The answer to the existentialism crisis from the Islamic views
To the roses who bloomed and withered;
To the lion who wakes up and strives, and the deer who run for life;
To the turnover of day and night, and the illusion of time;
To the skin that is so red, and the hair that turns to grey.
We’re all worried about finding our purposes, meaning, and fulfilment in this preposterous life, where it’s obvious that nothing matter in this world. Or, is it?
Stoicism — you shall live, and live with tranquillity and harmony with nature
Existentialism — you are free to choose your own meaning and purpose in this meaningless and absurd world
Absurdism — there is no single objective in this irrational world, but whatever?
Nihilism — you do not matter, neither do I, then what?
We past decades, with all of those philosophical teachings evolving, trying to decode the meaning of life. No matter which one you hold on to, all of them suggest you to keep going, keep living, and find your own purpose— doesn’t matter how absurd, meaningless, and chaotic the world is.
Without disregarding the idea of living our lives with our own meaning and purpose (which I adore sm), I also stand for my personal belief from the Islamic perspective, which states that we exist to submit to the will of Allah (God) and to seek His blessing. It’s a simple term, mostly overlooked and taken for granted, yet digest the deepest meaning of human existence.
Surely my prayer, all my acts of worship, and my living and my dying are for Allah alone, the Lord of the whole universe — Surah Al-An’am, Chapter 6, Verse 162
Have you ever wondered why we humans are alone in this universe? Why none of the animals are able to do what we do? Do aliens even exist? Is religion only disclosed to us on Earth? If we’re that special, why we’re so tiny? Why are we born just to die?
Imagine if no mankind ever exists. How would the world be? There might still be thousands of other species living, even much more varied and broader than what we ever have. But the world will be empty, just a showcase full of natural objects eating, sleeping, and breathing.
We exist not just to live, we live — to witness.
And He has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth — all from Him. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought. — Surah Al-Jathiyah, Chapter 45, Verse 13
We have been introduced to the 99 attributes of Him — Asmaul Husna, the divine names of Allah. And we as mankind, are the witness to the realization of those attributes of Allah.
He made whatever amongst the sky and earth, then He becomes Al-Khaliq (The Creator)
He made us, with all the flaws and wrongdoings in us, then He becomes Al-Ghaffar (The Forgiving)
No matter who you are, whether you worship Allah or not, He still gives all the abundance to every single living thing in this world, then He becomes Al-Karim (The Generous)
Then why couldn’t we just explore the whole universe to witness all of His creation? Then He become Al-Azim (The Mighty), whereas He possessed unmatched power and is beyond our comprehension.
Allah can become anything — and we are here, because Allah wants us to see, to know Him, and to understand His signs. And for me, it is the most beautiful reason for the existence of humankind, and why we matter. Masya Allah
