Creating mankind?
Allah Almighty - The Creator, explicitly mentions the reason behind creating mankind. The following verses state that man and jinn was created to worship Allah. Allah doesn’t want them to provide for Him, rather Allah is the One Who is؛ The Provider to all.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ - 51:56
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. Dhariat 51:56
مَا أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ - 51:57
I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me. Dhariat 51:57
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ - 51:58
Indeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength. Dhariat 51:58
Why mankind?
Going through Quran, makes us understand that angels and jinn were already there when Allah Almighty created Adam A.S as the first human being. So naturally this question arises in the mind that despite the presence of uncountable angels and jinn that were worshiping Allah, why man was created.
To get the answer, read the verse 51:56 related in above once again. The word (لیعبدون) used in it is translated as to worship but this worship is with choice and not by default.
1. Angels worship Allah by default as they don’t have the ability to disobey.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ - 66:6
O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded. Tahrim 66:6
2. Jinn worship Allah by choice but with limited knowledge.
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ - 2:34
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers. Baqarah 2:34
3. Man worship Allah by choice and with vast knowledge.
وَقُلِ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ ۚ ………………… - 18:29
And say, "The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve………..Kahf 18:29
There are many verses in the Quran which indicate the superiority of knowledge and the man has been equipped with it by its Creator. However, the first revelation on Muhammad PBUH is the incredible evidence in this regard. These are the first five verses of Surah Alaq chapter 96 which demonstrates the link between creation of man and knowledge.
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ - 96:1
Recite in the name of your Lord who created - Alaq 96:1
خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ - 96:2
Created man from a clinging substance. Alaq 96:2
اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ - 96:3
Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous - Alaq 96:3
الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ - 96:4
Who taught by the pen - Alaq 96:4
عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ - 96:5
Taught man that which he knew not. Alaq 96:5
It needs a book to explain these five verses which is not possible in this article. However, these verses are clear on the importance attached to the knowledge that is bestowed upon mankind. This was the special which raised man to the rank of Khilafat (vicegerency), as is mentioned in the following verse.
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ - 2:30
And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know." Baqarah 2:30
This authority on earth allows mankind to manipulate the resources for betterment of mankind by using the knowledge given by Allah. This freedom was not given to any other creation by Allah.
Conclusion:
Allah created man and bestowed it with vast knowledge and freedom of choice to test his sincerity with its Creator. This is mentioned in a number of verses in Quran. Allah wanted to see His servants obeying Him so that He can honor them with tremendous rewards. For this He arranged a complete program of guidance by sending prophets and books.
In spite of this generosity as is mentioned in verse 96:3, who rejects it and want to live according to his own wishes deserve to be punished. Allah shows His attributes of جبار، قہار، by punishing them. He is the Absolute Authority and is The Owner of everything.
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