Some people may ask: Why did God create us or ask us to worship Him, even though He is free of any need for our worship? What does the Creator gain from prayers, supplications, and fasting? Isn’t the request for worship a sign of a need?
In this article, we attempt to answer these questions related to God’s essence—glory be to Him—and provide some understanding of the divine wisdom behind acts of worship.
Why did God create us to worship Him?
God created us to worship Him not because He needs our worship, but for our benefit. Worship enriches our spiritual lives, instills discipline, and gives us purpose, positively impacting both individuals and society. It is also an expression of gratitude for God’s countless blessings. Unlike other creations, humans possess free will, making worship a conscious and meaningful choice. While divine wisdom may be beyond full human comprehension, worship is part of God’s perfect plan, as even the angels once questioned the reason behind human creation. Ultimately, God’s actions stem from absolute wisdom, and He is not subject to human questioning.
Let’s discuss these ideas in detail to understand the purpose of human creation:
1. Almighty God doesn’t need our worship
Let’s analyze the context of verses in which Allah ordered us to worship Him.
“I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me. I seek no provision from them, nor do I need them to feed Me. Indeed, Allah ˹alone˺ is the Supreme Provider—Lord of all Power, Ever Mighty.”
The answer is clear: God does not need our worship. He is self-sufficient simply because there is nothing like unto Allah.
Moreover, this question often arises from a human-centric perspective, where the questioner’s mind does not allow him to imagine that a request can be free from the motivation of satisfying a need. We, as human beings, do things to fulfill a need, either to gain a certain benefit or to get rid of possible harm. However, it’s a dangerous pitfall to measure the unseen by the seen: to compare God to humans and to necessitate that God’s acts are out of a need. The Quran and the Sunnah stress the fact that Allah is free of need:
“O mankind, you are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.”
“….O My slaves, you can neither do Me any harm nor can you do Me any good. O My slaves, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and jinn of you to be as pious as the most pious heart of any man of you, that would not increase My domain a thing. O My slaves, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of any man of you, that would not decrease My domain in a thing….”
[Hadith]
2. Worship is For Our Sake
Qatadah, one of the prominent Tabi’un (followers of the Companions), said,
“Indeed, Allah – may He be exalted – did not command His servants with what He commanded them for His need, nor did He forbid them from what He forbade them out of His stinginess. Rather, He commanded them with what is beneficial for them, and forbade them from what is harmful for them.”
Allah, being perfect and self-sufficient, does not benefit anything from His creation. Actually, worship is not for God’s benefit but for humanity’s spiritual, moral, and ethical growth. It serves as a means for humans to align themselves with divine guidance and to cultivate a connection with their Creator. Through the various acts of worship, individuals nurture humility, patience, and gratitude.
“..Whoever purifies themselves only does so for their own good…”
3. The Worldly Fruits of Worship
Worship plays a vital role in strengthening the human soul and spirit. By engaging in acts of worship, individuals are reminded of their place in the universe and their reliance on a higher power. In the absence of worship, people are more likely to become consumed by worldly desires, pride, and ego, which can lead to spiritual decay. Worship serves as a constant reminder of one’s purpose and obligations in life. The structured nature of worship instills discipline, self-control, and mindfulness, all of which lead to what the Quran describes as a “good life”:
“Whoever does good, whether male or female, and is a believer, We will surely bless them with a good life, and We will certainly reward them according to the best of their deeds.”
Worshiping God brings you unmatched happiness, as long as you are certain that your birth, sustenance, and death are in the hands of the All-Merciful and the All-Compassionate. This belief makes you feel as though you are enveloped in tenderness, with no fear of the future and no sorrow over the past.
“But no! Whoever submits themselves to Allah and does good will have their reward with their Lord. And there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.”
4. Worship as a Form of Gratitude
The Quran urges us to change our mindset towards the concept of worshipping God. Worship is not a burden but rather a path to enlightenment and guidance. It is not a duty imposed upon us but rather a gift from the Most Generous:
“Rather, worship Allah ˹alone˺ and be one of the grateful.”
Worship is simply an expression of gratitude for the many blessings humans receive in life. Just as individuals show appreciation for kindness from others, worship allows believers to acknowledge God’s continuous blessings, mercy, and providence. In this sense, worship is not a burdensome obligation but a natural response of thankfulness from the creation to the Creator.
“If you disbelieve, then ˹know that˺ Allah is truly not in need of you, nor does He approve of disbelief from His servants. But if you become grateful ˹through faith˺, He will appreciate that from you.”
5. Worship Is a Test of Human Free Will
Another important aspect to discuss is the relationship between worship and free will. While God commands worship, the choice to obey these commands lies with the individual. This ability to choose is a testament to God’s gift of free will. Humans have the freedom to choose between obeying God and following His teachings or following their own desires. This freedom gives life meaning, as worship represents a test of human will and the ability to transcend materialism and rise to a higher level of awareness and faith.
Prophet Solomon summarised this relationship in the verse below. Overwhelmed by Allah’s graces as He made the Jinn under his command, Prophet Solomon said:
“..This is by the grace of my Lord to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful, it is only for their own good. But whoever is ungrateful, surely my Lord is Self-Sufficient, Most Generous.”
6. Divine Wisdom is Beyond Human Understanding
Let’s delve now into the concept of divine wisdom and explore why humans may not always comprehend God’s commands fully. Just as a child may not understand the reasoning behind a parent’s instructions, humans may struggle to grasp the full significance of divine commands. Simply understanding the wisdom behind God’s deeds requires understanding God’s essence, which we know very little about.
God says: “He ˹fully˺ knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them, but they cannot encompass Him in ˹their˺ knowledge.”
This verse is a reminder of the vastness and mystery of the divine and the humility that is required when contemplating such matters. It encourages us to recognize the limitations of our knowledge and to acknowledge the ultimate unknowability of God’s essence.
If you believe God exists, then you believe in His Perfection. This makes you believe in His wisdom even if you can not fully identify it in some circumstances. The wise believer should trust in God’s wisdom and recognize that God’s perspective encompasses a broader understanding of existence than humans are capable of.
7. The Angels had the same inquiry of wisdom behind human creation!
The angels were astonished when they learnt about God’s intention to create Adam, that strange creature gifted with free will. They asked God about the wisdom behind creating him (and his offspring). We find in the beginning of the Quran (Surah Al-Baqara, chapter 2) this pivotal story that answers the question we are trying to explore in this article:
“˹Remember˺ when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to place a successive ˹human˺ authority on earth.” They asked ˹Allah˺, “Will You place in it someone who will spread corruption there and shed blood while we glorify Your praises and proclaim Your holiness?” Allah responded, “I know what you do not know.””
So, the ultimate answer to the question about wisdom is simply: God knows what we do not know. Yes, we can think and deduce some aspects of that wisdom, but we will never fully comprehend it. This humbles us and tests our level of submission to God, the All-Wise.
8. Almighty God is not questioned about what He does
It is stated unambiguously in the Quran that it is not permissible to object to the actions of God.
“He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.”
He is God, and we are His creation. Who dares to ascend the difficult peak of questioning God about His wisdom?
The author of the book,
“In the Shades of the Quran,
” says, “It is not permissible for anyone of God’s creation to ask Him, “Why did You will this all in this way?” It is not permissible for anyone of His creation to ask Him, as long as none of His creation is God, and none of them has knowledge or the ability to comprehend the comprehensive system of this universe.”
Conclusion
In this article, we highlighted 4 main ideas that help in understanding the wisdom behind man’s creation:
- God’s Perfection: God does not need worship, but humans need worship to reach their highest potential.
- Human Benefit: Worship benefits the soul, helps cultivate moral virtues, and leads to personal growth. Worship strengthens the human connection to the divine and helps individuals navigate the challenges of life.
- Gratitude and Acknowledgement: Worship is an expression of gratitude for the countless blessings that humans receive.
- Understanding Divine Wisdom: Humans may not fully understand God’s wisdom, but this does not mean His commands lack purpose or benefit.
Indeed, Muslims worship Allah because they are commanded to do so from outside and are driven to do so from within. They are commanded to do so by the texts of the divine law, which is the external compulsion. They are also compelled to do so from within, acknowledging the perfection of their Creator. We worship Allah because He is worthy of worship, to be obeyed and not disobeyed, glorified, praised, and thanked for His blessings and bounties.
“He is the Ever-Living. There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him. So call upon Him with sincere devotion, ˹saying,˺ “All praise is for Allah—Lord of all worlds.””
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References:
“Why does Allah ask humans to worship Him?” Book by Dr. Samy Al-Amrii
