What is the true purpose of man, created in the best possible fashion as an honorable being and endowed with countless blessings of the Divine? What is expected of him? What are his responsibilities?

Allah, glory unto Him, asserts:

“What! Did you then think that We had created you in vain and that you shall not be returned to Us?” (al-Muminun, 115)

“And I have not created the jinn and the men except that they should serve Me.” (ad-Dhariyat, 56)

Man must give thanks, in thousands, for each cell he has in his body, through deeds of worship, charity, enjoining goodness and patience, just to name a few. Each blessing comes with a price and each necessitates an expression of thanks.

The Prophet –upon him blessings and peace- says:

“A charity a day is required for each joint man has. Helping a person mount his ride or placing his load upon it is charity. A kind word is charity. Every step taken on the way to the mosque for ritual prayer is charity. Giving directions, too, is charity.” (Bukhari, Jihad, 72. See, Muslim, Zakat, 56)

“A charity is required each day for each of your joints and bones. Every tasbih is charity. Every hamd is charity. Every tahlil is charity. Every takbir is charity. Advising with the good is charity. Preventing from evil is charity. Two rakat of ritual prayer offered at midmorning covers for all of these.” (Muslim, Musafirin, 84, Zakat, 56. See, Bukhari, Sulh, 11, Jihad, 72, 128)

Other reports include “adjudicating justly between two people” and “removing from the street things that bother passers by”. (See, Bukhari, Sulh, 11, Jihad, 72, 128; Muslim, Zakat, 56)

The need to strive towards becoming a worthy servant of the Almighty is hence obvious. Making the most of each moment through deeds of worship and goodness and preparing for the life eternal in the best way possible is, moreover, essential.

The Magnificent Subtleties of Creation