HOW TO FIND PURPOSE IN LIFE?
Meaningful Existence
MEDICINES are usually accompanied by leaflets explaining what illnesses they are designed to cure, how they should be used and what their basic formulae are. But, it is a tragedy that man is born into the world in such a condition that he knows neither what he is nor why he has been put here. No convenient handbook accompanies him; neither are there any signboards fixed to the summits of the mountains to give him directions or provide him with answers to his questions. Man has, in consequence, formed strange opinions about himself, the earth and the sky, being ignorant of the essential reality of life.
When he examines his own being, it appears to him as an amazing accumulation of intellectual and physical powers. Yet, he did not will himself into being, nor did he play any part in the making of himself. Then he looks at the world outside of him and finds a universe of such extreme vastness, that he can neither encompass nor traverse it, nor can he count the innumerable treasures it contains. What is all this and why is it there? Where did this world start from and where will it all end? What is the purpose of this existence? He finds himself completely in the dark on these subjects.
The Quran bears verbal witness to the sovereignty of God. It describes, with great force and clarity, the great, hidden, determinative force on work throughout the entire world, and gives us definitive information on those metaphysical realities, which elude the hand and the eye.
Man has, of course, been given eyes, but all his eyes can do is see the outside of things. He has intelligence, but the trouble with human intelligence is that it does not even know about itself. Up till now, man has been unable to find out how thoughts enter the human mind or how the mind functions. With such inadequate faculties, he is neither able to arrive at any sound conclusion concerning himself, nor is he able to understand the universe.
Towards the above questions the Quran is presented as a book which offers knowledge concerning the realities of life. Understanding the universe on our own is just like those blind people who tried to find out what an elephant is by touching the different parts of its body. One touched its leg and thought that it was a pillar. Another felt its ear and concluded that it was a winnowing basket. Its back was proclaimed as a platform, its tail as a snake and its trunk as a hosepipe. But in all this explanation the description of the real elephant is not there. No matter how these blind people put their findings together, they cannot arrive at the correct answer. In the same manner many people in their attempt to fathom the nature of reality in the universe have failed to draw the right conclusions, have been fumbling in the dark and just hazarding wild guesses as to the nature of their surroundings, without ever truly understanding it.
There have been people in this world who have devoted their entire lives to the quest for Truth but in their desperation at being unable to find it, have taken the extreme step of putting an end to their lives. Then there are some who drew conclusions based on pure conjecture. The latter mistaking conjecture for reason, compiled their conclusions and presented them to the world as Truth, the former saw speculation for what it was, rejected it, then—anguished at their own ultimate helplessness—opted out of this mysterious world.
The message of the Quran conveys that man has been given the capacity to think and understand, but this capacity is little better than an eye, which can see only so long as there is some external source of light. In pitch darkness, this self-same eye cannot see anything whatsoever. Only when a light is switched on, does everything become clearly visible. The human intellect, like the eye, needs the light—the light of God’s word.
The Quran is a book of guidance showing man the path to tread. It is a Light which guides his faltering steps giving him timely reminder of God’s will, awakening the minds of the readers.
The Quran presents this concept by saying that not only God exists, but also paints an incredibly vivid picture of the Being who sustains and directs the universe. Not only does it tell us about the creation plan for this world it also tells us about the life Hereafter. It describes the Day of judgement so graphically that its horrors become deeply etched on our consciousness. There is a well known story of a Greek artist who painted such a realistic picture of a bunch of grapes that birds would come and peck at it. Just think that if a painting executed by an ordinary mortal could have such an extraordinary effect, what heights of consummate artistry could not be reached by the Lord of the Worlds in His word—the Quran?
The Quran bears verbal witness to the sovereignty of God. It describes, with great force and clarity, the great, hidden, determinative force at work throughout the world, and gives us definitive information on those metaphysical realities, which elude the hand and the eye. Not only does it spell out the facts of existence, but it also builds up an astonishing gallery of word-pictures, which bring a hitherto unseen world before our very eyes.
The Quran shows us where strength in this world lies, giving us a handhold on a rope that never breaks. Without this, we have no real support in life. Moreover, it is only attachment to God that human beings can retain their hold on the cord that binds each to each. The Quran explains that it is God alone who sustains us throughout our lives here on earth. Through Him our hearts are set at ease, for it is He who provides true warmth in life. He rescues us in times of peril, assists us in the hour of need. All power rests in His hands; honour and glory will be the rewards of any nation who looks to Him for support, while only disgrace and humiliation will be the lot of those who abandon Him. To know this is to hold the key to all the treasures in life. He who possesses this key gains all; he who loses it, loses all.
The Quran presents this concept by saying that not only God exists, but also paints an incredibly vivid picture of the Being who sustains and directs the universe. Not only does it tell us about the creation plan for this world it also tells us about the life Hereafter.
The Quran is a book of guidance showing man the path to tread. It is a Light which guides his faltering steps giving him timely reminder of God’s will, awakening the minds of the readers. It conveys the Lord’s admonition. It is a book that helps one to distinguish right from wrong. It is a book of wisdom. It is a book which lays down for us the very foundations on which to build and organize society. How can a man gauge whether he has actually developed a relationship with God? There is only one answer to this question: by turning his eyes inward, and judging how his inner self stands related to the Quran. For how one relates to the Quran is a true reflection of one’s relationship with God. The degree to which a man adheres to the tenets of the Quran will be a sure indication of his attachment to his Maker. If the Quran is the book he values most, it goes without saying that God is dearer to him than any other. It is a scale on which man’s devotion to his Creator may be measured.
The degree to which a man adheres to the tenets of the Quran will be a sure indication of his attachment to his Maker.
When man fears to stand alone, without support, in an unfathomable universe, the Quran sets his mind at rest by making his destination clear to him, and directing him towards it. In the Quran man thus meets his Lord, beholds His promises and rejoices in His good tidings. In this way, the Quran fills a man with sufficient conviction to define his place in the world. Giving concrete form to the instinctive feeling which swirl in man’s subconscious about his Lord and Master, the Quran sets his feet well and truly on the path of submission to Him; brings him closer to God, which is the true purpose in life.