What Is Our Goal In Life?

What is our goal in life?

The moment we are born, we begin a journey. We enter a world that is strange to us. It is a world we did not choose for ourselves. We know we are on a journey but we don't know why and how. We come without knowing and without understanding. We come from nothing into something. We did not choose this destination; it was chosen for us. But we do not know. We are still learning and our bodies are not fully developed. Our mind is for the first time starting to do weird things by forming new thought patterns. Its harsh environment is not friendly to us, nor are we ready to take care of ourselves. We lack all the critical elements required to live independently. Thanks to our caregivers, mostly our parents, we gradually grow and adapt to this world.

As we get older and start to grow, our bones get bigger and stronger and our ability to move is greatly improved. We begin to explore our surroundings. It is truly a moment of self-exploration. We question our abilities and learn new things. It's a great feeling to discover and study things that are strange and unknown to us. We also develop a love for our caregivers. We love them even when we don't understand them. That ability has been ingrained in us. We are created with love, and our hearts are attracted to those who show love and mercy to us; an attribute of our creator that all mankind has.

As we grow older into our teenage years, we become independent and start adapting to this world. Our brain has developed enough to allow us to question things. We start gaining knowledge but wisdom is far away from us. At one point we ask ourselves: Why are we here? Who created us? Thoughts and questions keep us busy. Even though we don't know our purpose, we get preoccupied with worldly desires. At this point, we get new friends, boyfriends or girlfriends, and new hobbies (Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, and much more). School is a big part of our life. We become educated and smarter but with knowledge comes arrogance.

At this young age, the media floods our brains with meaningless messages. Sadly, they dictate our life. If we don't do what everyone else does, we are strange. If we do not fit the norm, we are not cool. Therefore, we are sucked into this deceptive reality, whereby we allow society to dictate our life. We become distant from our families. We get a new jobs and start our own families. We are having so much fun that the questions we once had about our existence have been forgotten. Not only have we forgotten our core questions and beliefs, but we have also forgotten our caregivers.

As we grow older eventually reality kicks in. We lose our jobs. Family problems. We lose friends or loved ones. Our health deteriorates. So we seek help from others and a higher power whose knowledge of His existence was ingrained in us when we were created. We may get the help we need or we may not. These times truly make us who we are and who we will become. As blessed as we are, we forget that for a big portion of our life we were blessed with many things, but one unanswered prayer and we become unappreciative.

Some of our problems the world can fix. We go to the doctor, he or she prescribes to us a medication, and hopefully, we are cured of a disease. Sadly, some of us praise technology and people more than our creator and forget and ignore His very existence, all because we were self-sufficient. It isn't a surprise that tests can come in with hardships and blessings. These tests determine our character, our morals, and our beliefs, and ultimately they dictate our striving. How we live and treat others ultimately is affected by the way we react to the circumstances in our lives. Therefore, we should be very careful about how we react to blessings and hardships.

We go on with our lives thinking this life is never going to end but it eventually surprises us. Time flies by. People left and right pass away but we still don't learn from them. Sadly, just like we came into this world weak, some of us reach old age, weak. It is during this old age when we have gained a lot of wisdom that we truly understand that life is not forever in this world. Sadly, it takes some of us until our deathbed to realize that we truly will perish. We wish and pray for more time, but what's destined for us will come to pass. We die having wasted many years without knowing our creator and our purpose in this world. Some of us die having done nothing for others while fulfilling the desires of our hearts. Some of us die with many sins, while others die with many good deeds. And some die at an early age; an example to learn from.

Let not life surprise you. Your time in this world is limited. You are not guaranteed to live a long life as the media says. We may have the greatest technology, but it cannot change our destiny. The greatest doctor cannot stop our death, nor prolong our life, unless it's the will of our creator. So don't be deceived by technology. It can improve your life but it cannot change your destiny.

Take lessons from those before you. They came into this world, and are going into another world that we will join as well. Some of them lived great lives having accomplished great things. They discovered and invented new things that we use today. Some of them died having done nothing of importance. They wasted their life for the desires of their soul. Sadly, some died having no knowledge of their purpose in this world. They died without the knowledge and recognition of their creator. But now they are gone and what is promised by the creator has surely happened. Our creator told us in the glorious Qur'an that everyone shall taste death and we will be next. Furthermore, the creator tells us in the Quran in Surah Al-Qiyamah verses 1-15:

1. I swear by the Day of Resurrection;

2. And I swear by the self-reproaching person (a believer).

3. Does man (a disbeliever) think that We shall not assemble his bones?

4. Yes, We are Able to put together in perfect order the tips of his fingers.

5. Nay! (Man denies Resurrection and Reckoning) So he desires to continue committing sins.

6. He asks: "When will be this Day of Resurrection?"

7. So, when the sight shall be dazed,

8. And the moon will be eclipsed,

9. And the sun and moon will be joined together (by going one into the other or folded up or deprived of their light, etc.)

10. On that Day man will say: "Where (is the refuge) to flee?"

11. No! There is no refuge!

12. Unto your Lord (Alone) will be the place of rest that Day.

13. On that Day man will be informed of what he sent forward (of his evil or good deeds), and what he left behind (of his good or evil traditions).

14. Nay! Man will be a witness against himself [as his body parts (skin, hands, legs, etc.) will speak about his deeds].

15. Though he may put forth his excuses (to cover his evil deeds).

Now that you know where you are going, what is your purpose? The creator himself has made it plain and simple in the Qur'an for us to understand. God said in the Holy Qur'an: "And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me." [Quran 51: 56]. Think about it. Is our purpose in this world simply to eat, sleep, dress, work, acquire some material things and enjoy ourselves for a few years? Is this our purpose? Why are we born? What is the object of our existence? What is the wisdom behind the creation of man and this tremendous universe? Think about those questions.

God says in the glorious Qur'an: "And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is over all things competent. Indeed, the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding-Who to remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire." (Qur'an 3:189-191)

Here the creator affirms that we were not created in vain. He calls our attention to their creation and their precision and mentions those who contemplate the wonders of creation and realize that this was not created for any foolish purpose, [that Allah is exalted above doing such a thing.]

Our purpose in this life is to recognize The Creator, to be grateful to Him, to worship Him, to surrender ourselves to Him, and to obey the laws that He has determined for us. It means worship is our purpose in life. We need to do those things with great effort to attain our main purpose in the hereafter. To enter paradise where we will meet our creator and live eternally.

Remember: This life is a test. We will undergo many trials and tribulations that will test our cores. These hardships will test our obedience and gratitude to our creator. If we are successful, InshAllah we will enter paradise. We all have choices. We all have prayers. The creator is ready to help us. All we need to do is strive and seek his help to successfully enter paradise. As much as we can strive, we cannot do enough for ourselves. Ultimately, it will depend on the mercy of our creator. But our striving will be what gets us there.

So don't make this world your only goal. Always remember your creator. Remember that you came from nothing into something. This something (earth) is temporary and short. This world is your opportunity to work for your next life that is eternal. May Allah give us the wisdom and strength to remain firm in His path. May He forgive our shortcomings and may He reward us for our efforts. Ameen.