3 Reasons Why We Were Created- From Quran and Bible’s Perspective

The Bible on the Purpose of Life

Though not mentioned as explicitly in the Bible as the reasons for the creation of mankind, the concepts of worship, submission, serving as God’s viceroy and trial are fundamentally no different in Jewish and Christian traditions.

The Bible does not directly talk about man being God’s viceroy. However, the Torah declares man’s creation was in God’s image:

Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26–27

However, we should not get ‘God complex” thinking we are “created in God’s image”, and stretch it too far to mean that we are “like God”. It is explained in the Bible very clearly (as well as in the Qur’an) that there is no one like God.

Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me. Isaiah 46:9

That there is no one like Me in all the earth. Exodus 9:14

Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them. Isaiah 43:7

In his book, Torah for Dummies, Rabbi Arthur Kurzweil explains the trials and tribulations in the Jewish tradition.

Based on the Torah, Judaism takes the fundamental position that as with Abraham, life for each human is a series of tests of trials given by God for their benefit. All trials, from smallest frustration to the greatest tragedy, are really for the best even though you can’t always see them that way. A basic tenant of Jewish faith is the principle that God knows what He is both doing and allowing and that the tests you face are for the benefit of your soul.[1]

Putting it all together: ‘God and be good’.

At first glance, the three purposes of creation may seem random and unrelated but they are perhaps one and the same. Worshipping God does not necessarily mean prostrating him. It means submitting to His will and commandments, which includes being kind and merciful to others, which is like acting in His image and as His viceroy. It means we stay the course even when we face tests and tribulations.

Serving others is serving God and is therefore a form of worshipping God.

Is this an oversimplification? Perhaps so.

When I was a host on the Internet radio back in 2013, I had late Dr. Maher Hathout on my program, Frank Talk with Dr. Ejaz. He was a thought leader and a co-founder of Muslim Public Affairs Council, or MPAC. Near the end of my interview, I asked him: “I have about 30 seconds left. Can you describe Islam to those who may not know much about Islam?” It was a tongue and cheek question, realizing we have limited time left during the show. Dr. Hathout responded: “I can describe it in two words- God and be good”.

They were actually four words but they have stuck with me since!

God Created the Earth for Mankind’s Benefit

The passage quoted above from Torah also refers to this, and according to the Quran, everything on the earth was created for the benefit of man. God has made all that is between the heavens and the earth for man’s service and made them subservient. This includes animals as well as “what’s in the earth.”

How can you deny Allah? Did He not give you life when you were lifeless; and will He not cause you to die and again bring you to life; and will you not ultimately return to Him? It is He Who has created for you all that there is in the earth. 2:28–29

Do you not see that Allah has made subservient to you whatsoever is in the earth and the ships running in the sea by His command? And He withholds heaven from falling on the earth except with His permission; most surely Allah is Compassionate, Merciful to men. 22:65

… We made them (referring to camels and cattle) subservient to you, so that you may be grateful. 22:36

Time to Ponder

Did we evolve or were we created in our current human form? The Scriptures state that Adam was created and humans are descendants of Adam. Are the creation doctrine and evolution theories mutually exclusive? Is evolution part of God’s creation? Was Adam created in our current human form?

Adapted from portions of chapter “God, The Creator” from my book, The Quran: With or Against the Bible?

[1] Kurzweil, Torah for Dummies, p. 75.