This article discusses the purpose of creation based on the opening verses of Surah Ahqaf. The explanation of these verses is taken from the Tafsir ‘Adwa al Bayan’, which is Tafsir al-Quran bil al-Quran [Explanation of the Quran based on the Quran]. This Tafsir is truly unique in its explanation of the verses of the Quran using [other] verses of Quran.
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Surah Ahqaf – Verse 3
مَا خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ عَمَّآ أُنذِرُوا۟ مُعْرِضُونَ ٣
We only created the heavens and the earth and everything in between for a purpose and an appointed term. Yet the disbelievers are turning away from what they have been warned about.
We created
Regarding the statement ‘We did not create the heavens and the earth and that which is between them except with truth and a specified time’, the plural has been used ‘We created’, for glorification.
The Truth
Regarding the statement of Allah [ إلّا بِالحَقِّ ‘Except with truth’], means that Allah created them both [heavens and earth] with a clear purpose and not unnecessarily, futile and playfully. Rather he created them to establish the clear proof which is that Allah is one and should be worshiped alone. This is clarified in many verses, like the statement of Allah:
﴿وَإلَهُكم إلَهٌ واحِدٌ لا إلَهَ إلّا هو الرَّحْمَنُ الرَّحِيمُ﴾ [البقرة: ١٦٣]
Your God is ˹only˺ One God. There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
Then he established the clear proof with his statement directly after it:
﴿إنَّ في خَلْقِ السَّماواتِ والأرْضِ واخْتِلافِ اللَّيْلِ والنَّهارِ والفُلْكِ الَّتِي تَجْرِي في البَحْرِ بِما يَنْفَعُ النّاسَ وما أنْزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ السَّماءِ مِن ماءٍ فَأحْيا بِهِ الأرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِها وبَثَّ فِيها مِن كُلِّ دابَّةٍ وتَصْرِيفِ الرِّياحِ والسَّحابِ المُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ السَّماءِ والأرْضِ لَآياتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ﴾ [البقرة: ١٦٤] .
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth; the alternation of the day and the night; the ships that sail the sea for the benefit of humanity; the rain sent down by Allah from the skies, reviving the earth after its death; the scattering of all kinds of creatures throughout; the shifting of the winds; and the clouds drifting between the heavens and the earth—˹in all of this˺ are surely signs for people of understanding.
This [as well as many other verses of the Quran] is to show that there is no lord except Allah – and that is the greatest truth. Like the words of Allah:
﴿ياأيُّها النّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكم والَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكم لَعَلَّكم تَتَّقُونَ﴾ ﴿الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الأرْضَ فِراشًا والسَّماءَ بِناءً وأنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً فَأخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَراتِ رِزْقًا لَكم فَلا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أنْدادًا وأنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ﴾ [البقرة: ٢١ – ٢٢]؛
O humanity! Worship your Lord, Who created you and those before you, so that you may become mindful ˹of Him˺. ˹He is the One˺ Who has made the earth a place of settlement for you and the sky a canopy; and sends down rain from the sky, causing fruits to grow as a provision for you. So do not knowingly set up equals to Allah ˹in worship˺.
The words اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ ‘worship your lord’ establishes that there is no lord besides Allah.
The statement of Allah: فَلا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أنْدادًا وأنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ‘And do not make for Allah partners whilst you know’ includes the meaning of negation of ascribing partners to Allah in the most complete way.
So therefore Allah establishes the clear, decisive proof which is that there is no lord besides Allah in both ways:
- Ithbat [establishing that he created the heavens and the earth and that which is in between].
- Nafi [negating that Allah has partners].
This is done in the following verse:
الَّذِي خَلَقَكم والَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكم لَعَلَّكم تَتَّقُونَ﴾ ﴿الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الأرْضَ فِراشًا والسَّماءَ بِناءً وأنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً فَأخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَراتِ رِزْقًا لَكم فَلا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أنْدادًا وأنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ.
It is known by close study of the Quran that the distinguishing difference of who is worthy of worship and who is undeserving of worship is – who creates others and who is not able to create anything.
Whoever creates others is deserving of worship and whoever is not able to create anything, then he is created and in need. It has no right to be worshiped. The verses that indicate to this are abound, such as the previous mentioned verse.
The words ‘الَّذِي خَلَقَكم’ indicates that the creator is one. Also the verse:
أَمْ جَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ شُرَكَآءَ خَلَقُوا۟ كَخَلْقِهِۦ فَتَشَـٰبَهَ ٱلْخَلْقُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ خَـٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّـٰرُ
Translation: Or, have they ascribed such partners with Allah who (according to their belief) have created (some of the creation) as He has created, and thus the creation seemed to them alike? Say, “Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the All-Dominant.”
Meaning of this verse is: he is the creator of everything, he is worshiped alone.
Almighty Allah explains this in Surah an-Nahl; because Allah mentions in these verses the clear proofs of his oneness, these verses are from Surah Nahl: 3-16:
خَلَقَ السَّماواتِ والأرْضَ بِالحَقِّ تَعالى عَمّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Until his statement:
عَلاماتٍ وبِالنَّجْمِ هم يَهْتَدُونَ
Translation: He created the heavens and the earth for a purpose. Exalted is He above what they associate with Him ˹in worship˺! He created humans from a sperm-drop, then—behold!—they openly challenge ˹Him˺. And He created the cattle for you as a source of warmth, food, and ˹many other˺ benefits. They are also pleasing to you when you bring them home and when you take them out to graze. And they carry your loads to ˹distant˺ lands which you could not otherwise reach without great hardship. Surely your Lord is Ever Gracious, Most Merciful. ˹He also created˺ horses, mules, and donkeys for your transportation and adornment. And He creates what you do not know. It is upon Allah ˹alone˺ to ˹clearly˺ show the Straight Way. Other ways are deviant. Had He willed, He would have easily imposed guidance upon all of you. He is the One Who sends down rain from the sky, from which you drink and by which plants grow for your cattle to graze. With it He produces for you ˹various˺ crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and every type of fruit. Surely in this is a sign for those who reflect. And He has subjected for your benefit the day and the night, the sun and the moon. And the stars have been subjected by His command. Surely in this are signs for those who understand. And ˹He subjected˺ for you whatever He has created on earth of varying colours. Surely in this is a sign for those who are mindful. And He is the One Who has subjected the sea, so from it you may eat tender seafood and extract ornaments to wear. And you see the ships ploughing their way through it, so you may seek His bounty and give thanks ˹to Him˺. He has placed into the earth firm mountains, so it does not shake with you, as well as rivers, and pathways so you may find your way.Also by landmarks and stars do people find their way. [16: 3-16]
Then Allah follows it up with his words:
أفَمَن يَخْلُقُ كَمَن لا يَخْلُقُ أفَلا تَذَكَّرُونَ
This is very clear that whoever creates others, he is worshiped and whoever is unable to create anything then it is not right to be worshiped. This is why Allah says following this verse:
والَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ لا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْئًا وهم يُخْلَقُونَ
Allah says in Surah ‘Araf’ :
أيُشْرِكُونَ ما لا يَخْلُقُ شَيْئًا وهم يُخْلَقُونَ
Allah says in Surah Hajj:
ياأيُّها النّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ إنَّ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ لَنْ يَخْلُقُوا ذُبابًا ولَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا لَهُ﴾ [الحج: ٧٣]
Translation: O humanity! A lesson is set forth, so listen to it ˹carefully˺: those ˹idols˺ you invoke besides Allah can never create ˹so much as˺ a fly, even if they ˹all˺ were to come together for that. And if a fly were to snatch anything away from them, they cannot ˹even˺ retrieve it from the fly. How powerless are those who invoke and those invoked!
Meaning whoever is incapable of creating anything does not have the right to be worshiped in any circumstance.
Allah says:
سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأعْلى﴾ ﴿الَّذِي خَلَقَ فَسَوّى﴾ الآيَةَ [الأعلى: ١ – ٢]
Allah mentions the qualities of who has the right to be worshiped:
﴿الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّماواتِ والأرْضِ ولَمْ يَتَّخِذْ ولَدًا ولَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ شَرِيكٌ في المُلْكِ وخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَقَدَّرَهُ تَقْدِيرًا﴾ [الفرقان: ٢]
Then he mentions the qualities of who does not have the right to be worshiped:
واتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً لا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْئًا وهم يُخْلَقُونَ﴾ الآيَةَ [الفرقان: ٣] .
There are many verses like this, all this clearly shows with clear proof that Allah did not create the heavens and the earth and whatever it contains except for a purpose.
Once Allah makes it clear that he created all this for a purpose, he then informs his creation that he has power over everything and that he emcopasses everything in knowledge. This is why he says:
﴿اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَماواتٍ ومِنَ الأرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ الأمْرُ بَيْنَهُنَّ لِتَعْلَمُوا أنَّ اللَّهَ عَلى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ وأنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أحاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا﴾ [الطلاق: ١٢] .
The ‘Lam of reasoning’ in ‘ لِتَعْلَمُوا’ is attached to – ‘خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَماواتٍ’ and with it, Allah informs that he created the seven heavens and the seven earths except with a purpose.
From the purpose of his creation is to make the creation responsible and to test them, to see which of them is best in deeds, then recompense them according to their deeds. This is mentioned in Surah Hud:
﴿وَهُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّماواتِ والأرْضَ في سِتَّةِ أيّامٍ وكانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلى الماءِ لِيَبْلُوَكم أيُّكم أحْسَنُ عَمَلًا﴾ [هود: ٧] .
He is the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days—and His Throne was upon the waters—in order to test which of you is best in deeds.
Similar verses are also found from the beginning of Surah Kahf and Mulk:
﴿إنّا جَعَلْنا ما عَلى الأرْضِ زِينَةً لَها لِنَبْلُوَهم أيُّهم أحْسَنُ عَمَلًا﴾ [الكهف: ٧]
﴿الَّذِي خَلَقَ المَوْتَ والحَياةَ لِيَبْلُوَكم أيُّكم أحْسَنُ عَمَلًا﴾ [الملك: ٢] .
Also to worship him, as mentioned at the end of Surah Dhariyat:
﴿وَما خَلَقْتُ الجِنَّ والإنْسَ إلّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ﴾ ﴿ما أُرِيدُ مِنهم مِن رِزْقٍ وما أُرِيدُ أنْ يُطْعِمُونِ﴾ [الذاريات: ٥٦ – ٥٧] .
The meaning of ‘إلّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ’ is Allah command them to worship him, so the fortunate ones worship me from amongst them, this is because their achieve with the worship the veneration of Allah, his obedience and submissiveness. Like Allah says:
﴿فَإنْ يَكْفُرْ بِها هَؤُلاءِ فَقَدْ وكَّلْنا بِها قَوْمًا لَيْسُوا بِها بِكافِرِينَ﴾ [الأنعام: ٨٩]
But if these ˹pagans˺ disbelieve in this ˹message˺, then We have already entrusted it to a people who will never disbelieve in it.
Or the meaning of ‘إلّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ’ is that they gain the closeness of Allah by worship, submissiveness and they submit to the greatness of Allah.
The purpose of being tested and being made responsible [of worship and obedience to Allah] is being recompensed according to the actions carried out.
Allah makes this clear in Surah Najm –
﴿وَلِلَّهِ ما في السَّماواتِ وما في الأرْضِ لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أساءُوا بِما عَمِلُوا ويَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أحْسَنُوا بِالحُسْنى﴾ [النجم: ٣١] .
To Allah ˹alone˺ belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth so that He may reward the evildoers according to what they did, and reward the good-doers with the finest reward.
Also the words of Allah in Surah Yunus –
﴿إنَّهُ يَبْدَأُ الخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وعَمِلُوا الصّالِحاتِ بِالقِسْطِ والَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَهم شَرابٌ مِن حَمِيمٍ وعَذابٌ ألِيمٌ بِما كانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ﴾ [يونس: ٤] .
Indeed, He originates the creation then resurrects it so that He may justly reward those who believe and do good. But those who disbelieve will have a boiling drink and a painful punishment for their disbelief.
These verses are a rebuke to those who say that the entire universe has no purpose and there will be no recompense for the deeds that occur on the earth.
This false assumption and belief is rebuked in the following verses –
﴿وَما خَلَقْنا السَّماءَ والأرْضَ وما بَيْنَهُما باطِلًا ذَلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنَ النّارِ﴾ [ص: ٢٧] .
We have not created the heavens and earth and everything in between without purpose—as the disbelievers think. So woe to the disbelievers because of the Fire!
﴿أفَحَسِبْتُمْ أنَّما خَلَقْناكم عَبَثًا وأنَّكم إلَيْنا لا تُرْجَعُونَ﴾ ﴿فَتَعالى اللَّهُ المَلِكُ الحَقُّ لا إلَهَ إلّا هو رَبُّ العَرْشِ الكَرِيمِ﴾ [المؤمنون: ١١٥ – ١١٦] .
Did you then think that We had created you without purpose, and that you would never be returned to Us?”
Only the people of understanding and intellect pay heed to this, as Allah says:
إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ. ٱلَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَـٰذَا بَـٰطِلًا سُبْحَـٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ. [آل عمران: ١٩٠ – ١٩١]
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the day and night there are signs for people of reason. ˹They are˺ those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth ˹and pray˺, “Our Lord! You have not created ˹all of˺ this without purpose. Glory be to You! Protect us from the torment of the Fire. [3:190-191]
– Extracted from Adwa al Bayan
