me", i.e.,
for the purpose of worship. End quote.
Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/239
Shaykh 'Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sa'di (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Allaah, may He be exalted, created mankind to worship Him and to know
Him by His names and attributes, and to enjoin that upon them. Whoever
submits to Him and does what is enjoined upon him will be one of those
who are successful, but whoever turns away from that, they are the
losers. He will inevitably gather them together in the Hereafter where
He will reward or punish them for what He commanded and forbade them
to do. Hence Allaah mentions how the mushrikeen (polytheists) denied
the reward or punishment, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"But if you were to say to them: 'You shall indeed be raised up after
death,' those who disbelieve would be sure to say, 'This is nothing
but obvious magic'"
[Hood 11:7]
i.e., if you were to speak to these people and tell them about the
Resurrection after death, they would not believe you, rather they
would reject your words vehemently and deny the message you brought,
and they would say, 'This is nothing but obvious magic,' but in fact
it is obvious truth. Tafseer al-Sa'di, p. 333
And Allaah knows best.
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