Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen رحمه الله: If one ponders over the reason he was created…

In his explanation of Kitab at-Tawhid, Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen states the following:

If one ruminates over the reason for his been created, he will find out that he was created to worship Allah, and that he is created for the life hereafter, not this abode. This wordy life is only a path a man threads to the hereafter, the abode for which he was created, for which it is obligatory for him to pay attention to working for.

I would wish that someday one ponders about: what have I prepared? What remains for me in this world? What have I achieved? Days pass by but I know not whether I have gotten closer to Allah or further away from Him. Do we examine ourselves regarding this issue? Every sane person has a goal; what is his own goal in life?

In our own case, we seek knowledge in order to get closer to Allah and educate ourselves and others. Do we act upon any of the issues we learn? In all circumstances, we find our self with much deficiency. When we know an issue, do we invite Allah’s servants to it? This issue requires self-examination and as such, there is a great responsibility upon the student of knowledge, much more than handing out the obligatory charity from wealth, he must work and act and spread knowledge and awareness in the Muslim Ummah. Otherwise, he will deviate from Allah’s path.

[Al-Qawl al-Mufeed Sharh Kitab at-Tawhid, page 169]