Purpose of Life: The Spiritual Quest

By Dr Ahmed Adam — South Africa

We Are Spiritual Beings Having a Human Experience

We are all experiencing the Material Terrestrial Physical Dimension on Earth; this physical experience of 100 years is sandwiched between the 2 Spiritual Transcendental Eternities: the Eternity of the Past and the Eternity of the Future.

Paradoxically, we do not exist on Earth: 100 years on Earth divided by Eternity = Zero. Yet, this brief Earthly experience will determine our ultimate outcome for the rest of Eternity depending on the free choices that we make on how we wish to live our life.

The Question of God's Existence

For many people, the question of "What is the Purpose of Life?" is usually dependent upon whether we believe in God or not. Certain sections of the Scientific community (for example, Evolutionists) assume that Religious people are stupid, while certain sections of Religious communities (for example, Creationists) assume that the Scientific community is stupid with regard to the question of "Origin of Life" and the "Existence of a Merciful, Kind and Loving Supernatural Supreme Creator, referred to as God."

I am not here to debate the pros and cons of this dichotomous thinking, but instead, my job is simply to focus on our Purpose in Life.

Who Are We? Products of Our Environment

We are all products of our environment — the information we absorb by "osmosis" from family, friends, school, parents, teachers, the one-eyed-babysitter (TV), neighbourhood, country etc. — that determine our built-in prejudices, biases, love or hate and dislike of people, Religions, cultures and nations that are not the same as us.

These ideas originate in our childhood and are then re-enforced as we grow older until they become firmly entrenched in our brain, and this determines our view of the world, whether good or bad.

Finding Your Talent and Purpose

Everybody is given a unique talent and gift: your first job is to find your Talent and then use it in pursuit of giving meaning to your Purpose in Life.

❓ The Fundamental Questions

If I cannot find the correct answer to the first question "Who Created me?", then my entire life on Earth is a delusion and meaningless existence, because then I will not have good answers for the rest of the questions.

🌌 Signs of the Creator

The Signs of the Existence of God are clearly evident from:

All of these and billions more bear the Flawless Signature of the Creator that is so clearly evident in the awesome Artistry in Nature.

Addressing Misconceptions About Islam

The malicious lies, myths, falsehoods, fear, Islamophobia and ignorance surrounding the terms "terrorist" or "suicide bomber" or "911" or "Jihad" or "Hijab" or "Islam" or "Muslim" or "Qur'an" or "Shari'ah" or "Mohamed" or "Allah" are so far away from the Truth, that it would take several Volumes just to show the woeful ignorance of the Islamophobes and haters of Islam.

These enemies of Islam fail to comprehend that their remarks are emotionally traumatic to the vast majority of innocent Muslims who are simply battling to earn a living and provide for their family and worship their Lord in Peace — which is a fundamental right.

🧕 On the Hijab

Pious, honourable, morally upright and respectable Women throughout the History of Human Civilization have always covered their hair and bosom — for example, Honourable Mary, mother of Jesus (peace be upon them both); from Early Victorian days to the current age, millions of women of all nationalities and Religions have worn hats of various shapes and designs to "cover" the hair.

The Fundamental Questions of Existence

The basic questions that intrigue all (or most) of us are:

Is my Goal to be the Richest person in the Cemetery, or is my Goal to find my True Purpose and then live my life with honour, dignity and respect for all creation big and small, until the Day that I finally meet my Maker?

☮️ The Meaning of Islam

In simple terms, a Muslim is a follower of the Religion of Islam. The root letters S-L-M mean "PEACE":

A Muslim attains a State of Peace and contentment when he/she submits his (wild and untamed) free-will, driven by passion and desire, to be in harmony with the Divine Will and the rest of creation, so that the individual lives a morally upright life, which is pious, helpful, well-mannered, kind, gentle and compassionate.

There is Only One True God

Are there many Creators? No. There is only One Supreme Creator. Is there a "god" for every Nation? No. Is every Religion acceptable to God? No.

There is Only ONE True God for all of Mankind and for all time periods in the Eternity of the Past and the Eternity of the Future.

Monotheism: The Worship of One God

If, at this very moment, you are not worshipping Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) Alone, without associating any partners with Him, then you are on the Road to Error, no matter how fanatical you may be about your own Religion or Evolution or Atheism or Agnosticism.

Islam is one of the Abrahamic Faiths (Judaism; Christianity; Islam) whose fundamental Truth is Monotheism: the unshakeable belief that there is Only ONE Indivisible Unseen God.

A Spiritual Exercise: Seeking Divine Guidance

If you don't believe in Evolution, but you are unsure if you are following the Correct Path to your Creator and thereby discover your most important Purpose in Life, please do the following simple exercise for a few days:

✨ The Declaration of Faith (Shahadah)

If you get the feeling deep inside that Islam is the Primordial Religion of the Heavens and the Earth, then the Mercy of your Creator has Descended upon you, so that you finally affirm with absolute conviction and sincerity:

Breaking Free from Conditioning

As mentioned earlier, we are all products of our environment. Most people believe in the Religion of their household or country. That Religion may or may not be the correct one, but in childhood, we accept everything what adults tell us. This is how our beliefs are formed.

The only way to find the One True God is to seek Him out. The responsibility is on you. When you read the Qur'an with sincerity, Allah's Light will guide you to the Truth.

Three Books to Read Before You Die

The Mystery of Life

There is no Scientist who can give a clear explanation of how the FIRST life started. Scientists cannot measure or test "Life"; if "Life" was an organ, then they could have transplanted it in a patient in ICU. But Doctors and Scientists are still baffled at this Mystery called Life.

Conclusion

You have to embark on a Journey of Personal self-discovery so that when you finally see the Truth, you will be embraced by Peace, Contentment and Love for all Eternity, Insha-Allah (God-Willing).

This fabulous way of Life has given meaning, purpose and tranquillity to 2 Billion Muslims as at February 2015.

May all that is good for you and your family come to you in great abundance and may you live a Life that is filled with Purpose and Meaning that makes you yearn to finally meet your Majestic and Perfect Creator.

Best wishes and warmest regards from Dr Ahmed Adam, South Africa

"There is a God. He is fair and just, and He wants us to achieve the reward of Paradise. However, God has placed us in this worldly life as a test, to weed out the worthy from the unworthy. And we will be lost if left to our own devices. Why? Because we don't know what He wants from us. We can't navigate the twists and turns of this life without His Guidance, and hence, He has given us Guidance in the form of Revelation."

"Sure, previous Religions have been corrupted, and that is one of the reasons why we have a chain of Revelation. Ask yourself: wouldn't God send another Revelation if the preceding Scriptures were impure? Muslims consider this Final Revelation to be the Holy Quran. Don't trust what people tell you: Trust our Creator. Read the Quran, read good books and study good websites. But whatever you do, get started, take it seriously, and pray for our Creator to Guide you. Your life may not depend on it, but your Soul most definitely does."

"If there is no God, then man and the universe are doomed. Like prisoners condemned to death, we await our unavoidable execution. There is no God, and there is no immortality. And what is the consequence of this? It means that life itself is absurd. It means that the life we have is without ultimate significance, value, or purpose."

"The purpose of life is to find your way back to a spiritual way of thinking and living — to be able to get past the physical stuff. That's pretty much the whole test. And every Soul is given talents and strengths to help them along the way."

About the Author

Dr Ahmed Adam — BSc (Zoology, Botany, Human Genetics); BSc Med (Human Physiology; Comparative Anatomy); BSc Hons (Anthropology, Astronomy & Evolution); MBBCh (Medical Doctor). Strategic Director of a 300-bed Private Hospital; Human Rights activist (Vice Chair: Human Rights Foundation); Life Coach; TV host; Public Speaker; CEO of Alpha Brain Creativity; Author of multiple books including "Islam in the Media", "The Amazing Brain", "Hope & Positive Thinking" and others.

Current life for the past 10 years: Victim of serious double gunshot injuries; Chronic illness; constant bone pain; spinal disability & traumatic brain injury; spends most of his time in deep thought in spiritual meditation in a Cave of Solitude. Pure Sunni Islam, embracing Qur'an and Sunnah. Dedicated student of Religion.