Page 58 - Basic Tenets of Islam

BASIC TENETS OF ISLAM

that it is illogical to think this life has no purpose. Definitely,
there is a purpose to this life, explained by Allah as follows:

I only created jinn and man to worship Me. (Surat adh-
Dhariyat: 56)
Only a minority of humanity understand this purpose of
creation and lead their lives thereby. Allah has granted us life
on earth to test whether or not we will conform to this very

purpose. Those who sincerely serve Allah, and those who
rebel against Him, will be distinguished from one another in
this world. All those blessings (his body, senses, property...)
given to man in this world, are a means by which Allah tests
him. In a verse of the Qur'an, Allah relates the following:
We created man from a mingled drop to test him, and
We made him hearing and seeing. (Surat al-Insan: 2)

Man's duty in this world is to have faith in Allah and the
hereafter, to conduct himself in compliance with the
commands of the Qur'an, to observe the limits set by Allah,
and to try to earn His good pleasure. The continuing trials of
this life over time reveal those people who are committed to
accomplish these tasks. Because Allah demands a true and

sincere faith,-which is the kind of faith that is not attainable
only by saying "I believe"-man must demonstrate that he has
true faith in Allah and His religion, and that he will not
swerve from the right path despite the cunnings of satan.
Similarly, he must demonstrate that he will not follow the
unbelievers, nor prefer the desires of his own self over
Allah's pleasure. His response to the events in his life will

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