What was the scenario before the creation of the universe? For what purpose did Allah create this universe and the man? The answers to all these and more questions lies nowhere other than the Holy Quran. Prior to the initiation of creation, Allah alone was there. He is the living, the eternal with no beginning and no end. From the Quranic knowledge, we understand that Allah created the angels at the first place followed by earth, skies, jinn and lastly man.

Knowledge of the purpose of an object is a pre-requisite to understand it holistically in the right perspective. The knowledgebase we generate about the universe and human life in science is not only incomplete but is also misleading as it lacks information on the purpose of creation. The knowledge of the purpose lies with the Creator alone. Yet our Holy book-Quran is the only source that reveals to us the divine purpose of creation. However, the atheists argue that the universe was not created but it originated by chance with no purpose. But Allah reveals in Quran that, “Not without purpose did we create the sky, the earth and all in between. That is the impression of the unbelievers. So woe to the unbelievers from the punishment of Fire”.
Purpose of Creation
From the revelation of Quran and our (Muslims’) beliefs, Allah only created jinn and man to serve Him. Allah uses the word ‘Abd’ to describe man and jinn. The literal meaning of Abd is servant. The humans are endowed with intelligence, consciousness and freewill are created to serve only Allah as His robots (human robots). 14:48 The Day the earth will be changed into a different earth and so will be the skies and all the human robots will appear before Allah. The selected righteous human robots will be admitted to heaven as His vicegerents. Since man is bestowed with freewill, he has discretionary freedom. He is at liberty to take decisions himself. He can either accept Allah and accept His instructions or reject Him and His directions. It is to test the human robots for their obedience to Him and to accept that this universe is temporary as a battlefield. The results will be shown once this earth and the skies are rolled up.
Human Robot Perspective
In our language, a robot is a programmed machine designed to perform tasks desired by its master. It is essentially a computer with three additional features namely, sensors, microprocessors and actuators. Much progress has been made in the field of robotics. Humanoid robots are capable of walking, running, playing, climbing etc..In a similar way, humans are in actual sense much developed robots with freewill and consciousness, which is the indication of Allah’s intention to have a workforce that voluntarily accepts Him as the Master and submits to Him in all humility.
This temporary universe serves as the infrastructure facility for conducting the human robot testing. This universe will end on completion of the test programme and a new universe will be created. It is on earth Allah has provided all the necessary resources and means of livelihood for a fixed term, the test period. Allah has given this life to man as an opportunity to prove one’s voluntary sub mission to Him by living this life in accordance with His commandments.
A genuine question may be asked in this context. That if the robots are programmed to obey their master, then they would have functioned as slaves. This question is justifiable only in human context because man is a created system not creator. Any created system without freewill can act only as it is programmed. The entire universe with all its non-living and living components excepting man is such a system. A programmed obedience is quite different from the wilful voluntary obedience in the latter case, the system is consciously admitting the authority and power of its master thereby satisfying the master’s ego. To that end, Allah created the intelligent, conscious and free-willed human robot system.
Death marks the end of the test life of an individual. After death, we will be resurrected. On the Day of Judgement, Heaven or Hell will be awarded to humans based on their actions performed on this earth.
Verse 3:83 declares that Allah’s religion Islam means Allah’s instructions, which every creature obeys. Therefore, Islam can be defined as Allah’s instructions for His creations. Muslim can be defined as the one who obeys Allah’s instructions. Yet not all human beings are obedient and subservient to Him but only some of them. This in-fact necessitates testing of human beings. The part of human biosystem that is bestowed with discretionary freedom of freewill is qalb. What Allah expects from human beings is that they should all become Muslims voluntarily by obeying His instructions, the Quran.
The physical universe and human life should be studied and understood from the divine perspective. That approach alone will yield true knowledge. It will be then will we find the pieces of the great puzzle-man and the universe-start falling in place.

Writer is a research scholar at Lovely Professional University, Punjab

Email:----------------------miraaliya212@gmail.com