Deriving The Objectives Of Life From Quran And Sunnah In An Islamic Society
You cannot achieve anything meaningful and significant without setting a fundamental objective insight. In fact, it is the fundamental objective that motivates and drives a person to achieve any target one sets. This is also a fact that the fundamental objectives of different societies of the world differ significantly from each other, giving them a unique identity and a unique place in the world.
For example, Aristotle, the great Greek philosopher, according to the wisdom of his times regarded the following three elements as the objectives:
- Beauty
- Truthfulness
- Good deeds
Similarly, being Muslims, we should know what elements are treated as primary objectives from the Islamic perspective. They include:
Total submission to Allah Almighty leading to His utter love, respect, and adoration:
According to Islam, Allah is the ultimate creator of the universe. In fact, everything present in the universe is meant to teach man about the supremacy of Allah Almighty, accounting to complete submission to Allah’s will in the most loving manner.
In the Name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful We have always sent messages (of guidance) as a mercy from your Lord. He alone is the One who hears all and knows all, the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if only you were firm believers. There is no deity other than Him; He gives life and deals death. He is your Lord and the Lord of your earliest ancestors. Yet they remain in doubt, playing about. (Smoke; Al-Dukhan; 44: 5-10)
Understanding oneself as well as the universe:
Allah Almighty has awarded humanity with what all other species and beings lack in the degree and essence, i.e. intelligence and the power of decision. This is because Allah (SWT) wants humans to contemplate on their own being and creation, as well as that of the whole universe. Consider the following verses of the Quran for better understanding:
“Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of the night and the day; in the sailing of the ships through the ocean for the benefit of mankind; in the rain which Allah Sends down from the skies, and the life which He gives therewith to an earth that is dead; in the beasts of all kinds that He scatters through the earth; in the change of the winds, and the clouds which they trail like their slaves between the sky and the earth — (Here) indeed are Signs for a people that are wise.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:164)
Following Islamic values:
This also serves to be one of the major objectives from Islamic perspectives. Since Islam not only preaches religious beliefs and practices but also awards a complete code of life, following Islamic values for living life, for Muslims serves as one of the major objectives of an Islamic society.
For that, Quran education and Sunnah (the life patterns of Muhammad PBUH) serve as the best sources, as told to us by none other than Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
“I am leaving you two things and you will never go astray as long as you cling to them — they are the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.” [Reported by Al- Haakim – Sahih].
Conclusion
Islam is the only path that leads to Allah Almighty, as communicated by The Mightiest Himself
Aal-e-Imran [3:19] the Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His will): nor did the People of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account.
Therefore, the best way is to live your life in a manner that pleases the Ultimate Creator, i.e. Allah Almighty. May Allah (SWT) endow to us the will and strength to achieve these objectives.
