Why We Matter: Discovering the Blueprint Allah Wrote for Us

 In the process of self-development, it is important to have good self-esteem, but not arrogance or ego issues. The Prophet (SAW) warned that no one with even an atom's weight of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise (Sahih Muslim 91). So it is important to know why we matter.

Why are you and I important? What makes us significant enough to be given this life, and what is our responsibility to live up to that significance, if any?

Created with Purpose

We, all the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve (AS), have been created as the best of Allah's creation. Allah says, "We have certainly honored the children of Adam" (Qur'an 17:70). We all have important roles to play in this life. We were not created in play, just because Allah was bored, Allah forbid, for He does not need a pastime like we humans do (Qur'an 21:16; 23:115). This honor is a gift, not something we earned, which is exactly why it keeps our self-esteem free of ego.

The Height of Heights and the Lowest of Lows

He created us to be His representative (Khalifah) on Earth (Qur'an 2:30), with the possibility to rise to the greatest height any creation can attain as Allah's vicegerent. Allah honored Adam (AS) by teaching him the names and commanding the angels to prostrate to him (Qur'an 2:31-34).

Yet we also have the capability to debase ourselves to the lowest of lows, to become lower than animals in our thoughts and behavior. Allah says He created the human being in the best of stature, then reduced him to the lowest of the low, except those who believe and do righteous deeds (Qur'an 95:4-6). The Qur'an also describes those who ignore the truth as being like cattle, or even more astray (Qur'an 7:179).

So this life is there for us to fulfill the purpose for which Allah created us: to be higher than the angels in status by doing "godly" things on Earth.

Our Unique Blueprint

Each one of us has a God-inspired blueprint of success, of what we are supposed to do, and we need to discover it. The Prophet (SAW) said that people are like mines of gold and silver (Sahih al-Bukhari 3383; Sahih Muslim 2638), each carrying different potential.

Allah did not leave such choices to the flowers that have to bloom, or to the bees that have to produce honey, or to the meteors that have to shoot across the sky. Even the bee acts on what its Lord inspired it to do (Qur'an 16:68). Rather, He gave us the choice to discover and implement the plan that Allah has for us. The Qur'an tells us that the heavens, the earth, and the mountains declined to carry the trust, but the human being accepted it (Qur'an 33:72).

Each of us has a unique plan we need to discover and live in this life, to be the best that Allah intended us to be.

Will we rise to the heights Allah intended for us, or will we sink to the lowest of the low if we do not put in the effort?