What is the purpose of life in Islam?
The classical scholars answered this question the way the Qurʾan did: directly, without ornament. Here is what they said.
10 passages from 7 books in the library
Life's purpose is the worship and servitude of Allah. The classical scholars answer plainly: as al-Ghazali notes, if the purpose of creating these beings is for worship, then everything is ordered toward it — even the farthest acts from worship, such as eating and relieving oneself, assist in worship when intended rightly. He teaches that eating to gain strength for Allah's worship turns an ordinary act into devotion, and warns that even abundant worship can be undone by heedlessness, as it was for Iblis after long worship.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 7 books by Imam al-Ghazali, Ibn Battuta, and Ibn Kathir — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Do not be deceived by abundant worship, for after prolonged worship, Iblis encountered what he did."
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"However, if your purpose in eating is to gain strength for the worship of Allah Almighty,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"involves worship and servitude, is often overlooked due to more apparent aspects. Yet, this subtle"
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"Ihram, at your service for a true Hajj, as pure worship and servitude, highlighting that"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"peace be upon him, Even if you were to worship me with the worship of the people of the heavens"
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
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"his place of worship. The people of Mosul go out every Thursday night to the rabat for worship."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"to worship only your Lord and be upright in His worship as commanded. This points to excluding"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Even the farthest acts from worship, such as eating and relieving oneself, assist in worship."
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"metaphorical since they give only for a purpose. However, if their purpose is solely reward"
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
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"you constantly without disobedience. If the purpose of creating these beings is for worship,"
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