Purpose of Creation in Eastern Philosophy Hinduism in the beginning was darkness and chaos, which was the unmanifest form of the Supreme Being. Out of

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1 Purpose of Creation in Islam In light of Quran, Traditions of Holy Prophet (pbuh), And Sayings of Muslim Saints & Mystics And In comparison with Other Faiths & Spiritual Traditions The Aching Question There are all sorts of inquiries that eventually lead to bigger question of Purpose of Creation Why are we here? What is our purpose? Why yddgodceae did create this vast Universe? ese Is there a bigger plan? and so on 1

2 Purpose of Creation in Eastern Philosophy Hinduism in the beginning was darkness and chaos, which was the unmanifest form of the Supreme Being. Out of the warmth of the Supreme Being there arose Desire in the form of a primal seed and germ of Spirit. This seed contained the forces and energy required for the formation of the manifest Universe. Rig Veda Hymn CXXIX Brahma's creative activity is not undertaken by way of any need on his part, but simply by way of sport (lila). Brahma Sutra Philosophies Non-Dualism: God created the Universe out of Himself. He is the source of all that exists. God is viewed as above all needs or dependencies. In general the purpose of creation is depicted as God s pastime (lila). Dualism: God and material world exist as two eternal realities. Some schools believe individual souls (Atman) emanate from God while others believe they have eternal existence as well. God is seen as the initiator and sustainer of creation. Some believe in the pastime (lila) as the purpose of creation, while other believe in attaining salvation through glorifying and serving God (Bhakti). Purpose of Creation in Eastern Philosophy Jainism Does not have a concept of Creator God. Individual Souls (Atman) and the material world exist as two separate realities. And their close proximity results in creation of living beings. There is no purpose of creation. Creation is seemed as iterative and eternal without beginning or end. Buddhism There are two main philosophies in Buddhism Theravada Philosophy No concept of God and no reason to seek purpose behind creation Based on Buddha s saying that we should not concern ourselves with questions to which there are no answers but concentrate rather on seeking enlightenment and escape from suffering. Mahayana Philosophy Believes in One All-Encompassing Cosmic Reality that s void of all dependencies. The ultimate purpose of creation is to realize its own true nature. 2

3 Purpose of Creation in Western Philosophy Zoroastrianism Believes in the dichotomy of good and evil Purpose behind creation is considered as helping Ahura Mazda (The Wise Lord) in defeating evil. Judaism All that is called by My name, for My glory, I created, and fashioned and made it. Isaiah 43:7 in order that there be creatures that will know Him in every measure by which He directs His world, with kindness and with judgment, according to the acts of humankind. For if His light would not spread to each of His creations, how would He be known? In what way would be fulfilled, 'All the earth is filled with His glory'? Zohar Parshat Bo, 42b In general purpose of creation is to glorify God. However in mystical teachings the purpose is to attain knowledge of God. Purpose of Creation in Western Philosophy Christianity For from Him (God) and through Him (God) and unto Him (God) are all things. To Him (God) be the glory forever. (Romans 11:36) To God be the glory forever! Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed and were created. (Revelation 4:11) Purpose of creation is to glorify and serve God. 3

4 Purpose of Creation in Islam At multiple locations in Quran God asks us to contemplate and reflect upon His Creation; Most surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day there are signs for people of understanding. (Quran 3:190) Most surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day, and the ships that run in the sea with that which is of use to men, and the water that Allah sends down from the sky, thereby reviving the earth after its death, and spreads in it all kinds of animals, and the changing of the winds and the clouds made subservient between the heaven and the earth, are signs for a people who reflect. (Quran 2:164) Victory of Truth over Falsehood And We did not create the heaven and the earth and what is between them in idle-sport. If We had wished to find a pastime, We could have found it in Our presence - if such had been our will at all! No! We cast the Truth against the falsehood, and it crushes the later, and verily it vanishes; and woe to you for what you ascribe unto Him. To Him belong all in the heavens and the earth. And those who dwell in His presence are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they weary; They glorify Him by night and day; they never slack-off. (Quran 21:16-20) 20) 4

5 As a Testing Ground And Allah created the heavens and the earth with Truth, and that every soul may be rewarded what it has earned, and they shall not be wronged. (Quran 45:22) He will say: How many years did you stay on earth? They will say: We stayed a day or part of a day, ask those who keep account. He will say: You stayed but a little, if you only knew. What! did you then think, that We had created you in vain and that you shall not be returned to Us? (Quran 23: ) 115) Do they not reflect within themselves: Allah did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them except with Truth, and for term appointed? And verily most of the people deny the meeting with their Lord. (Quran 30:8) Creation with Truth In most of verses in Quran that deal with creation of heavens and earth God states He created them with Truth (bil-haqq) Haqq). We will now look at these verses to gain a deeper understanding of the term bil-haqq Haqq. bil-haqq is translated differently by different Quranic scholars. Here are some of their translations; Yusuf Ali: for just ends Mohammed Shakir: with truth Mohammed Pickthall: with truth Muhammad Asad: with [inner] truth A. J. Arberry: in truth Faridul Haque: with the truth M. Sarwar: for a genuine purpose Ahmed Ali: with reason Lets look at rest of the verses that mention creation with Truth (bil-haqq) Haqq). 5

6 Creation with Truth And We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them in idle-sport sport. We did not create them except with Truth (illa bil-haqq) Haqq), but most of them do not know. (Quran 44:38-39) 39) We did not create the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except with Truth (illa bil-haqq) and for a term appointed; and those who disbelieve turn aside from what they are warned of. (Quran 46:3 & 15:85-86) 86) Allah created the heavens and the earth with Truth (bil-haqq) Haqq); most surely there is a sign in this for the believers. (Quran 29:44) Creation with Truth Do you not see that Allah created the heavens and the earth with Truth (bil-haqq)? If He wills, He can remove you and bring a new creation, And this is not difficult for Allah. (Quran 14:19-20) He created the heavens and the earth with Truth (bil-haqq) Haqq), High be He, Exalted above all that they associate with Him. (Quran 16:3) He created the heavens and the earth with Truth (bil-haqq) Haqq), and He shaped you, and made your shapes beautiful, and unto Him is the journeying. (Quran 64:3) 6

7 Truth in Old Testament (Torah) I am not worthy of all the mercies, and of all the Truth, which You have shown to Thy servant; (Genesis 32:11) Show me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths. Guide me in Thy Truth, and teach me; for You are the God of my salvation; (Psalms 25:4-5) 5) Teach me, O LORD, Thy way, that I may walk in Thy Truth; (Psalms 86:11) Truth in New Testament Pilate therefore said unto him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the Truth. Every one that is of the Truth hearth my voice. (John 18:37) 7

8 Truth in Hindu Scriptures Truth (Satyam) alone prevails, not falsehood. By Truth (Satyena) the Divine path is laid out, on which the sages, whose every desire is satisfied, proceed to attain the Supreme Truth (Satyasha). (Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.6) The unreal can never be (exist). The Truth (Sat) never is not (non existent). The nature of both these has been seen by the possessors of knowledge (tattva). Know That to be indestructible, by Which all this (Universe) is pervaded. None can cause the destruction of That, the Imperishable. (Bhagavad Gita 2:16-17) 17) Quran revealed with Truth With Truth (wabil-haqq) have We revealed it, and with Truth (wabil- Haqq) has it descended; and We have not sent you but as the giver of good news and as a warner. (Quran 17:105) And that those who have been given the knowledge may know that it is the Truth (anna hual-haqq) from your Lord, so they may believe in it and their hearts may submit humbly to it; and verily Allah is the Guide, of those who believe, to the right path. (Quran 22:54) 8

9 God is Truth This is because Allah is the Truth (Allah huwal-haqq) : it is He who gives life to the dead, and it is He who has power over all things. (Quran 22:6) This is because Allah is the Truth (Allah huwal-haqq) Haqq), and that which they call upon besides Him is the falsehood, and that Allah is the High, the Great. (Quran 22:62 & 31:30) On that day Allah will pay them back their just dues, and they shall know that Allah is the Truth-Manifest (Allah huwal-haqqu al-mubeen) (Quran 24:25) God s Will (Command) Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth? Able to create the like of them? Yes, Indeed! d! for He is the Creator, the Knower. His command (amr), when He wills a thing, is only to say to it: Be! (kun!) and it is (fayakoon). Therefore glory be to Him in Whose hand is the dominion of all things, and to Him you shall be brought back. (Quran 36:81-83) 83) 9

10 God s Will as the Word of Truth He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth with Truth (bil-haqq), and the day He says: Be! (kun!), it is (fayakoon fayakoon), the Word of Truth (qawluhu al-haqq Haqq); and His is the dominion on the day when the trumpet shall be blown; the Knower of the unseen and the seen; and He is the Wise, the Aware. (Quran 6:73) In the context of above verse Logos in Bible (John 1:1) can be interpreted as the Word of Truth (Be! and it is). Thus it represents Will of God. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. (John 1:1) Purpose of Creation in Islam: Manifestation of God s Attributes The purpose behind creation of heavens and the earth is often explained by Muslim Mystics as manifestation ti of God s Attributes. t The very nature of Divinity requires some sort of activity. For if God is a Creator; what meaning does it have without the creation. There is a Hadith-e-Qudsi (God s Speech) that is often quoted in this regard, I was a hidden treasure, and I desired to be known; so I created the creation in order that I might be known. (Hadith-e-Qudsi) 10

11 Purpose of Creation in Islam: Manifestation of God s Attributes Rumi [ AD] very eloquently touches on this in his Mathnawi as follows, If spiritual manifestations had been sufficient, The creation of the world had been needless and vain. If spiritual thought were equivalent to love of God, Outward forms of temples and prayers would not exist. Presents which friends make one to another Are naught but signs and indications, They give outward testimony and witness Of the love concealed within the heart. (Rumi Mathnawi Book I Story IX) Purpose of Creation in Islam: Manifestation of God s Will Jafar as-sadiq (great great grandson of Holy Prophet pbuh.) [ AD] also makes similar point in response to Jabir bin-hayyan Hayyan s (famous Muslim scientist) [ AD] question regarding God s Command Kun Fayakoon mentioned in Quran God s Will is the essence and spirit of the universe. It is His Will, which has manifested itself in the form of a visible and perceptible universe When God s Will desired to become visible and perceptible, it came out in the form of the universe. There is no difference between His Will and the universe except that we can see the universe, but we cannot see His Will. This is the meaning of Kun Fayakoon when explained logically. 11

12 Purpose of Creation in Islam: Necessity of Existence Ibn al-arabi (the great Sufi master) [ AD] describes God as being the only Real Existence God's knowledge of the universe is none other than the knowledge of Himself, since there is nothing in existence except Him. Ibn al-arabi Futuhat al-makkiyya Sadr al-din Shirazi (Mulla Sadra) [ AD] further elaborates this necessity of Existence as follows, By Real Existence we mean that which is pure existence not contaminated by anything this is what is called the Necessary Existence. We say that if the Real Existence did not exist nothing would have existed. Sadr al-din Shirazi Kitab al-mashair Conclusion From this we can infer, The True Reality (Existence) is God Alone. Furthermore Existence by definition demands expression (izhar). And that, Creation is manifestation of God s Existence God s Essence and Attributes, or simply put His Will to be known. In the light of above discussion, the Quranic verses that mention Creation with Truth can be interpreted as And We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them in idle-sport. We did not create them except to manifest Truth (Reality), but most of them do not know. (Quran 44:38-39) 39) 12

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