Purpose of Creation
"And We created not the heavens 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! Shall We treat those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, as Mufsidun (those who associate partners in worship with Allah and commit crimes) on earth? Or shall We treat the Muttaqun (pious - see V.2:2), as the Fujjar (criminals, disbelievers, wicked, etc)? (This is) a Book (the Qur'an) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember."
(Qur'an 38:27-29)
In other words, Allah has created this world that we live in for a purpose. This world that we live in (i.e. this life) has been created with everything we need and as a test for us. There are dutiful followers of Allah who do nothing but good, yet they are oppressed and have a life of misery and grief, plagued by sickness and poverty. Similarly, there are people who turn their backs on Allah and His commandments and commit evil and spread wickedness on earth despite Allah bestowing on them countless favours in terms of wealth, children, health and so on.
Allah is the Most Just and it is only fair that those good people should have a reward for their deeds and that those who do evil are punished. Therefore, Allah has created the Hereafter were every person will be judged according to what they have done during their time on earth so that everyone may receive what is due to them.
There is little doubt that the world we live in is full of many marvellous wonders of creation and that we as humans have everything we need to survive. We have trees to build houses with, animals and plants for food and clothing, minerals and metals from the earth to build transport, tall buildings and fuel our cars, and we have found a use for almost everything in one way or another. To the onlooker it would seem as though everything has been put here for our benefit and indeed this is the case.
"He it is Who created for you all that is on earth"
(Qur'an 2:29)
"See you not that Allah has subjected for you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, and has completed and perfected His Graces upon you, (both) apparent (i.e. Islamic Monotheism, and the lawful pleasures of this world, including health, good looks) and hidden [i.e. one's faith in Allah (of Islamic Monotheism), knowledge, wisdom, guidance for doing righteous deeds, and also the pleasures and delights of the Hereafter in Paradise]?"
(Qur'an 31:20)
"And He has subjected to you all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth; it is all as a favour and kindness from Him. Verily, in it are signs for a people who think deeply"
(Qur'an 45:13)
"And He has made the sun and the moon, both constantly pursuing their courses, to be of service to you; and He has made the night and the day, to be of service to you"
(Qur'an 14:33)
All of what Allah has given us are gifts from Him, for us to benefit from, to remind us to thank Him and for helping us to worship Him alone. Allah reminds us of these favours which He has bestowed upon us, over and over again in the Qur'an so that people should reflect and give thanks to their Creator.
Whilst we are not told the specific purposes of many of the gifts we have been given, Allah does tell us in some detail with regard to plants, animals and the purpose of our own creation.
The Purpose of Creating Plants
With regard to plants, they are for food (for us and animals), a cure (medicine), to remind us that the world will come to an end and that the dead will be resurrected and brought to life once more:
"Then let man look at his food: We pour forth water in abundance. and We split the earth in clefts. And We cause therein the grain to grow, and grapes and clover plants (i.e. green fodder for the cattle), and olives and date palms, and gardens dense with many trees, and fruits and herbage. (To be) a provision and benefit for you and your cattle."
(Qur'an 80:24-32)
"Verily, the likeness of (this) worldly life is as the water (rain) which We send down from the sky; so by it arises the intermingled produce of the earth of which men and cattle eat: until when the earth is clad in its adornments and is beautified, and its people think that they have all the powers of disposal over it, Our Command reaches it by night or by day and We make it like a clean-mown harvest, as if it had not flourished yesterday! Thus do We explain the Ayat (signs) in detail for the people who reflect"
(Qur'an 10:24)
This is a reminder to us that we are powerless and that if Allah wants to destroy crops and pastures (or anything else) by hail, flood, fire or any other means, then that is easy for Him and everything is subject to His will alone. Thus, we should always realise that death is close at hand and one minute life may flourish and the next it may be as though it never existed.
Just as Allah can turn life to death, so too can Allah turn death to life, since He is capable of all things. For anyone who has witnessed the dried desert lands without a trace of vegetation suddenly spring to life when rain has come, it is something amazing. For from nothing, Allah brings from the dead ground masses of plants in what seems like an instant. This is a reminder to us of how everything has been created by Allah out of nothing and that we too came from dried dust with no life.
The following verse in the Qur'an gives people the likeness of the resurrection of the dead and their coming forth from their graves, by reminding them of what they see of the earth coming back to life after it was dead. He says:
"And among His Signs (is this), that you see the earth barren, but when We send down water (rain) to it, it is stirred to life and growth (of vegetations). Verily, He Who gives it life, surely is Able to give life to the dead (on the Day of Resurrection). Indeed He is Able to do all things"
(Qur'an 41:39)
Man also derives medicines from plants, the greatest of which are the black seed (this is actually the name of the seed), of which the Prophet (PBUH) said that it is a cure for every disease apart from death and poison; and honey, which is gathered from the nectar of flowers, of which Allah says:
"... wherein is healing for man..."
(Qur'an 16:69)
The Purpose of Creating Animals
With regard to animals, they provide us with food, clothing, shelter, means of transport and many other numerous benefits. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And the cattle, He has created them for you; in them there is warmth (warm clothing), and numerous benefits, and of them you eat"
(Qur'an 16:5)
"And He it is Who has subjected the sea (to you), that you eat thereof fresh tender meat (i.e. fish), and that you bring forth out of it ornaments to wear. And you see the ships ploughing through it, that you may seek (thus) of His Bounty (by transporting the goods from place to place) and that you may be grateful"
(Qur'an 16:14)
"And (He has created) horses, mules and donkeys, for you to ride and as an adornment. And He creates (other) things of which you have no knowledge"
(Qur'an 16:8)
"And Allah has made for you in your homes an abode, and made for you out of the hides of the cattle (tents for) dwelling, which you find so light (and handy) when you travel and when you stay (in your travels); and of their wool, fur, and hair (sheep wool, camel fur, and goat hair), furnishings and articles of convenience (e.g. carpets, blankets), comfort for a while"
(Qur'an 16:80)
"And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war to threaten the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others besides whom, you may not know but whom Allah does know"
(Qur'an 8:60)
The Purpose of Creating Mankind
Whilst we may ponder over the purposes of the creation of other creatures, the most important question we should ever ask is "what is the purpose of our own creation?", for the answer should tell us why we are here and what we are supposed to do. Allah tells us the answer to this in the Qur'an:
"And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)"
(Qur'an 51:56)
"And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e., death)."
(Qur'an 15:99)
Therefore, every person has been created to worship Allah, our Creator, and nothing besides Him until their death. Allah does not need us to worship Him, we are the ones who need that. When we think of 'worship' it does not just mean praying or other prescribed worship such as pilgrimage. For Muslims, worship encompasses every part of daily life, and everything we as people do should be for Allah's sake. Therefore, we eat, sleep, speak, walk, trade, marry, dress and so on, in a manner that pleases Allah. We are told how to do these things and many more in a way that pleases Allah in the Holy Qur'an and through the actions and words of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). (More information about this aspect of Islam is given in Islamic Etiquettes).
Whilst the purpose of mankind's creation is clear, there may be many other reasons why animals and plants and everything else was created that we are not told about, and in the end, Allah knows best as to what these are.
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