Why Is Humanity in Constant Need of Divine Revelation? A Journey in the Search for Meaning

The Questions That Never Die

There is no human being on the face of the earth who does not carry three questions deep within, following them like a shadow. These questions awaken during moments of reflection, cause unease in the middle of the night, and press upon the soul when one is alone: Why am I in this world? What does God want from me? And where is the final destination after death?

These questions are not an intellectual luxury for philosophers to pass their time, nor are they reserved for a specific class of people. Rather, they are fateful issues that touch every person—rich or poor, learned or unlettered, old or young—because they relate to the core of their existence and the reality of their ultimate end.

Consider the person who is ignorant of the purpose of their existence: they are like someone walking through a barren desert without a compass or a guide. Every direction looks the same, and every path is clouded by doubt. They might think they are heading toward an oasis when they are actually sinking deeper into the wilderness. What kind of life is led by someone who does not know why they are alive?

Reflect on the state of one who is ignorant of God’s will: they stumble through a maze of rulings and obligations. They perform deeds thinking they are "Qurbāt" (acts that bring one closer to God), only to find they were doors to "Sayyi’āt" (evil deeds). They avoid things for fear of sin, yet those very things might have been among the most beloved and "Azkā" (purest) actions to God. What agony is greater than striving to obey one's Lord, only to discover they were traveling in the opposite direction?

As for the person ignorant of what awaits after death, they fall into one of two states: either they are "Ghāfil" (heedless and distracted), living as if death does not concern them and as if this world is a permanent home rather than a temporary passage, only for death to surprise them in their negligence. Or, they are terrified and paralyzed by confusion, robbed of "Ṭuma’nīnah" (tranquility and inner peace), living in constant anxiety over a frightening unknown.

Knowledge Attainable Only Through Revelation

These three great branches of knowledge—knowing Allah as He truly is, knowing what He requires of His servants, and knowing the destiny that awaits them—have only one path: "Waḥy" (Divine Revelation). This is not an arbitrary claim; it is a necessity dictated by logic and reason.

Allah is the One who created us; therefore, He alone knows why He created us and for what purpose He brought us into being. Allah is the One who legislated for us and gave us "Taklīf" (moral and religious responsibility); therefore, He alone has the right to define what He wants from us and what deeds please Him. Allah is the Master of life and death and the Disposer of the "Ghayb" (the Unseen world); therefore, He alone knows what He has prepared for His servants after death, whether Bliss or Hellfire.

If the answer to these monumental questions does not come from Allah, where could it possibly come from? It would leave humans to answer them for themselves. But which human has such a right? And who possesses the qualities that would make their answers binding upon all of humanity?

The Human Inability to Provide Answers

The undeniable truth is that a human being—no matter how much knowledge or understanding they attain—remains a limited and deficient creature. Their knowledge is restricted and cannot encompass the Unseen; their vision is short-sighted and cannot pierce through the ultimate reality of things. A human is a prisoner of their environment, influenced by their culture, and governed by personal experiences. How then can anyone claim to possess the absolute truth that all people must submit to?

There is not, and never will be, a single person on this earth who possesses the qualities qualifying them to be the final judge on these existential issues. If the matter were left to people, everyone would answer according to their "Hawā" (personal whims and desires). A person from the East would have a vision of life different from one in the West; the destitute would see existence differently than the luxurious rich.

One person would claim the meaning of success is gathering wealth; another would say it is fame; a third would argue it is the indulgence of "Shahawāt" (physical desires and lusts) before death arrives. Each would be convinced of their own correctness, viewing others as deluded, with no final reference point to settle the dispute.

The Never-Ending Conflict

The inevitable result of this situation is unending conflict and a confusion that breeds even greater confusion. Sound reason dictates that the truth and its opposite cannot both be right at the same time. It is impossible for the purpose of life to be both "Zuhd" (asceticism and detachment from worldly luxuries) and total indulgence in pleasures simultaneously. Truth is one and cannot be divided. Since humans are unable to reach this truth on their own, there must be another source that provides the definitive, healing answer.

No Answer Except from the Creator

The answer is as clear as the sun at midday: The One who created the human is the only One who knows why He created them. The One who designed this universe with such "Niẓām" (order and precision) is the only One who knows the wisdom behind it. Settling this eternal disagreement among people can only be done by Allah, "Jalla Jalāluhu" (Great is His Majesty). He alone holds the answer, and He alone has the right to convey it to His servants.

Allah’s Mercy Through Revelation

It is from Allah’s greatest mercy toward His creation that He did not leave them in the darkness of ignorance or the wilderness of confusion. Instead, He sent down "Waḥy," which is His preserved Word—no falsehood can approach it from before it or from behind it, and it is untouched by error. Because Allah addresses humans through this Revelation, His profound Wisdom dictated that it be sent in a language they understand, suited to their mental and intellectual capacities, so that no one would have an excuse for failing to act upon it.

The Fruits of Following Revelation

Through this noble Divine Revelation, the most complex dilemmas of human existence are solved.

Purpose: A person who knows through Revelation why they were created lives a life of deep meaning and great wisdom. They do not waste their days on "Tawāfih" (trivialities) that bring no benefit; they recognize the value of their time.

Clarity: One who knows what Allah requires of them finds "Ṭuma’nīnah" (peace) in their heart. They draw close to their Lord with "Baṣīrah" (clear insight and certain knowledge) rather than guesswork. They deal with people based on a clear methodology, not fluctuating customs.

Balance: One who knows their fate after death lives a life balanced between "Khawf" (fear of God's punishment) and "Rajā’" (hope in His mercy). This fear keeps them away from "Maʿāṣī" (acts of disobedience), while hope drives them to increase their "Ḥasanāt" (good deeds). They work for the "Ākhirah" (the Hereafter) with the certainty of one who knows they will be questioned about everything they did, enduring hardships with the patience of one who knows a great reward awaits.

Life Upon Firm Foundations

Through this Divine "Waḥy" (Revelation), human life is set straight upon firm foundations that do not shake and fixed rules that do not change with the shifting of personal whims or the passage of time and circumstances.

The truth remains truth even if those who follow it are few and those who support it are rare. Likewise, "Bāṭil" (falsehood) remains falsehood even if its followers are numerous and its supporters act with arrogance. Good is good in every time and place, and evil is evil; the passing days cannot alter its nature.

It is from the perfection of Allah’s mercy toward His servants that He did not make these great truths and sublime branches of knowledge the exclusive property of a specific group or a special class. Rather, He made "Waḥy" available to everyone who sincerely seeks "Hidāyah" (guidance). It is accessible to all who desire salvation with a "Qalb Salīm" (a sound and pure heart) and clear to anyone searching for the truth with "Niyyah Khāliṣah" (sincere and pure intention). Indeed, Allah is the Most Generous of the generous and the Most Merciful of those who show mercy; His mercy encompasses all things.