SAEDNEWS: The purpose of human existence is one of humanity’s oldest questions, explored in this article from the perspectives of religion, psychology, and mysticism.
According to Saednews, The question of why human beings were created is one of the most fundamental and oldest questions humanity has ever asked. Since the beginning of history, people have continually searched for answers to questions such as, “Why was I born?” and “What is the ultimate purpose of life?” This is not merely an abstract philosophical question; it is an existential issue that shapes the direction of life, personal values, priorities, and the meaning behind all human efforts. Throughout history, philosophers, mystics, theologians, and scientists have approached this question from different perspectives.
Our purpose is to become and remain truly human, living according to what our true Beloved desires for us. In doing so, we can experience a joyful, peaceful, and love-filled life in this world while also attaining happiness and eternal fulfillment in the hereafter. Therefore, it is our true Beloved who should guide all our activities in life and give direction to our actions and behavior.
In Islam, the purpose of human creation is clearly explained in the Qur'an and in the traditions of the Prophet and the Imams. The Qur'an states in Surah Adh-Dhariyat, verse 56:
“I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me.”
This verse identifies worship as the primary purpose of creation. However, worship here does not simply mean performing rituals and religious practices. Rather, it refers to reaching the state of servitude and devotion to God. True servitude means that a person makes their will subject to the divine will in all aspects of life and strives to reach their ultimate perfection, which is closeness to God.
From the Islamic perspective, human beings are endowed with free will, reason, and an innate disposition toward truth. God created humanity so that people could use these gifts to pursue spiritual perfection and attain the status of Khalifatullah, or God's vicegerent on Earth. In the Qur'an, God says to the angels:
“Indeed, I am going to place a vicegerent on Earth.”
(Al-Baqarah 2:30)
This divine vicegerency is regarded as one of the highest positions a human being can attain and is considered an ultimate dimension of human purpose.
In addition, Islamic traditions describe the purpose of human creation in terms of knowing God (ma'rifah) and attaining moral and spiritual perfection. Imam Ali is reported to have said that God created humanity to guide people toward the straight path and, through worship, bring them closer to Him.
In Christianity, the purpose of human existence is to know God, love Him, serve Him in this world, and ultimately attain eternal blessedness in the Kingdom of Heaven. According to the Bible, human beings were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). This is understood to mean that humans possess qualities such as reason, free will, creativity, and the capacity to love.
The purpose of human life is to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, become increasingly conformed to God's likeness, and ultimately attain salvation and eternal life.
The concepts of “salvation” and “redemption” are central to Christianity. Humanity is understood to have become separated from God because of original sin, associated with Adam and Eve. The purpose of life, therefore, is to restore this separation through faith in Jesus Christ and following His teachings, ultimately returning to communion with God.
Thus, from the Christian perspective, the purpose of human creation is to return to one's spiritual origin and attain eternal blessedness in the presence of God.
In Judaism, the purpose of human existence is to serve God and follow His commandments in this world. Human beings are understood as partners with God in caring for and cultivating creation. The Torah instructs humanity to populate, cultivate, and care for the Earth (Genesis 1:28).
An important concept associated with the ultimate human responsibility in Judaism is Tikkun Olam, meaning “repairing the world.” According to this idea, people should contribute to the improvement of the world through good deeds and observance of divine commandments, helping move society toward greater justice, harmony, and peace.
In Judaism, a relationship with God is developed through following the Torah and observing the mitzvot, or divine commandments. Through fulfilling these commandments, a person draws closer to God and fulfills an important dimension of their purpose in creation.
From the perspective of evolutionary biology, the existence of human beings can be understood in terms of survival and reproduction. According to the theory of natural selection, humans, as a biological species, evolved in ways that enabled the transmission of their genes to subsequent generations.
Many human behaviors, instincts, and abilities can ultimately be understood in relation to survival and reproduction. However, this perspective does not necessarily answer the philosophical or existential question of what life ought to mean. Rather, it explains biological mechanisms associated with the continuation of a species.
Humanistic psychologists such as Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers argued that a central human goal is self-actualization. In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, self-actualization represents the realization of one's potential.
Self-actualization means developing one's abilities and capacities and becoming the fullest version of oneself.
From this perspective, human beings are active and creative individuals who possess an inherent tendency toward growth and development. The purpose of life can therefore involve discovering and developing one's unique talents, forming authentic and meaningful relationships, and experiencing moments of profound fulfillment, sometimes described as “peak experiences.”
Viktor Frankl, the Austrian psychiatrist and founder of logotherapy, argued that the primary motivating force in human beings is the “will to meaning.” After experiencing the horrors of Nazi concentration camps, he concluded that people can discover meaning in their lives under virtually any circumstances, even in extremely difficult conditions.
Frankl argued that what people need is not necessarily a life without tension, but rather the struggle toward a worthwhile goal.
From Frankl's perspective, meaning can be discovered through three major paths:
Through work or carrying out a task or responsibility
Through loving and caring for other people
Through adopting a courageous attitude toward suffering and hardship
Frankl believed that suffering cannot always be avoided, but people can change their attitude toward it and discover meaning even in the midst of suffering.
In Islamic mysticism, the purpose of human creation is to return to one's origin and unite with ultimate reality, God. Muslim mystics believe that humanity comes from God and ultimately returns to Him.
This spiritual journey, known as suluk or the path of spiritual development, includes various stages such as repentance, asceticism, reliance on God, patience, gratitude, fear and hope, fana (self-effacement in God), and baqa (remaining through God).
The ultimate goal of the mystic is described through concepts such as fana fi Allah, meaning becoming spiritually effaced in God, and baqa billah, meaning abiding through God.
Jalal al-Din Rumi, the renowned Persian poet and mystic, regarded knowing and loving God as central to the purpose of human existence. He wrote:
“We are from above, and upward we go;
We are from the sea, and back to the sea we go.”
From Rumi's perspective, human beings possess a divine dimension and have become strangers in this world. Through love and spiritual knowledge, they should return toward their original source.
In Buddhism, the goal of life is liberation from suffering (dukkha) and attainment of Nirvana. The Buddha taught that suffering is connected to attachment and craving. By following the Noble Eightfold Path—right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration—a person can become liberated from the cycle of birth and death (samsara) and attain ultimate peace and insight.
In Hinduism, the goal of life is moksha, or liberation. Moksha refers to liberation from the cycle of reincarnation and union with Brahman, understood as ultimate reality.
According to Hindu traditions, a person can progress toward this liberation by fulfilling their duties (dharma), pursuing prosperity and material well-being (artha), experiencing the legitimate pleasures of life (kama), and ultimately engaging in spiritual discipline and devotion through practices such as yoga.
The question of the purpose of human creation does not have a single universally accepted answer. Each worldview approaches the question according to its own intellectual, philosophical, and moral foundations. Nevertheless, several common themes can be found across many of these perspectives:
Almost all of these perspectives emphasize that human beings should grow, develop, and move toward some form of perfection. This perfection may be understood as spiritual, moral, intellectual, emotional, or personal.
Human beings are meaning-seeking creatures who look for purpose and significance in their lives. Whether this meaning is understood as being given by religion or constructed by individuals themselves, having a meaningful direction in life is considered important across many philosophical and psychological perspectives.
In many traditions, loving others, serving society, helping fellow human beings, and developing authentic relationships are considered important aspects of a meaningful life.
Human beings possess the ability to make choices and shape the direction of their lives. Freedom is closely connected with responsibility, and individuals are accountable for the consequences of their actions.
Ultimately, one possible way of expressing the purpose of human creation is simply “becoming truly human.” Becoming human means developing one's human and spiritual potential, cultivating moral virtues, loving God and His creation, and striving to contribute to a better world.
Each person must reflect on themselves and the world around them to discover a personal and authentic answer to this profound question and then allow that answer to guide their life.
As Viktor Frankl expressed the idea, the meaning of life is unique to each individual, and each person must discover it for themselves.
