Does the Lord Have a Purpose?

Question

Question:

Answer:

If we take “purpose” to mean any of the following—target, mark, sign, end, aim, intention, destination, object, ideal, guiding principle, or ultimate concern—it does not apply to the Most High Lord. A purpose is relevant to one whose beginning and end are unknown, whereas the Lord Most High sees the beginning and end of all things; the unseen and the manifest are the same to Allah. A purpose, then, serves to guide someone toward a plan that has been laid out.

Purpose has meaning only for beings endowed with free will, since they undertake the task assigned to them. In effect, choice and free will define duties for them that must lead to a destination—even though the outcome of their actions is already clear and known to the All-Knowing Lord.

In other words, every part and the whole of creation have their destination in the knowledge of the All-Knowing Lord. For the All-Wise, beginning and destination are one and the same. Waiting has no meaning for Allah: time is created by, and subject to, God the Almighty. He is sovereign over time and space, and His power and knowledge encompass them both.

Everything that is, and everything that will be, is in truth a manifestation of divine knowledge. Creation comes about through God’s creative command; likewise, the events of creation and the journeys of beings endowed with free will come about through that command. In other words, God’s creative command brings His legislative command to fulfilment. All that exists is the realization of the divine will. The free will of created beings, too, is by the divine will: when Allah wills that a creature be endowed with free will, that creature cannot overstep or escape the bounds of the free will granted to it.

The jinn and humankind were created to worship the Most High Lord. In truth, within the sphere of their existence as human beings and jinn, they chose a particular form of servitude, and the fulfilment of their purpose in serving God constitutes the aim of their creation. At every stage of time, place, and spiritual journey, God, Mighty and Majestic, must ordain the fulfilment of their choices.

Thus, purpose in the realm of creatures endowed with free will is realized through Allah’s legislative command. And this legislation is brought about, in the realm of free will, through God’s creative command.

Accepted Answer

If we take “goal” to mean a target, mark, sign, end, purpose, intention, destination, object, ideal, or aspiration, it cannot apply to the Exalted Lord. A goal is for one whose beginning and end are unknown; yet all things, from first to last, are manifest to the Lord Most High. The unseen and the seen are alike to Allah. A goal is needed to find one’s way toward a plan that has been drawn up.

A goal has meaning only for beings endowed with free will, for they enter the contest of fulfilling their mission. In effect, choice and free will assign them duties that must lead to a destination—even though the outcome of their deeds is already known and plain to the All-Knowing Lord.

In other words, every part and the whole of creation are already a destination for the All-Knowing Lord. For the All-Wise, beginning and end coincide. Waiting has no meaning for Allah; time is created by, and subject to, God the Almighty. He is sovereign over time and space, and His power and knowledge encompass them both.

All that is and all that will be is, in truth, a manifestation of divine knowledge. Creation comes about through God’s creative command, and so do the events of creation and the journey of beings endowed with free will. In other words, divine legislation is brought about through Allah’s creative command. All that exists comes to pass by the divine will; the free will of created beings, too, is by that will. When Allah wills that a creature have free will, it cannot overstep or escape the bounds of that will.

The creation of humankind and jinn is for the worship of the Exalted Lord. In truth, within their respective human and jinn domains of creation, humankind and jinn chose a particular form of servitude, and the fulfilment of their purpose as servants gives shape to the aim of their creation. At every stage of time, place, and spiritual journey, God—Mighty and Majestic—is the One who ordains the exercise of their free will.

Thus, among creatures endowed with free will, a goal is realised through Allah’s legislation. And this legislation takes effect, within the realm of free will, through God’s creative command.

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Answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat)

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