Short answer
To know God (﷾) and to worship Him. The Qur'an says God (﷾) created jinn (unseen beings) and humans only to serve Him. Every person is born with an inborn awareness of Him. The Qur'an says all the children of Adam once testified that God (﷾) is their Lord. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said every child is born on the fitra, the natural state of knowing God (﷾). God (﷾) does not need our worship. He needs nothing, and we need Him. In Islam, worship is more than prayer. It means obeying God (﷾) in the whole of life and remembering Him often. Jesus taught the same: only those who do the will of his Father will enter the kingdom of heaven. The Qur'an says those who believe and do good are the best of creatures.
Full explanation
Every soul already knows God (﷾)
The Qur'an says God (﷾) once drew out all the descendants of Adam and made them testify that He is their Lord. God (﷾) did this so that no one could make two excuses on the Day of Judgment, the day God (﷾) judges everyone. They could not say that they never knew, or that they only followed their fathers. The Prophet (ﷺ) confirmed this agreement. He said Allah (﷾) will remind a man in the Fire of this. While the man was still in the backbone of Adam, he was asked only not to worship anything besides Him. The Prophet (ﷺ) also said every child is born upon the fitra, the natural disposition to worship God (﷾) alone. It is the parents who make the child something else. A child is not born in sin. He is born turned towards his Lord.
“When thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves, (saying): "Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?"- They said: "Yea! We do testify!" (This), lest ye should say on the Day of Judgment: "Of this we were never mindful": Or lest ye should say: "Our fathers before us may have taken false gods, but we are (their) descendants after them: wilt Thou then destroy us because of the deeds of men who were futile?"”
Anas reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said Allah will ask the person in the Fire with the lightest punishment whether he would give everything on earth to ransom himself. He will say yes. Allah will say that while he was still in the backbone of Adam, He asked of him far less than that: not to worship anything besides Him. But he insisted on worshipping others.
Abu Hurayra reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said every child is born upon the fitra (the natural disposition to worship Allah alone), and it is his parents who make him a Jew, a Christian or a Magian, just as an animal gives birth to a whole, unmarked young one. Abu Hurayra then recited Qur'an 30:30.
Created to worship
This knowledge of God (﷾) is placed in every soul. So the Qur'an can state the purpose of human life in one sentence. God (﷾) created jinn and mankind only to serve Him. The Arabic verb is ya'budun. It comes from 'ibada, which means worship.
“I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me.”
God (﷾) needs nothing; we need Him
God (﷾) did not create people because He needed anything. The Qur'an says He asks no provision from them and needs no one to feed Him. It says people are the ones who need God (﷾), and He is free of all wants. If no one worshipped Him, His glory would not be less. If everyone did, it would not be greater. Worship is for the good of the worshipper.
“No Sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they should feed Me. For Allah is He Who gives (all) Sustenance,- Lord of Power,- Steadfast (for ever).”
“O ye men! It is ye that have need of Allah: but Allah is the One Free of all wants, worthy of all praise.”
What worship means
The English word worship comes from the Old English word for honour. The Arabic word 'ibada comes from the same root as 'abd, a servant, one who does what his master wills. So worship in Islam means obeying the will of God (﷾) in every part of life. It puts a person in step with the rest of creation, which already declares God's (﷾) glory. Prayer is set for the remembrance of God (﷾). Fasting builds self-restraint. Remembrance is to be constant, so that God (﷾) is not forgotten in the rush of daily needs.
“The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory: there is not a thing but celebrates His praise; And yet ye understand not how they declare His glory! Verily He is Oft-Forbear, Most Forgiving!”
“Verily, I am Allah: There is no god but I: So serve thou Me (only), and establish regular prayer for celebrating My praise.”
“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,-”
“O ye who believe! Celebrate the praises of Allah, and do this often;”
Jesus taught obedience as the way to life
The New Testament Gospels record the same teaching from Jesus. Calling him "Lord" is not enough. Only the one who does the will of his Father enters the kingdom. When he was asked how to gain eternal life, he twice pointed to God's (﷾) commandments. In neither answer did he say that a person is saved by believing that his death pays for their sins. He also said that love for him is shown by keeping his commandments. Paul, a Christian missionary of the first century, later wrote that by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. Here "the law" means the commandments given to Moses. Jesus sends the questioner to the commandments as the way to life. Paul says they justify no one.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
“And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.”
“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.”
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Why remembrance matters
Sin usually happens when God (﷾) is forgotten. The Qur'an says Satan works to make people lose the remembrance of Allah (﷾). It names intoxicants (things that cloud the mind) and gambling as tools that hinder it. Those who remember God (﷾) after a wrong turn back and ask forgiveness. Remembering God (﷾) is how a person who slips gets up again.
“The Evil One has got the better of them: so he has made them lose the remembrance of Allah. They are the Party of the Evil One. Truly, it is the Party of the Evil One that will perish!”
“Satan's plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: will ye not then abstain?”
“And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly bring Allah to mind, and ask for forgiveness for their sins,- and who can forgive sins except Allah?- and are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done.”
Not the greatest creation, but able to be the best
The Qur'an says the heavens and the earth are a greater creation than mankind. This humbles human pride. Yet it also says that those who believe and do righteous deeds are the best of creatures. Human beings are not the largest thing God (﷾) made. They are the ones who can choose to serve Him.
“Assuredly the creation of the heavens and the earth is a greater (matter) than the creation of men: Yet most men understand not.”
“Those who have faith and do righteous deeds,- they are the best of creatures.”
Every person is born with an inborn awareness of God (﷾). The Qur'an says all the children of Adam testified that He is their Lord, and the Prophet (ﷺ) said every child is born with this natural faith (fitra).
Why were we made?
To worship Him. The Qur'an says God (﷾) created jinn (unseen beings) and humans only to serve Him.
Does God (﷾) need our worship?
No. He needs nothing. It is we who need Him, and worship is for our own good.
What is worship?
Obeying God's (﷾) will in every part of life. Jesus taught the same: only the one who does the will of his Father enters the kingdom.
How do we keep to it?
Prayer, fasting and remembering God (﷾) often keep Him in mind. Those who remember Him after doing wrong turn back and ask His forgiveness.
The Qur'an says whoever believes and does righteous deeds becomes the best of creatures: not by birth or race, but by faith and piety.
The replies answered
Qur'an 51:56 — Surat al-Dhariyat (The Winnowing Winds), verse 56
“I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me.”
Cited for
God has given me a role in life, and I am already doing it. I know what it is by intuition.
The response
Every child is born upon the fitra, the nature God (﷾) gave mankind (Bukhari 1358). A sense that life has a purpose fits that nature. But a feeling cannot say what the role is. The same report says that parents can turn a child from the fitra, so a feeling also carries what upbringing put there. The Qur'an names the role in words. It is to serve God (51:56), and to be tested in "which of you is best in deed" (67:2). On what the role is, it warns, "pursue not that of which thou hast no knowledge" (17:36).
Where it lands — Intuition can tell us that life has a purpose. God's (﷾) word tells us what the purpose is.
Qur'an 10:36 — Surat Yunus (Jonas), verse 36
“But most of them follow nothing but fancy: truly fancy can be of no avail against truth. Verily Allah is well aware of all that they do.”
Cited for
Each person makes his own meaning. My purpose is whatever I decide it is.
The response
A meaning you invent can change the next day, and it ends at the grave. It also cannot say why your chosen purpose is better than a cruel man's choice of his. If God (﷾) made us, the purpose is His to give, and He has given it (51:56). The Qur'an asks, "Did ye then think that We had created you in jest"? (23:115). It says that "fancy can be of no avail against truth" (10:36). Finding the purpose we were made for is better than inventing one.
Where it lands — A purpose we make up cannot outlast us. The purpose God (﷾) gave can, and He has told us what it is.
Perspectives
Shinto: blessings and purity in this life
Shinto looks to this life. People ask the kami for blessings in health, work and family, and keep themselves pure through purification rites.
Life is lived in this world: one asks the kami for practical blessings and keeps oneself pure.
Rebuttal
The good things of this life are real gifts. But they end at death, and they do not tell us what life is for. The Qur'an says people were created to serve God (﷾). It says the life of this world is only a passing enjoyment that deceives. Whoever reaches the Garden has reached the goal of life.
Daoist: live like water, in step with the Tao
The Tao Te Ching teaches that the highest good is like water. Water helps all things, and takes the low place without a struggle. To live well is to live simply, in step with the Tao.
The highest excellence is like water, which benefits all things without striving, and so is near to the Tao.
Rebuttal
Islam also honours humility and doing good to all. But water does not choose, and people do, so they will be asked about their choices. The Qur'an says God (﷾) created death and life to test which of you is best in deed, and created people to serve Him.
Confucian: become a person of virtue
For Confucius, the aim of life is to become a good person (ren). That means loving others, treating them as you would want to be treated, and doing your duty in the family and in society.
Kindness means loving all people. And fairness is a rule for all of life: what you do not want done to you, do not do to others.
Rebuttal
Islam teaches the same love and fairness toward people. But it begins with the One to whom everyone owes everything. The Qur'an says: serve Allah (﷾) and set up no partners with Him, and do good to parents, family, orphans, the needy and neighbours. Confucius himself said that whoever offends against Heaven has no one to pray to.
Chinese tradition: family, ancestors and good fortune
For many Chinese families, life is about the family. It means honouring parents and ancestors, carrying on the family line, and doing well. Most visit their ancestors' graves each year. Many pray at temples for wealth and good luck.
Life is for the family: to honour parents and ancestors, carry on the line and prosper.
Rebuttal
Islam honours parents next after God (﷾). The Qur'an puts the worship of Him alone beside kindness to parents. But a family line ends, and wealth is left behind. The Qur'an says the life of this world is only a passing enjoyment that deceives. Only on the Day of Judgment is each person paid in full.
Christian
Presbyterian and other Reformed churches answer in the words of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, a short summary of Christian teaching from 1647. Many other Christians quote it too: man exists to glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism teaches that man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever.
Rebuttal
Islam agrees that people exist to glorify God (﷾). And Islam says what this means in daily life: obeying God (﷾) willingly in every part of life, kept alive by prayer, fasting and remembering Him.
Jesus taught that entry into the kingdom belongs to the one who does the will of his Father.
Rebuttal
Islam agrees with Jesus here. He also pointed those who asked about eternal life to God's (﷾) commandments, and Islam holds that this obedience is what worship means.
No given purpose (atheism)
Many people without a religion hold that life has no purpose given to it from outside. Bertrand Russell, the British philosopher, argued that a person's thinking cannot outlive the brain. He wrote that he believed he would rot when he died. Happiness, thought and love keep their value, he said, even though they come to an end. On this view, each person must make their own meaning.
Russell argued that thought cannot outlive the body. He said happiness, thought and love keep their value, even though they end.
Rebuttal
A meaning you make up can change the next day, and it ends at the grave. It also cannot say why your chosen purpose is better than a cruel man's choice of his. If God (﷾) made us, the purpose is His to give, and He has given it (51:56). The Qur'an asks, "Did ye then think that We had created you in jest"? (23:115).
Russell said that religion rests mainly on fear: fear of the unknown, of defeat and of death.
Rebuttal
Why a person believes does not show whether what they believe is true. A frightened man can still be right about what he fears. The Qur'an does not ask for belief from fear. It points to the heavens and the earth and the turning of night and day, and calls them signs for people who think.
Freedom from rebirth (moksha)
Hindu teaching names four aims of life: right living (dharma), wealth, pleasure, and the highest of all, moksha, which means release. Because of its deeds, the soul is born again and again until it is set free. The Svetasvatara Upanishad says the self is tied down by the results of its deeds. But when it has known God, it is freed from every chain.
The Svetasvatara Upanishad says the self is tied down by the results of its deeds. When it has known God, it is freed from every chain.
Rebuttal
Islam agrees that the aim of life is to know God (﷾), and that the soul is not God. But it teaches no round of births to escape. The oldest hymns of the Veda send the dead to the Fathers "in highest heaven", not back into a womb. The Qur'an says the dead are not sent back (23:99-100). Each person has one life in which to know and serve God (51:56).
The end of suffering (nirvana)
The Buddha taught four noble truths. There is suffering. It comes from craving. It can end. And an eightfold path leads to its end. On this view, the purpose of life is to end craving and reach nirvana. Each person must do the work alone; the Buddhas only show the way.
The Dhammapada names the four noble truths. They are suffering, where suffering comes from, rising above suffering, and the noble eightfold path that brings it to rest.
Rebuttal
Granted that the ending of craving brings peace. The Qur'an says hearts find rest in remembering God (﷾). It also tells the soul to come back to its Lord, well pleased and well-pleasing to Him.
The end of suffering is won by one's own effort. "You yourselves must do the work, the Realized Ones just show the way."
Rebuttal
Islam also says each soul answers for its own work. But the Buddha's path names no Creator to serve. And he would not say whether someone set free is reborn or not: none of these, he said, applies. The Qur'an names both the One to serve (51:56) and the end of the road. The soul is told to come back to its Lord (89:27-30).
The Islamic perspective
People were created to know and worship God (﷾), who needs nothing from them. Every soul is born with an inborn awareness of Him, as the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) taught. Worship means obeying Him in all of life. Those who believe and do good are the best of creatures.
The Qur'an states that God (﷾) created jinn and mankind only to serve Him.
Every human being bears an inborn knowledge of God (﷾) from the covenant taken from the children of Adam.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said every child is born on the fitra, the natural faith. Its parents make it a Jew, a Christian or a Magian.
God (﷾) is free of all needs; worship benefits the worshipper, not God.
Worship ('ibada) means obedient submission to God's (﷾) will, kept alive by prayer, fasting and remembrance.
In the Gospels Jesus makes doing the Father's will and keeping the commandments the way to eternal life.
The Qur'an calls those who believe and do good the best of creatures. Yet it says the heavens and the earth are a greater creation than man.