(Mohammad Masood Ahmed (2025), Would You Like To Know Something About Islam, Second Edition, Crescent Books Inc., New York, USA. Pg. 131-136)

It is commonly known that human life is a precious gift. It is not merely life, but particularly human life, that is precious. What gives human life such preciousness, and why is animal life perceived differently? Like animals, humans are born, consume food, and construct shelters, albeit with some variations. We work to secure food and necessities, while animals instinctively seek theirs. Both species engage in reproduction, protect themselves, and defend their territories. Animals nurture their young; they age, experience illness, suffer injuries, and ultimately die, just as we do. So, what makes human life so extraordinary? Why is it deemed precious?

If I offered you a ten-ton rock to place in your already rocky backyard, would you consider it a precious gift? Typically, it wouldn’t even qualify as a gift, let alone be regarded as precious, due to its lack of purpose. Without a purpose, it holds no value and, thus, cannot be seen as precious. On the other hand, if I presented you with a diamond ring or a Rolex watch, you would surely recognize them as precious gifts. The inherent purpose of these items is what grants them their value, making them deserving of the label 'precious.' These gifts would undoubtedly improve your life, enhance your appearance, increase your wealth, and reflect your personality, among other benefits.

We now understand that the purpose of something determines its value and preciousness — the greater the purpose, the more valuable and precious it becomes. Additionally, purposes and their values differ based on individual taste, preferences, and applications. It's essential to grasp the purpose of anything before assigning value to it. Hence, the purpose of human life renders it a valuable and precious gift from our Lord. If our purpose were identical to that of animals, then their lives would hold equal value and preciousness as ours.

Human life is more valuable than any other life and is rightly called precious because there is a greater purpose attached to it. Islam teaches us that Allah created the universe to serve humanity and created humanity to serve Allah. While humans share instincts and traits with animals, their true distinction lies in being entrusted with a higher purpose: to worship and seek the pleasure of Allah. To fulfill this special purpose, individuals must first control, manage, suppress, and conquer those animalistic qualities that hinder them from achieving their purpose, while simultaneously developing, purifying, and promoting those qualities that assist them. At this point, a person truly becomes worthy of his status as the finest of all creatures, and only then does life attain its preciousness. How we choose to live this life determines our ultimate fate in the Hereafter.

Allah states in the Holy Quran:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ56¹

And I did not create jinn and men, but to worship Me.

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ 4²

Surely We have created man in the best mold (form).

وَالْعَصْرِ ‎1‏ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ 2‏ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ 3³

(I swear) By time! Verily man is necessarily in loss – except those who believe and do good deeds, and enjoin one another to accept the truth and to be patient.

The Lord created us in the most excellent way and provided us with all the essential qualities needed to live as human beings and prepare for success in the Hereafter. Anyone who accomplishes this paramount purpose of life — worshiping the Lord as He instructed — will be among the guided and successful; otherwise, they will face loss. The decision is ours.

From Man to Machine

Forgetting the greater purpose for which he was created has led man to view this world as his permanent abode. In arranging to live in this supposedly permanent home, man has become a machine, and he no longer controls his life.

Whether by choice or circumstance, he has become enslaved by society or by the artificial life he has crafted for himself. In his pursuit of worldly success, wealth, luxury, fame, and other material desires, he has transformed into a machine, losing the essential beauty of genuine life and humanity. The earth and everything within it were meant to serve him, yet he has instead become a slave to these very things. He was intended to use them to fulfill his divine purpose, but instead, he has surrendered himself to their demands, placing himself in a subordinate role. This servitude has led him to question, “Why this?” and “Why that?” when he ought to be contemplating his existence with questions like “Why me?” and “What for?” Rather than recognizing the brilliance of Allah’s creations and calling upon His good name, he has forgotten his true purpose and succumbed to the fleeting allure of this deceptive existence.

Those who feel lost in this world resemble machines that neither observe nor contemplate, lacking a heart and showing no concern for the consequences of their actions. Machines remain indifferent to their own “death” and do not reflect on their fate afterward. They do not ask questions about their creator, their purpose, or what awaits them ultimately — whether they are discarded or destroyed. In contrast, humans must explore these truths.

Considering the same example from a different angle shows that machines, created by humans, never deviate from their purpose. They follow the orders of their owners and, even without a mind of their own, function properly and perform tasks according to the intent of their inventors. Humans, on the other hand, even after becoming like machines, do not perform entirely like them. This is, of course, because humans still possess free will. Even though they can think, observe, ponder, and have a mind of their own, they fail to function properly, deviate from their course, and do not act according to the orders of their Creator and Master.

Man’s fall from humanity to barbarism is a global phenomenon not limited to any specific area or society. Even most animals do not kill their own kind. Yet, people, for unjustifiable reasons and purposes, both individually and collectively, in one way or another, kill other humans ruthlessly and without remorse. In one place, there are kings who use toilets forged in gold; meanwhile, people elsewhere barely have enough to cover their basic needs. In some places, so much food is thrown away and wasted that, if saved, it could easily feed millions of people who are starving elsewhere.

Forget about other creatures; look at what man has become! Even among millions, he is alone. Regardless of his various relationships and friendships, he still feels lonely. True friendships no longer exist, and he has thus replaced them with artificial ones to pass the time. Sometimes, even with abundant wealth, he seems needy because he cannot buy what he truly needs, such as love and affection. Even those closest to him, such as his spouse and children, appear to prioritize his money and wealth over his life and hard work, showing little regard for his overall well-being. We are such intelligent beings, yet we seem to be fooling ourselves. Fooling others is a day-to-day business for some, but the greatest fool is the one who fools himself.

Even after all the scientific and technological advancements in every aspect of human life, we fail to recognize our true status in this universe. Despite our immense power, we cannot rule over hearts and remain unable to solve our own problems. This condition appears to be worsening on a daily basis. Even with all the luxuries in the world, humans are not at peace and are often fearful.

Humans have journeyed to the moon and explored much of the universe — an achievement beyond the imagination of any other species. However, I believe — and please excuse my candor — that humanity still struggles to live appropriately on Earth, its own environment. If a creature were to be discovered on the moon and asked, “Have you truly mastered living on Earth to justify intruding into others' space?” what would be the response?

We possess the right to explore our interests and to understand the purpose of everything, yet it is essential to first comprehend our own purpose. Asking, “Why this?” and “Why that?” is warranted only after we have uncovered “Why me?” and “What for?”.

Rather than using our faculties and knowledge to ascertain our true place in the universe, our purpose, and our destination, we have strayed and become preoccupied with denying fundamental truths. These truths suggest that human life has a purpose and that there is a destination we are all journeying toward.

Some think that death is the end of life, but in reality, it is merely a mode of transportation for the soul to reach the other world. Through death, the soul and body are temporarily separated until the Day of Judgment, when everyone will be resurrected. On that day, souls will rejoin their bodies, and we will be held accountable for our actions. Divine justice will prevail, and everyone will be responsible for every iota of injustice they may have inflicted upon themselves or others. After all, human beings are not machines that lack accountability. They are living beings created for a specific purpose. Whether humans choose, through free will, to fulfill their purpose or not determines whether Allah will reward or punish them in the Hereafter.

It is impossible for people to achieve success by opposing the forces of nature. The will of Allah , expressed through these forces, will always prevail. Why? Because He is the Creator of these forces. This is His world and universe; people have no overriding authority over His plans. They may devise strategies to shape the world in unique ways and take actions accordingly, but they ultimately generate more problems and unrest. The duty of every human being is to follow His commands and adhere to the rules set forth by Him.

People should not interfere with the forces and rules of nature, and they should allow the physical world to exist as it is. Their duty is to learn about their obligations and determine their role to play. A study of Islam will clearly reveal the roles of people as human beings and how they can avoid a head-on collision with the will of Allah , both individually and collectively. Islam also explicitly provides answers to questions such as: What are the limits of people? How much must they surrender their will to the will of Allah ? How much choice do they possess? How much freedom do they require? What are the consequences of their choices if they do not choose wisely? What are the outcomes of the additional freedoms they sometimes demand and/or acquire? A true understanding of Islam facilitates the decision-making process and enables the wise selection of steps to be taken, both individually and collectively, to achieve peace, prosperity, and happiness for all.

• ¹  Holy Quran, Adh-Dhariyat, 51: 56
• ²  Holy Quran, At-Tin, 95: 4
• ³  Holy Quran, Al-Asr, 103: 1-3