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Copyright19951995Dar @CopyrightDarAlAl Nostoredof thisthis bookbookmaymay tem,syst n\ oror transmittedtransmifiedinin anyretrievalanyformform byby .owner.ofDar AlAl FatahFatahDarPrinting, PublishingPublishing&Printing,& DistributionDistribution O.Box(9716)322308Tel:(9716)322305// Fax:Tel:Fax:3225263225?6Approvedby: MinistryMinistry ofApproved by:of Information,Information,UAEUAEg.6.97ReferenceNo. 1600,ReferenceNo.1600,dateddated8.6.97edition was reproducedThis editionreproduced bybvZalfi .O. BoxBox 182,182,ZulfiZulfr 11932P.O.llg32 - SaudiSaudiArabia(00966)06-4225657Tel: (00966)- Fax: rativeOffice for Call & CuidanceGuidance at ZulfiZulli .,Zfflz.,2002@C*p"rative OfficeKingKing FahdFahd NationalNational LIBRARYLIBRARY cATAtocrNcCATALOGING-INPUBLICATION DATADATArN -- puBUcATtoNPHILIPS,PHILIPS, 8I[A[B'LALThcThe purposepurpose ofof creation.-Riyadh.creation.-Riyadh.-p.;.cm. .·p·i.·em.tsENISBN 99609960 -- 864864 -11-11 -- 11lI--l sIslaml a m 22-Worship-WorshiptI- -T iTitleile210ZBoSlZj210 dcde2805/23LegalLegal DepositDeposit no.no. 2805/232805/23lsBNISBN 99609960 -- 864864 -11-11 -- 1
fn, PurposeP"rprtt ofCreationC*ttu!.The "fITLl-tlIntroductionIntroductionpurposeof creationcreation isis aa topictopic thatpuzzleseverythat puzzleseveryffihe he purposehuman beingbeing s or her lifetime.IrEverybodyatat somesometimetime orEverybodyor anotheranotherasksasksthemselvesthemselvesquestion "Why dothe questionexist?"orthedo I exist?' or "For whatwhat purposepurposeamam Ihereon earth?"earth?"here onThe varietyvariefy andand complexityThecomplexityof thethe intricateintricatesystemssystemswhich constituteconstitutethethe fabricfabric of bothwhichboth humanhumanbeingsbeingsandand thetheworld inin whichwhich theythey existexist indicateindicatethatthat ingwhocreatedthem.DesignSupremewho created them.Designindicatesindicatesaa ntsWhen human beings come acrossfootprintsonbeach,theyon aa beach,theyimmediatelyconcludeconcludethatthat aa humanhumanbeingimmediatelybeinghadhad walkedwalked byby theretheresome timetime previously.one imaginessomepreviously. No oneimaginesthatthat thethe waveswavesthe -seasea settledsettledin thesandandfrom theproduced aathe sandand by chancechanceproduceddepressionlookinglooking exactlyexactly likedepressionlike humanhumanfootprints.footprints.Nor dodohumanshumans instinctivelyinstinctively concludeconclude thatthat theythey werewere broughtbrought intointoexistenceis aexistence withoutwithout a purpose.purpose. Sincepurposeful actionaction isSincepurposefulproductnaturalofhumannatural product of human intelligence.intelligence, lrumanshumans concludeconclude thatthatthethe SupremeSupreme IntelligentIntelligent BeingBeing whowho createdcreated themthem mustmust havehavedonedone soso for a specificspecific purpose.purpose. Therefore,Therefore, humanhuman beingsbeings needneedto know thethe purposepurpose for their existenceexistence in orderorder to makemake sensesenseofof this life andand to do whatwhat is ultimatelyultimately beneficialbeneficial for them.them.ThroughoutThroughout thethe ages,ages, however,however, therethere hashas beenbeen a minorityamongamong humanshumans who havehave denieddenied theexistencethe existence ofofGod.Matter,God.Matter,in their opinion,opinion, is eternaleternal andand mankindmankind is merelymerely a chancechanceproductof accidentalaccidental combinationscombinations ofof its elements.elements. ConseConseproduct ofT
t-LTheThe Purpose ofCreationof Creatior,tquently,quently, toquestion"Why did Godthem,thethe questionto them,God createman?"createman?"hadandstillhadandstill hashasnono answer.answer. AccordingAccordingto them,them,theretheresimplysimplypurpose to existence.isis nono purpo:;eexistence.However,However,thevast majority ofthe vastofhumankindhumankind overthe ageshave believedover theages havebelieved andand continuecontinuetobelievein thethe existencebelieve inexistenceof aa SupremeSupremeBeingwho createdBeing whocreatedthisthisworldpurpose.Forworld with aa purpose.For themwas,andimpoftantthem it was,andstillstill is,is, importanttoto knowknow aboutabout thethe Creatorandthepurposefor whichCreator andthe purposewhich HeHehumanbeings.createdcreatedhumanbeings.TheThe AnswerAnswerTo answerman?" itthe questionquestion"Why diddid Godcreateman?"answertheGod createperspectivethewhich perspectivequestionmustmustfirstfirst bebedetenninedfrom whichdeterminedfromthe questionpoint of viewis beingbeingasked.Fromtheisasked. Fromwould mean,mean,the pointview of GodCod it wouldcausedGodhumanbeings?"beings?"while fromfrom the"What causedtheGod to createcreatehumanpoint of viewwould meanwhat purposeview it wouldmean"For whathumanpurpose didhuman pointpointsofBoth pointsGodGod createcreatehumans?"humans?"Bothof view representrepresentaspectsaspectsquestion"Why do I exist?"exist?" In theof thethe followingthe intriguingintriguingquestionquestionwillpages, bothaspectsofthe questionboth aspectsof thepages,will bebe exploredexplored basedbasedpicturepaintedpaintedbythe clearclearpicturedivine revelation.on theonby divinerevelation. This isis notnottopic for humanspeculation.becausehumanspeculation,aa topicbecause humanhuman guessworkguessworkproducethewhole truthpossiblyproducethe wholecannot possiblycannottruth in thisthis matter.matter. Howhuman beingsintellectuallydeducecan humanbeingsintelJectualJydeducethecanthe realityreality ofof theirtheirwhen theyexistencethey cancan hardlyhardly understandunderstand how their ownexistencewhenhigherentity,entity,theits higherbrain or itsbrainthe mind,mind, functions?functions? herswhothe manythewho havehave speculatedspeculated onon thisthis throughupdown through the ages have comeinnumerableof whichare basedanswers,all ofanswers,which arebased onon assumptionsassumptions whichwhich cannotcannot
The Purpose ofCreationbe proven.proven. QuestionsQuestions on thisthis topictopic havehave eveneven ledled a numbernumber ofofbephilosophers to claimclaim thatthat we do notnot reallyreally existexist andand thatthat thethephilosopherswhole uqorldV(0rld isis imaginary.imaginary. ForFor example,theexample, the GreekGreek philosopherphilosopherwholePlato (428-348(428-348 BC)Be) arguedargued tlratthat thethe everydayeveryday world ofofPlatochangeable things,things, whichwhich manman comescomes to knowknow by thethe useuse reality,butisshadowprimaryreality,butisahis senses,is not theofI ManyMany others,was previouslypreviously mentioned,mentioned,as wasothers,asappearances.'of appearances.claimedthat therethere isis nono purposepurpose for thetheclaim thatcontinueto ng toto thetrr,them, HumanHuman existenceat all.all. Accordingcreationofhumansof humansatif lifelifepurposeifisThereTherecancan bebe nono purposeproductof chance.chatrce.is merelymerelyaa ved'cousins,'themonkeyby'cousins,'the monkeysupposedpureluck.Humankind'ssupposedluck. Humankind'sby purequestionsso ?with them?beingsbebe botheredbotheredhumanbeingsshouldhumanqrrestioriwe areareput thewhy weAlthoughof whypeopleputthe question"mostpeopleAlthough alknowthetheanswer.beingstoto knowhumanbeingsfor eingsbecomecorrect answer.answer.humanthe correctledgeof ingandandpro-creatinganddesiresdesiresof stenceby default,purposeof humanexistencebythe dhuman efTortgoalinininto themostimportantimportantgoalmaterialthe mostdevelopsintosatisfactiondevelopsmaterial satisfactiont 'fhis vierv wasrvellhis wellI This viewRepuhlicthroughhis bookbook TheTheRepublicthroughhisin hiswas gin-etheknorvn metaphor of the oncompared to shadowsv o l .25.552).New2 5 .p.n .552).Br itunnica. vol.EncltclopaediaBritannica.New Encyciopaedia
PurposeTheofCreationof CreationThePurposetgJlife, stofanimals.ofofanimals. HumanII consistently misuseof usetheir eirpurposeofexistence.Thepurposeof existence.The degradeddegradedhumanhumanmindmind usesusesitsitsabilitiesabilitiestoto thoutknowledgesuicide,etc.Withoutknowledgeofthe purposepurposeofof life,life, humanhumanexistenceloseslosesallall meaningexistencewasted,meaningandis consequentlyandisconsequentlywasted,andandthe rewardrewardof anan eternaleternallifelife of happinessthehappinessinin thethe d.completelyTherefore,Therefore,it isisof thetheutmostutmostimportanceimportancethat answerthequestion"Why arethe questionarewe here?"here?"weHumans mostmost oftenoften turnHumansbeings likeliketurn toto otherother wever.thethemselvesforthe answers.place thatthat clearcleartheonlyonly placepreciseanswersand preciseanswerstoquestionscanto thesethesequestionsandis in thethecan bebe foundfound isbooks of divinerevelation.It wasdivine revelation.was necessarybooksnecessary thatthat GodGod revealrevealpurpose tomanthroughthe purposeto manthroughHisHis prophets.theprophets. becausebecause humanhumanbeings areare incapableincapable of arrivingbeingsarriving atat thethe correctcorrect answersanswers bythemselves.All of thethemselves.the prophetsprophets ofof GodGod taughttaught tlreirtheir followersfollowerstheanswersto thethe answersthe questionquestion "Why did GodGod createcreate man?"man?"Judeo-ChristianresJudeo-Christian ScriptuScripturesA surveysurvey ofof thethe Bible leavesleaves thethe honesthonest seekerseeker ofof truthlost.lost. TheThe Old TestamentTestament seemsseems moremore concernedconcerned with lawslaws.andand thethe historyhistory ofof eariyearly manman andand thethe JewishJewish peoplepeople thanthan withansweringanswering thethe vitalvital questionquestion concerningconcerning humaniry'shumanity's creation.lcreation.:!2 InIsaiah2Isaiah thethe IsraelitesIsraelites areare createdcreated tbrfor God'sGod's glory,glory, "'But. IBut norvnow thusthus sayssaysyou.theLord.hervhocreatedthe Lord. he who created you. O0 .lacob.Jacob. hehe whowho formedformed you.you. O0 lsrael:.Israel: .
P u r p o sofCreationoef C r e o t i o n- TTI,eh ePurpose-l-L.Inworld andAdam andEve inin sixln Genesis,Genesis,Godcreatesthethe worldand Adamand EvesixGod createsJ'rests' fromwork onAdamdaysfrom Hisdays andand 'rests'His workon theseventh.3Adam andthe seventh.andpunishedandEveEve disobeyand areare punishedtheir sondisobeyGodGod andandtheirsonCainCain killsgoesto liveAbDlandtheirtheir otherothei sonsonAbtland goeslive inthe landland of Nod.Nod. Andin the'sorry' thatGodwas 'sorry'mademan!4thathehe hadhadmademan!*Why arearethethe answersanswersGod wasnotterms?thereinandunmistakableunmistakablenot therein clearclearandterms?WhyWhy isis soso rtoguessatthelanguageleavingreaderofsymbolic.theat itsitsin Genesismeanings?For example,example,inGenesis6:66:6 it ismeanings? Foris stated,stated,"When"Whenground,andmento multiply onmen beganbegzurfaceofon thethe faceof thethe ground,anddaughtersdaughterswere bornofGodsawthatthedaughterswereborn to them,them, thethe sonssonssaw that the daughterswere fair;took to wife suchofof menmen werefair; andandtheythey tooksuchof themas theytheythem aschose."Who tGod"? Eachsectandand"sonsof God"?the manywho followedeacheach of themanyChristianChristiansectssectswhofollowed themthem havehavetheirtheir ownown explanations.Which isexplanations.Whichis thethe correctcorrectinterpretation?interpretation?the purposepurposeofTheThe truthtruth isis thatthat theof man'sman'screationcreationwaswas taughttaughtbybyprophets.oftheof old,the prophets.old, however,however,somesomeof theirtheir followers-infollowers-inwith thethe devils-later changedcollusioncollusion withthe ersbecamevaguemuchof therevelationwaswas hiddenanswersbecameandmuchthe revelationhiddeninin symbolicsymbolic language.When Godlanguage.WhenGod sentsentJesusJesusChristtheChristto the''l will say6'1and tosaytoto thethe north.north.GiveGive up.up"andto thethe south.not withhold:rvithhold:bringsouth-Do notbring7mymy sonsfrom afarandmymy daughtersend of thesons fromatar anddaughtersfromfiom thethe endthe earth.evervoneonceafih.7 everywho isis calledname.whom I createdglory, whomrvhomrI tannedwhocalledbyby mymy name.createdfor my glory,tbrmed(RevisedStandardVcrsion.Isaiahand1. 6-7.)and made.'"made."' (RevisedStandardVersion.43:llsaiah43:6-7.)t "tAnd3 And ons,hichhethe seventhday Godfinishedhishis workrvorkwhichon theGod finishedhe hadhaddone.done.andseventhdayandiSou'hich hehework whichdone.350he restedon thethe seventhseventhdayall hishis workrested ondal fromfrom allhe hadhad done.Godblessedtheseventhdayday andhallowedit.becauseonGod restedrestedGod blessedthe seventhand hallowedit. becauseon it God(RSV. Genesisfromall hishis workwork whichwhichhein creation:'2:2-3.1fiom allhc hadhaddonedoneincreation."(RSY.Genesis2:2-3.)n4 "And the Lordwas sorry thatman onLord wasthat hehc hadhad mademademanon thethe earth.earth.andand it(RSV. Genesisgrievedhimgrievedhis heart."heart."(RSY.6:6.)him toto hisCenesis6:6.)
ThePurposePurposeofCreationof creationTilefJews, ofof thosethosemerchantsmerchantswho nterpretationtheoftheoftlre fof ProphetProphetMosesMosesandrevivedrevivedit.it.He taughttaughtthethepurposepurposeoflifetoHeof lifeto atedhowtotofulfillfulfill itit untiluntilhislastmomentshowhis lastinmomentsin thisthisworld.world.However.However.after hishisdepat1UredeparturefromFromthisafterwasthis world.w'orld.hishis messagernessagewasalsoalsodistortedbysornewho claimeddistorted by some whoclairnedtoto bebeamongamonghishis followers.follorvers.The ue.becamevague.likelike thethe messagesmessagesof thetlre prophetsprophetsbeforebefore him.ofhirn.Symbolismsymbolisrnwaswas oughthethe'''Revelations''especiallythroughof revealedtoto JesusJesuswaswhich waswas dby menmenwere\verechosenchosenbycomposedbyaa fourthbv 6to replacereplacethethe lostlostGospelbishop,toChrist.And thetheGospelof JesusJesuschrist. And23bookswritingsofPauland23 books writings of Paulothers includedincluded inin thethe stamenteven tlrethe fourfour versiolrsversions ofof thethe gospel.Tgospel.As aa result,result, New TestamentTestament readersreaders can'otcannot find precisepreciseanswerstoquestiontheanswersthe question "Why diddid GodGod createcreate rnan?"smanT,g And'LukeRSV)9 : 4 5((RSV). ; Luke t19:456 The.\'et,6 The .Vew Encu-c'lop,aediaEncyclopaedia Britannir.r,Britannica, vo[.vol. l414. p.p. gl4.814.77 tnIn tlrethe rnicl-4thmid-4th ccntur,\'manuscnptcentury manuscript calleclcalled C'odexCodc\ Sinaiticus.Sinaiticus. theLettertl.reLetterofHernrfl.rarcof Barnaba.sBarnabas andand thethe shepherdShepherd ola/Herniasare includedincluded asas aa partpart ofofthetheNewN'ewEncvclopctediuNew Testament.Testament. (Tlrc(The SewEncyclopaedia Brirunnica.Briwnnica. lol.\01. 14.14. p.p. gl4.)814.)t what1\ What rnaymay bebe citedcited inin thethe Kin-eKing .lanres.lames VersionVersion asas thethe purposepurpose o{'crcation.of creation,RevelationRevelation 4:ll4: II "'fhou"Thou artart \vonh\.worthy, o0 Lord.Lord. roIII rcceivereceive glor-vglory ancl(Inc! honorhonor andandporver:power: lilrfor thouthou hasthast creatcdcreated allall thin-ss.things. andand forfor thvthy pleasurepleasure theythey areare andandwereist-'dStandarclwere created."created." isis retranslatedretranslated inin thethe RerRe\isedStandard VersionVersion as:as: "worthr,."Worthyartart thou.thou, ourour LordLord andand God.God. tolO reccrvcreceive glor-rglory andand honcurhonour ancland pog.er-.power. fbrforthouthy willwilltheythey existedexistedandand werewerecreated."created.-'thou didstdidst createcreate allall things.things. andand byby thy
ThePurposePurpose ofCreationof CreationTheone isis forcedforced toto blindlyblindly followfollow theonethe theytheyhappenhappentoto belongbelongtowhateveroradopt.Thegospelsto or adopt.The gospelsare interpretedinterpretedaccordingaccordingtoto eacheachsecfsaresect'sbeliefs beliefs,andandthethe seekerseekeris againagainlefttruth isleft wondering wondering,whichwhich oneof truthone isis correct?correct?The IncarnationIncarnation of GodTheGodPerhapsthetheonlyonly commoncoffrmonconceptconcepttoPerhapsto rposeof mankind sthe purposemankind'screationregardingcreationisis thatthat GodGodbecamemanman soso thatthat HeHe couldcould diebecameatthehandsofmendie at the hands mentotocleansethemthemofsinof sin inheritedinheritedfromfrom AdamcleanseAdamandandhishis descendants.descendants.Accordingtotothem,thissin hadhadbecomegreatthatAccordingthem, this sinbecomesosogreatthat nono humanhumanact ofatonement or repentanceof atonementrepentancecouldissoacteraseit.could eraseit. GodgoodGod is sogoodthat sinfulman cannotsinful mancannotstan'dbeforeHim.thatstan'dbeforeHim. Consequently Consequently,onlyGod's sacrificesacrificeofHimselfcouldof m sin.sin.in thisthis man-mademan-mademythbecame theonlysourceBelief inmyth becamethesourcesalvation, accordingaccordingto thefor salvation,Consequently thethe Church.Church. Consequently,theChristianof creationcreation becamebecame thethe recognitionrecognition ofof thetheChristian purposepurpose of'divine sacrifice'of JesusJesus ChristChrist asas thethe'divine sacrifice' andand thethe acceptanceacceptance ofLord God.God. ThisThis maymay bebe deduceddeduced fromfrom thethe followirrgfollowing wordswordsattributedin thethe GospelGospel accordingaccording to John,John, "For Godattributed to JesusJesus inso loved thethe worldworld that hehe Flovegave his only Son,Son. that whoeverwhoeverbelievesbelieves in him should not perish but havehave eternaleternallife.,,9lift."'lnIn Paul'sPaul's letterletter to thethe ColossiansColossians hehe explainsexplains thatthat thethe rvorldworld waswas createdcreatedfbrfor .lesusJesus "r5He.d5 He is thethe imageimage ofof thethe invisibleinvisible God.God. thethe first-bomfirst-born ofof all creation:creation:r6for him16for inin him allall thingsthings werewere created.created. inin heavenheaven andand on earth.earth. visiblevisible anr:amIinvisible.invisible. rvhetherwhether throne'sthrones oror dominionsdominions oror principalitiesprincipalities oror authoritiesauthoritiesallall thingsthings werewere createdcreated throughthrough himhim andand forfor him."(RSV.him."(RSV. ColossiansColossians I::15).15).t John3RSV).9 John, .3:: 1166((RSY).
TheThe Purpose ofof Creationpurposeof creationHowever, ifthis isis thethe purposeHowever,prerequisitecreationandandthethe prerequisitelife,whywhy waswas itit notforlife,for y allall thethe prophets?Why diddid GodGod notnot becomebecomemanin thethe timetime of AdamWhyman inAdam andand hishisthatallall mankindwould ualchancean equalchancetopurposefortheir purposeexistenceandfor existencefulfill e.did urposeforOr didtime haveanotherpurposepeopletodayexistence?All peopletodaywhomwhom Godexistence?God hashasdestinedneverdestinedneverto hearhearof JesusJesusalsoalsohavehavenoto fulfill theirsupposedtono chancechancetotheir supposedpurposeof creation.purpose.iscreation.SuchSuchaa purpose,is obviouslypurposeobviouslytootoo limitedlimitedneedof humankind.the needhumankind.to fit theEverything isis GodEverythingGodThe HinduHindu scripturesgods,Thescripfuresteachteachthatthat therethereareare manymanygods,gods,personspersonsofincarnationsof gods,of GodisincarnationsGod andandthatthat everythingeverythingisBrahman.(atman)God, Brahman. Inln spiteGod,the beliefthe selfspite ofoftlrebelief thatthattheself(atman)all livingliving beingsbeingsisis actuallyactuallyBrahman,Brahtnan,anof alJcastean oppressiveoppressivecastesystemevolvedevolved inin whichwhich theBrahmans,thepriestly caste,systemthe Brahmans,tlre rThey arepossess spiritualby birth.birth. Theyaretheteachersofthe teachers10Vedastjthethe Vedasandand representrepresenttheidealof ritualpurity andthe idealritual purityand socialsocialprestige.On thetheotherotherhand,hand.thethe SudraSudracasteprestige. salesoledutyduty inin lifelife isissewemeekly"llthe otherotherthreethousandsof subcastes.thethreecastescastesandand theirtheir thousandssubcastes.t"10 TheThe l'eda,I'eda, meaning·'Knowledge." isis a collectivecollective terrnterm for revealedrevealed (snili:(sruti:meaning"Knowleclge."heard) sacredsacred scripturesscriptures ofof thethe Hindus.Hindus. All otherother works-inworks-in whichwhich thetheheard)of I-lindusHindus areare encoded-areencoded-are recognizedrecognized asasactualactual doctrinesdoctrines andand practisespractises ofhaving beingbeing composedcomposed by humanhuman authorsauthors andand areare thusthus classedclassed asas smritismritihaving(remembered). ( TheThe NewNew EncltclopaediaEncyclopaedia Britannica,Britannica. vol.vol. 20.20. p.p. 530.)530.)lrememberedl.1\Manava DharmasastraDharmasastra 1.9t:(The NewNew EncyclopaediaEncyclopaedia Britannica,Britannica, vol.vol.1.91.(The" Manauap. 5553.)20 ,p53.)20,
f n , Purposen r p " t , ofCreationThept9rta*".According toto HinduHindu ccordinghumankind'spurpose isis therealizationoftherealizationpurposeof theirtheirdivinitydivinity and-followingand-following aa(marga) topath (margq)(moksha)fromto emancipationemancipation(moksha)pathfrom thethe wheelwheel ofofrebirth-the reabsorbtionreabsorbtionof thethe human(atman) intorebirth-thehumansoulsoul(atman)into thetheullimate reality,reality, Brahman.Brahman ForFor thoseultimatethosefollowing thethebhaktibhaktipath,l2 thepurpose isthe purposepath,12God becauseis to loveloveGodbecauseGodGod createdcreatedhumankind to "enjoy"enjby aa relationship-as aa fatherhumankindfatherenjoysenjoys hishis(SrimadBlngwatam). For thechildren" (Srimad Bhagwatam).the ordinaryordinary Hindu, thethemain aimaim ofworldlyof worldly life liesliesinin conformingmainconformingtoto socialsocialandandritualritualduties, to thethe traditionaltraditional rulesrules of conductduties,conductfor one'sone's castecastepath.r3the13thekarmakarma path.Although mostmostof thereligion of thethe religionAlthoughthe VedicVedic texts,texts, whichwhichrevolves aroundaround ritualsrituals ofof fire sacrifice,revolvessacrifice,hashas beenbeeneclipsedeclipsedHindu doctrinespracticesfounddocffines andand practicesby Hindufound in otherother texts,texts, thetheabsolute authorityauthority andand sacrednessabsolutesacrednqssofof thethe VedaVeda remainsremains acentral tenetvirtually all Hindutenetofof virtuallyHindu sectscentralsectsandand traditions.traditions.TheTheVeda isis composedVedacomposed ofof fourfour collections,collections, thethe oldestoldest ofof whichwhich isisthethe RlguedaRigveda ("Wisdom("Wisdom ofof thethe Verses").Verses"). In thesethese texts,texts, GodGod isisdescribeddescribed in the he mostmost confusingconfusing terms.terms. TheThe religionreligion reflectedreflectedintheinthe RigvedaRigveda is a polytheismpolytheism mainly concernedconcerned with appeasingappeasingdeitiesdeities associatedassociated with thethe skysky andand thethe atmosphere,atmosphere, thethe "mostmostimportantimportant ofwhichofwhich werewere Indra (god ofof the heavensheavens andand rain),rain),Baruna (guardian(guardian ofof thethe cosmiccosmic order),order), Agni (the sacrificialsacr ficialtt The path11path ofof devotiondevotion to a personalpersonal God in which murtisaremurtis(idols) areworshippedworshipped withwith thethe hopehope ofof goingtogoing to krishnalokokrishna/oka (a spiritual planet)planet) inintheirtheir nextnext lives.lives.1'NewEncyclopaedia13 TheThe NewEncyclopaedia Britannica,Britannica. vol.vol. 20.20. p.p. 520.
TheThe Purpose ofCreationof Creotion(the Sun).fire), andSurya (thefire),andSuryaSun).Inlater VedicVedic texts,In latertexts, interestinterestin thethegodsdeclines,Rigvedic godspolytheismbeginsearlyearly Rigvedicdeclines,andand polytheismbebeginsto bereplaced by aa sacrificialpantheismto Prajapati (Lord ofreplacedsacrificial pantheismof(secretteachingsis theAll. InCreatures),Creatures),who isln thethe Upanishadsthe AllUpanishads(secretteachingsconcerning cosmiccosrnic equations),equations), Prajapati mergesconcerningmergeswith thetheconceptthe supremeofconcept of Brahman,Brahman,therealityandsupremerealityand ereplacinganythe universe, replacingany specificspecific personification,thustransforming14 Ifthe mythologymytholory intointo ngtheIf thethethesescriptureswere all thatcontentscontents ofof thesescriptureswerethat humanhumanbeingshadbeingshadguidance,onechoose fromfrom for guidance,would haveto chooseone wouldhaveto concludeconcludepurposeof creationthatthat God hid bothboth Himself andand thethe purposecreationfromfromhumankind.humankind.Godis notnot theGod isthe authorauthorofof confusion,confusion,nornor doesdoesHeHe wishwishmankind.Consequently,when Hedifficulty for mankind.Consequently,whenHe revealedrevealedHis final communicationhuqankind onecommunicationto hUl1J.ankindone thousandthousandfouryearsago,.Hepreservedwas perfectlyperfectly preservedhundred yearsago,.Heensuredthat it washundredensuredthatgenerationsthe gene ations ofbeings to come.human beingsofthefor all ofof humanthatcome. In nal scripture,scripture,thethe Qur'an(Koran),revealedQur'anfor creatingprophet. Helast propheLmankindand,and,throughthroughHis lastHe clarifiedclarifiedcreatingmankindallIt iscoutdcomprehend.the detailswhich mancornprehend.is ontheall of thedetailswhichman couldorrthebasis of thisprophetic explanationsthatrevelationandthis revelationthe precise answerswe will analyzeanalyzetheanswersto thethe questionthe preciseman?" in thecoming pages.did Godpages.God createcreateman?"the comingtn14 TheThe NewEncyclopaedia Britannica,Britannica. vol.vol. 20.20. pp.pp. 529-530.529-530.NewEncyclopaedia
The PurposePurposeofCreationTheof CrcationWhy Did GodGod Create?Create?potNT OFvtEw OFRoM THETHE POINTROMoF VIEWoF GOD,Goo, ANAN EVENEvENmoremorequestion needsfundamental questionfundamentalneedsto bebe asked,asked,"Why didquestionshouldGod create?"GodThis questioncreate?" Thisshouldbebe as
Dr.Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips The Purpose ofCreation By Dr.Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips,Jil{ltif -fllllgr lliJf The furpose ofr GreafifflDrf lfrtu@ [fJrmr:r[fJ olereation. flil*l- d'lill fr d{liJt Thffi W,W ffifi ffitr&etfrwtm By Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal philips llirir.Crefl AIirl litt C:t*llrJl l5 i irsif
