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Throughout the prophetic era, all prophets and messengers were sent to remind humanity of the purpose of life’s tests and the reality of the life to come. Their essential message was that God, the Almighty, chose to create a being who could, through their own actions and choices, attain eternal life. They also taught that God is eternal—He has always existed and will always exist. He is not a created being and is beyond the limitations of time, space, and causality. God has no beginning or end, cannot be confined to any place, and is neither above nor below. His knowledge encompasses every detail of the universe.

God’s intention was to bring into existence a creature with whom He could share His eternal kingdom, granting humans the potential for everlasting life. To fulfill this purpose, God created the universe and all necessary material causes. According to the Quran, not only does this universe exist, but there are six others as well:

“Allah is He who created seven heavens, and of the earth, the like of them. His command descends among them so you may know that Allah is over all things competent and that        Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge.” …”(Quran 65:12)

This verse emphasizes the creation of seven heavens and a similar number of earths, highlighting God’s power and knowledge. One can only assume that these other six earths will have their own life forms and physical laws.  Different translations may vary slightly in wording, but the meaning remains consistent.

Within this vast creation, the Earth was chosen as the place where humans would first undergo their trial. Only those who succeed in this test will be granted eternal life and a place in God’s everlasting kingdom. This world of trial has not been created on the principle of equity and justice, it was created on the principle of a trial. After creating the world on the principle of a trial, a law was laid down for the recurrence of life and death. The Quran says:

“[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed – and He is    the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving.” (Quran 67:2)

This verse underscores that the purpose of creation is to test people and identify those who excel in good deeds. Earth serves as a place where life and death unfold, offering each person a limited time before they move on to the afterlife. The world was created so that individuals could act according to their understanding and conscience. Here, people have the capacity to commit acts of injustice and cruelty, or, conversely, to do good, help others, and give in charity. God does not intervene to stop anyone from choosing either path. The verse also highlights God’s might and forgiveness, reminding us that He has granted humans complete freedom to use their intellect and judgment to decide their own course in life.

Interfaith Parallels on Divine Testing

Following verses from the Torah and Bible, while not identical in wording, share the core theme of God creating and testing humanity to distinguish those who do good deeds, very much in the spirit of Quran 67:2.

“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” (Old Testament, Jeremiah 17:10)

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (New Testament, James 1:12)

“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.” ( Old Testament, Deuteronomy 8:2)

 

Inner Compass — Human Nature and the Soul

The Almighty also informed that since He has created humans, He has placed an intuitive knowledge in human’s soul , that if they go in the right direction, what needs to be done, and if they choose to stray from the right path, what one will end up doing as a result. In the following verses the Almighty said, He created the human soul, shaped it, and inspired it with both the capacity for wrongdoing (fujoor) and righteousness (taqwa).

“And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it,  and inspired it [with discernment of] its        wickedness and its righteousness. He has certainly succeeded who purifies it. And he has certainly failed who corrupts it.” (Quran 91:7-10)

These verses highlight that true success lies in purifying one’s soul, while failure comes from allowing it to become corrupted—outcomes that are determined by the choices each person makes. The awareness of right and wrong is embedded within our very nature, and it is up to us to decide our path, as we have been granted complete freedom in this worldly life. Each individual is free to follow their heart’s desires, whether that means embracing the truth and living as a servant of God, or choosing denial, arrogance, rebellion, injustice, and wrongdoing. Throughout this journey, people will be reminded and guided by messengers sent to help them recognize the right way.

The Reminder of Death and the Illusion of Life

The earth itself was created as a place of tests and trials, and within it, the cycle of life and death has been ordained.  This is the foundation upon which the world is established—a system where life and death are woven into existence. When we lose someone dear, their departure often turns our thoughts toward God and prompts us to contemplate the divine. Death arrives individually, without a set time; it may come to a child in the womb, to the young, the adult, or the elderly. Every day, countless people leave this world, even within our own city. While the loss of a loved one draws the attention of a family, it rarely stirs entire communities or nations.

What often distracts humanity is the pursuit of life—its busyness, pleasures, joys, and achievements. Suddenly, when death strikes within a family or among friends, it compels us to reflect. In that moment, all the things we once chased, the ambitions we made the center of our lives—sometimes at the expense of virtue, truth, and integrity—lose their significance. Everything we valued so highly fades away, and God’s decree is fulfilled before us.

The trials for which God created this world are accompanied by countless reminders meant to awaken us from heedlessness and prompt self-awareness. These reminders come through prophets, the righteous, the events of life, the universe, and our own inner experiences. Yet, death stands as the most powerful admonition, urging us to consider the reality of this life and to prepare for what lies beyond.

When the Almighty chose to send humanity into this world, He assumed the responsibility of guiding and instructing them. The most essential aspect of this guidance is to help people recognize the true nature of life. Among all the means selected for this purpose, death stands as the most powerful and effective reminder. At times, God removes individuals from homes, families, and communities, leaving those places empty and desolate. Sometimes, He brings death upon entire nations, or even the whole world, as seen during pandemics. This is because, despite witnessing death in many places, some people remain heedless. Such large-scale events are meant to awaken vigilance in those who have not yet reflected.

Disasters such as earthquakes, famines, floods, and pandemics serve to transform entire communities into stark reminders of mortality. They bring suffering and hardship to the forefront, as if placing them on a stage for all to see. These are divine warnings, intended to rouse humanity from complacency. When death, which usually occurs in scattered places, is gathered and displayed so prominently, it becomes news, an announcement, an alarm for the world. Sometimes, all of humanity is forced to pay attention. The recent Covid-19 pandemic, caused by an invisible germ, brought the entire world to a standstill, rendering our technological achievements and pride powerless.

Thus, death and adversity are tools through which God seeks to awaken us from our unconsciousness. Yet, it is a sobering reality that, even in the face of such warnings, people often remain unmindful. God’s intent is to awaken us, and for this reason, suffering, famine, disease, earthquakes, fires, storms, and floods do not discriminate—they affect the rich and the poor, Christians, Muslims, non-believers, the righteous, and the immoral alike. These disasters make death visible on the stage of human life, revealing how fleeting and fragile our existence is, and how insignificant our comforts become in the face of divine power. Through these events, God demonstrates human helplessness before His might.

It is important to understand that such disasters are not acts of divine punishment, but rather methods to awaken and alert humanity. The law of divine punishment is entirely different. When God chooses to punish, He first sends messengers to guide and warn the people, as explained in chapter 14 (“We never punish until We have sent a messenger.” — Qur’an 17:15). If the messenger is rejected, only then are the righteous separated from the wrongdoers, and punishment follows. Therefore, disasters are warnings, not punishments, meant to prompt reflection and self-awareness.