Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Manifestations of the All-Merciful O Allāh, Clothe Every Unclothed One أَللٌّهُمَّ اكْسُ كُلَّ عُرْيَانٍ The Aim of Human Creation One of the great calamities of human life is the lack of insight about the purpose of human creation. So long as man has not come to know ‘the goal of life’ he shall always have to face difficulties. This universal law applies to the affluent too.
Ask every wealthy person whether his money always keeps him happy, and his answer would be in the negative. The Holy Qur’ān as well the Ahlu’l Bayt (as) have informed us that the aim behind human creation is to attain Allāh’s proximity and nearness. And the path that leads one to realize this aspiration is none other than ‘ibādah (obedience and worship).
The following verse explains it: In chapter 51, verse 56, Almighty Allāh says: وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالإِنْسَ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُونِ “And I have not created the jinn and men except that they should worship Me.” Here, the aim is indicated as Allāh’s Worship.
But is it the ‘final aim of creation?’ To answer this we should look at chapter 15, verse 99 of the Qur’ān, which says: وَاعْـبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ “And worship your Lord until conviction comes to you.” Therefore, it is ma‘rifatullāh that is the end. And the closer one gets to his Lord the better his knowledge of his Creator.
Beautiful allusions are made in the following verses too about the ultimate goal of the human being: Imām ‘Alī (as) in his famous supplication of Kumayl cries: يَا غَايَةَ آمَالِ العَارِفِـينَ! “O the Ultimate Hope of the Gnostics.” And in the prayer of ‘Arafah , Sayyid al-Shuhadā (as) cries: إِلٌهِي: أُطْلُبْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ حَتّى أَصِلَ إِلَيْكَ.
“O Allāh, Seek me by Your Mercy until I reach You.” It is Allāh’s worship that raises the human being so high that he may witness God- of course in his own limitations as explained by some traditions of the Ahlu’l Bayt (as). Having known this, we should realize that since the human being resides in the world of matter and possesses a structure that is submissive to the laws of matter, he is in need of different necessities that may enable him to subsist and achieve his goal in life.
Examples of such basic necessities, which we may also term as ‘the means of life’, are food, drink, clothing, a place of shelter, etc. The Means and the Goal Many who have not realized the purpose of human life busy themselves with the means and forget the goal.