QV12.....What is the purpose of life?

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Many of us rarely bother to ask this question. Some say that the purpose is to enjoy! And some others say that purpose is to attain ultimate liberation. And some even consider the world to be a play of God!

Each of these answers have their own contradictions if you analyze a bit. All ancient thinkers have pondered over this, and come up with their own answers. And Muslims have their answer.

Quran describes how God created this world and how he carefully nurtures each one of the creatures he has created. Quran says

“Wa maa min daaabbatin fil ardi illaa 'alal laahi rizquhaa wa ya'lamu mustaqarrahaa wa mustawda'ahaa; kullun fee Kitaabim Mubeen

Wa Huwal lazee khalaqas samaawaati wal alrda fee sittati aiyaaminw wa kaana 'Arshuhoo alal maaa'i liyablu wakum aiyukum ahsanu 'amalaa; wa la'in qulta innakum mab'oosoona mim ba'dil mawti la yaqoolanal lazeena kafaroo in haazaaa illaa sihrum Mubeen”

“It is God Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days - and His Throne was over the Waters…

There is no moving creature on earth that does not depend on God for its sustenance. God knows the time and place of its definite abode and its temporary deposit…

God created you, so that He might try you to see which of you is best in conduct…” (Quran 11.6, 11.7)

That means that the God created and looked after each creature only to see which of them is the best. God keeps testing each of his creatures by subjecting them to various hardships.

But why should God create, nourish and subject us to suffering!? Can he not just be merciful on us and help us without testing us and make us suffer?

Quran says that if God did that, we would not understand his mercy and we take it for granted. We may even start denying the very existence of God!

So, what the God does is to put us in suffering and see how we retain our righteousness, even in the event of adversity. Only the one who passes these tests becomes dear to God.

In Quran God says

´Wa la'in azaqnal insaana minnaa rahmatan summa naza'naahaa minhu, innahoo laya'oosun kafoor

Wala'in azaqnaahu na'maaa'a ba'da darraaa'a massat hu la yaqoolanna zahabas saiyiaatu 'anneee; innahoo lafarihun fakhoor

Illal lazeena sabaroo wa 'amilus saalihaati ulaaa'ika lahum maghfiratunw wa ajrun Kabeer”

“If We give man a taste of Mercy from Ourselves, and then withdraw it from him, behold! he is in despair and falls into blasphemy.

But if We give him a taste of Our favors after adversity has touched him, he is sure to say, ‘All evil has departed from me’. Behold! he falls into exultation and pride.

Not so do those who show patience and constancy, and work righteousness; for them is forgiveness of sins and a great reward...” (Quran 11.9, 11.10., 11.11)

So, Quran wants us to face the tests we are subjected to, and remain on the righteous path without deviation. Only then God will shower his mercy on us. So, suffering is a blessing in disguise.


This is where the eastern and western views diverge. Most Indian schools whether it is Vedic, Buddhist or even Jains, consider Karma as responsible for our problems. ‘We reap what we sow’. God neither subjects us to suffering nor tests us. We suffer only because of our past wrong deeds.

The Buddhists who don’t believe in the concept of God, have a strong theory of Karma. They even talk elaborately on how Karma works by influencing our minds and how its effects are inevitable.


Whatever may be the differences in basic views, the end result is the same. These beliefs coax an individual to move on a righteous path. That is most important. The details are only secondary.

Quranic verses episode 12

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Based on verses from Holy Quran. The interpretation is by Dr.King. The Quran recitations are from various sites such as Quran.net, Quran411.com and so on.