Purpose of Creation: Before the Creation

(This article is the first one in a series of articles written under the theme titled "Purpose of the Creation".)

In contrast to the popular biblical belief, Quranic version of man's creation unequivocally states that man was destined to be on earth from the very beginning. With reference to the first man, Adam (pbuh), Quran says:

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلاَئِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً

And remember when your lord said to the angels, "I am going to create a vicegerent on earth." (Quran 2:30)

In response to this, Angels, perhaps realizing that a 'vicegerent' will also possess freewill, expressed their fear that man will cause mischief on earth and will shed blood. To satisfy angels about the wisdom of His plan, God, through a series of steps, illustrated to them that along with the evildoers, a band of the righteous and pious will also exist on the earth who will not only live their lives according to the law of God, but will also invite others to the same.1

Following Adam's creation, God commanded angels and jinn to fall prostrate to him. All obeyed except Satan who refused out of mere pride and arrogance, and was accordingly severely rebuked by the Almighty. He then sought respite until the Day of Judgment, which was granted, and took a vow to lead Adam's posterity astray during this time. Quran narrates his undertaking in the following words:

قَالَ فَبِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَاطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ * ثُمَّ لآتِيَنَّهُم مِّن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَانِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمْ وَلاَ تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَاكِرِينَ

"I will certainly lie for them on your straight path. Then I will assail them from before them and behind them, from their right and their left. You will find most of them ungrateful." (Quran 7:16-17)

As of then, Satan's foremost goal became leading man into not following the commandments of God, and that mission is carried forth by his ancillaries in the world today.

In yet another incident narrated by Quran, Adam (pbuh) was proscribed from going near a tree by the Almighty while he lived in Paradise. Satan led Adam (pbuh) into violating this command. Immediately following this, Adam (pbuh) realized his mistake and sought repentance from God. Contrary to the popular belief, Quran plainly asserts that God pardoned him:

فَتَلَقَّى آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

Then Adam (pbuh) received words (of repentance) from his lord, so He pardoned him. He is the Forgiving, Ever Merciful. (Quran 2:37)

Both man and Satan were sent down to the earth with a reaffirmation that they bear animosity towards each other. This enmity is a natural consequence of differences in their attitudes towards God's commandments. It was also made clear that the life on earth is for a limited time, and that guidance would be sent down to earth: Those who follow the guidance will be successful, while those who belie them shall have to face doom:

وَلَكُمْ فِي الأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَى حِينٍ

In earth there will be dwelling for you, and provisions for a limited time. (Quran 2:37)

قُلْنَا اهْبِطُواْ مِنْهَا جَمِيعاً فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَايَ فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

"Go down from here, all of you" We said, "So whenever there comes to you a guidance from Me, whosoever follows My guidance shall have no fear on them neither shall they grieve. But those who disbelieve and belie Our verses shall be the companions of the Fire and they will abide in it for ever." (Quran 2:38-39)

The demonstration of Satan's to mislead Adam (pbuh) serves as an admonishment for man, for he has proven himself adept in luring man towards wrong.

The preceding story of Adam (pbuh)'s creation reveals certain important principles:

Firstly, where there are those who exploit their freewill for evil, there are also those who, out of their freedom, lead an upright life and enjoin the same to others.

Secondly, man is on earth for a limited time and shall meet his death soon. In that sense, it may be considered nothing more than a passing ground for an afterlife, mentions of which occur in numerous places in the Quran.

Thirdly, Satan is an enemy to man and his sole purpose is to lead man amiss.

It follows from these that guidance, much needed in order to fight Satan, is one of man's cardinal weapons given to him by God, and those who use it effectively win against evil. Those unable to successfully utilize guidance to their advantage may end up losing to Satan and evil, and may then be subjected to doom. It may also be averred at this point that throughout history, God has fulfilled this promise by perpetually sending message through people chosen as His messengers.2

A yet more interesting reference in the Quran reveals that man may perhaps have chosen to take on the test of this life voluntarily upon himself. For instance, God says:

إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الْأَمَانَةَ عَلَى السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَن يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا الْإِنسَانُ

We offered the trust to the skies, the earth and the mountains, but they declined to take it and feared it. However, man took it! ... (Quran 33:72)

This verse clearly asserts that before his arrival on earth, man accepted the responsibility that other creations of God had turned down. Indeed this responsibility was of such a nature that even those creations of God that are considered stronger and mightier than man refused to take it. Whether this offering was made to the first man only or to each soul is something that Quran has not clarified despite the fact that it has mentioned Adam's progeny having been created at least once before coming into this world:

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِن بَنِي آدَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتَ بِرَبِّكُمْ قَالُواْ بَلَى شَهِدْنَا أَن تَقُولُواْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَذَا غَافِلِينَ

And remember when your Lord brought forth descendents from backs of the children of Adam and made them bear witness against their own selves, "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "We bear witness" lest you should say on the day of resurrection, "Surely we were unaware of this." (Quran 7:172)

This leads one to the question that if man has been created aforetime, there must exist at least a few souls who remember these events. It is probable, however, that after taking the responsibility of this life and its fruit based on one's action, man's memory was erased for a fair test in this worldly life.

1 See Al-Baqarah 2:30-33.
2 Also see verses 7:35-36.