An Islamic perspective on why we are here.

As a young adult, I was consumed by this question: why did God create man? A question that is biologically linked to our being, and a natural part of coming of age.

The answer I found that felt complete and sufficient at the time was in the Quran, Chapter 51, Verse 56.

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me.

I carried this answer close to my heart for over a decade. Giving meaning to my life.

Then at some point, it did not feel enough.

And I found myself looking again.

I stumbled into another verse from the Quran. But this time it was not as clear. This time there was mystery and layers. There was contemplation. From moment to moment, my understanding of the verse might shift.

My partner and I discussed it at length, I read from the Tafsir, and reflected on the verse with friends. And the more I sat with it, the more I felt that there is not supposed to be a clear answer.

In Chapter 2, Verse 30:

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةًۭ ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

˹Remember˺ when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to place a successive ˹human˺ authority on earth.”

They asked, “Will You place in it someone who will spread corruption there and shed blood while we glorify Your praises and proclaim Your holiness?”

God responded, “I know what you do not know.”

The words “I know what you do not know” is all that God gives us. The Angels worshipped God in continuity. The Angels were not complicated. The Angels caused no corruption. And yet, God chose to create the human because there was something more.

And this is where I think the essence of the human experience lies.

We are here to be a part of the human experience.

To worship God and to do more.

We must each ask ourselves, what is this something more?

I have come to believe that the something more is to create.

To tap into our creative abilities.

To create so that we may worship.

To nourish the world through our creativity.

And be with God at all times.