The purpose of creation: knowing, loving, and helping a world to grow

For one of the primary reasons for the creation of the world is what was mentioned - namely, that beneficent and charitable works from assured souls should be remembered and all should attain unto them.

Although divine decree is irrevocable and outwardly may not accord with the desire of God's servants, in truth it is, to those possessed of insight, dearer than life itself. God's purpose in creation hath been bounty and grace. Assuredly He hath willed the good of all. Whatsoever may come to pass, be it tribulation or hardship, or ease and comfort, all transpireth according to the requirements of His consummate wisdom.

O ye friends of God!

The All-Merciful hath created humankind for the adornment of this contingent world, so that men may array the earth with the manifold blessings of Heaven; that the inner reality of the human being may, like unto a lamp of the spirit, cause the community of man to become as a mirror for the assemblage on high.

The peerless friend saith that the world was created and nations emerged from the realm of nothingness into being so that perchance they might discover and know the cause and reason for their existence and creation.

O Hussein in Sad, He is the Mighty! It hath been known to that honored one that the purpose of creation hath ever been and shall ever be the knowledge of God, and this knowledge dependeth upon the recognition of His servants who perceive the Truth through their own vision and heart and nature, for imitation sufficeth not, whether in acceptance or rejection.

I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee.

The cause of the creation of all contingent beings has been love, as is referred to in the well-known tradition which says: "I was a Hidden Treasure and I loved to be known, and therefore I created the creation that I might be known."

There can be no doubt that the Ancient Lord created the people of the world for His own recognition, and the tradition "I was a hidden treasure" bears witness to this statement.

The purpose of the creation of beings and the manifestation of existence hath been the bestowal of His grace and the expression of His generosity and bounty. Through His will He brought them from nothingness into being, and through His wisdom He ordained the means of glory and exaltation, that all might ascend the ladder of knowledge to that most great station of glory and supreme nobility which is the recognition of His sacred Being.

The primary purpose of God - exalted be His glory - in creating creation hath been the manifestation of bounty, mercy and loving-kindness, that all might be nurtured by the hands of grace and be adorned with the ornament of goodly character.

Thou hast created the creation in order to reveal Thy grace and manifest Thy munificence and bounty.

He hath created creation as a manifestation of His bounty and power, and as an expression of His grace and providence.

He created you only for your own selves, and He provided for you only for your own selves, and causeth you to die only for your own sakes, and giveth you life only for your own sakes, that ye may bear witness before God that there is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Best-Beloved. God, our Lord, the All-Merciful, hath not created us save that we might be among those who glorify Him, and hath not provided sustenance for us save that we might be among those who render thanks unto Him, and causeth us not to die save that we might be among those who testify to His oneness, and giveth us not life save that we might be among those who magnify Him.

I have created all things that they may know Me and worship Me, and that they may not associate anyone with Me.

Dost thou imagine that We created thee for aught else but to worship God, thy Lord? Say: Glory be to God! I am, verily, the first of them that worship.

Thou hast created all things from nothing that they might worship Thee, prostrate themselves before Thee, magnify Thee, exalt Thee and sanctify Thee.

Thou art He Who hath created this creation for naught else save to worship Thee, to glorify Thee, to sanctify Thee, and to follow that which hath been sent down from Thee from the places of Thy holy eternity and the wonders of Thy glorious oneness.

Thou didst not create the heavens and the earth and whatsoever is between them save in truth, that they who dwell in the kingdom of Thy earth and heaven might worship Thee, and that whatsoever existeth in the kingdom of Thy creation and majesty might prostrate before Thee.

O my God! Thou didst not create anything except for those who know Thee and proclaim Thy unity and prostrate themselves before Thee and are detached from all else and stand firm in Thy Cause.

There can be no doubt that the purpose of creation hath ever been the knowledge of God, exalted be His glory.

The purpose of the creation of the world and the fashioning of Adam hath been the knowledge of the True One, exalted be His glory.

All the world and its servants and handmaidens have been brought from nothingness into being specifically for the knowledge of God, exalted be His glory.

God, exalted be His glory, hath created His servants for His recognition.

I created you for My recognition, would that ye might know.

I have created all contingent beings for My knowledge and brought forth all creation for My Cause.

There hath been and continues to be no doubt that the purpose of creation hath been the knowledge and praise of the Beloved of the worlds.

O Kazim! The entire world hath been brought into existence from nothingness for the knowledge of God, exalted be His glory.

I created creation for My knowledge.

Being hath come into existence from the realm of nothingness for the purpose of recognition. Were it not for this purpose, this mighty edifice would not have been raised up and these things would not have been witnessed.

O Muhammad-Sadiq! The True One, exalted be His glory, hath created the servants for His recognition and brought them forth from nothingness into being.

The primary purpose in creating the world hath been for men to know the Beauty of the Pre-existent One. Whoso achieveth this purpose hath attained unto all good.

The purpose of the creation of beings has been the knowledge of God, exalted be His glory, so that all might comprehend, through the revealed verses and manifest evidences, that which is the cause of everlasting comfort and eternal life.

I have created all things for My Cause and brought all beings into existence for the knowledge of My Self, that We might bring them to a station of glorious dignity.

Praise be to God Who created creation for His knowledge and for attaining what He ordained for them through His bounty.

He created and showed the way that all might attain to that which was the purpose of creation.

He hath created all things for the knowledge of His Self and brought forth all existence to follow His Command - thus hath it been aforetime and will ever be, if thou be of them that know.

He hath created creation for His knowledge and commanded them with that which draweth them nigh unto God, the Lord of all worlds. The first is not realized except through the second, as testifieth His preserved Tablet.

He hath created creation for His knowledge and ordained for them that which draweth them nigh unto Him.

The purpose of man's creation hath been the knowledge of the All-Merciful and the observance of whatsoever hath been sent down from the heaven of His Will.

The eyes were created to behold My horizon, the ears to hearken unto My verses, and the hearts to love Me, the Mighty. Yet the people remain in evident veils.

Your eyes were created to behold My signs, your ears to hear My call, and your hands to grasp My Book, if ye be of them that understand.

This is a Tablet from Us to him who hath desired the countenance of God, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Omnipotent, that he may give thanks unto God his Lord and make mention of Him amidst His heedless servants. We have created man and taught him utterance that he might make mention of his Lord between the heavens and the earth.

He hath created the world for the remembrance of the Ancient King - among men are those who are heedless, and those who have heard and hastened unto God, the Mighty, the Wise.

The whole world was created that in this blessed Day it might attain to the remembrance of the Beloved.

Thou hast attained unto two supreme bounties that have no peer nor likeness: first, the mention of God, glorified be His majesty, which is the purpose for which all worlds were created, and second, migration in His path.

The fruit of human existence hath ever been the recognition of God and the promotion of His Cause. Whoso hath attained thereunto hath attained unto all good.

For every things hath been created for the sake of the day of the Manifestation of God, inasmuch as He is the supreme Purpose of all things, and the ultimate End of all things. Thus when He was manifested through the revelation of the verses of His inimitable power, all things have undoubtedly achieved the utmost perfection attainable to them, the presence of God.

All the peoples of the world have been created to know God, exalted be His glory and sovereignty, and all have been promised the Day of His Manifestation.

The primary purpose of creation hath been the recognition of God, and all people, both young and old, were awaiting the days of His Manifestation.

All have been created for attainment unto the divine presence, and all have had and have their share of this most exalted station.

When thou art assured of this, then consider the word of God, for He hath made the cause of the creation of the heavens and the earth and whatsoever lieth between them to be thy meeting with thy Lord, as the glory thereof equalleth all else - just as, for example, a piece of ruby equalleth in value a thousand mithqals of gold.

O friend! You have sought to attain My presence, and you are justified in this, for all have been created for this purpose.

He hath created all things for the recognition of the Manifestation of His Self and the Dawning-Place of His Revelation.

Thou art He Who created the servants for the recognition of the Dawning-Place of Thy signs and the Dayspring of Thy clear tokens.

I testify that Thou hast created me to know the Dayspring of Thy signs and the Dawning-Place of Thy Cause.

Ye were created for naught else but the recognition of God's Self, the Supreme, the Mighty, and this is the purpose of your creation, were ye of those who know. And this is what God desired for His servants, and by this did He take from them their covenant in the immortal dust, were ye of those who are aware.

God, exalted be His glory, brought these creatures from nothingness into being for the recognition of this blessed Day and the knowledge of Him Who hath appeared therein with His Name, the One Who holdeth sway over the worlds.

He hath created all things for this Day - to this testify all the Books of God, yet the people perceive not.

Say: O friends! Man hath been created for this blessed and wondrous Day. Strive ye that ye may attain unto that wherefrom the fragrances of eternity are wafted.

We have created creation for My days and sent the Messengers to give them the glad-tidings of this Revelation, through Whose mention the Books of God, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Compelling, have been adorned.

Existence has come forth from nothingness into the realm of being for the recognition of this Day. Whosoever has attained unto recognition is reckoned with God and is mentioned by the Supreme Pen in the Book of God.

Say: By God! Ye were created for this blessed, promised Day, and were commanded to serve the Cause in the Revelation of God and His sovereignty which overshadoweth every witness and witnessed thing.

The entire world hath been created for the service of God's Cause, and all the Prophets gave the people of the earth the glad-tidings of this wondrous Day, which in the holy divine Books is known as the Day of God.

Say: O servants, hasten that ye may attain to that for which ye were created from nothingness.

We beseech Him to kindle in the breast of the world the fire of seeking, that all may turn in devotion toward the most exalted horizon, the supreme perspective, and the ultimate goal. This is the fruit of existence and the cause of creation.

O handmaiden of God! Praise be to God that through divine bestowals and heavenly bounties thou hast attained recognition of the Manifestation of Mysteries and hast turned toward the Dawning-place of Revelation and the Rising-point of Inspiration, and hast partaken of the sealed wine, with a single drop of which none in existence can compare. That wine is the wine of the recognition of God, of which most people today are debarred and deprived. The whole world was created for it, yet they are seen to be veiled except for those souls who through His Name have detached themselves from all else and turned toward His horizon.

Praise be to God that thou hast attained unto the love and knowledge of the Best-Beloved of the worlds - which is the ultimate purpose of creation - and hast quaffed the pure wine in the days of His manifestation.

O my leaf, upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness! Praise be to God, thou hast attained unto that for which existence itself came into being.

Praise the Beloved of the world Who assisted you in a Cause from which most people are deprived and veiled, although all have been created for His recognition and His Day.

All have been created out of nothingness for the recognition of this Revelation.

Blessed is the soul whom the turning away of the peoples of the earth did not prevent from attaining that which was the purpose of creation.

I created creation for My knowledge, yet when I manifested My Self they denied and turned away, save whom God, the King, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, desired.

The purpose of creation hath ever been the recognition of God; but like unto scattered rays and perfume wafted afar, thereof all remain heedless save whomsoever God willeth.

The purpose of man's existence hath been that, through the grace of the All-Merciful, he should be cleansed and purified from the defilements of creation, that he might become worthy to appear before the Greater Manifestation and enter the immortal celestial dominion of God. Should any soul fail to attain this station, no benefit would accrue to him even if he were to possess the whole earth and whatsoever is therein.

The Truth, exalted be His station, whatever He hath ordained and doth ordain hath been and shall be for the elevation of souls.

The purpose of sending the Messengers and revealing the Books hath been and still is the elevation of souls and the advancement of knowledge, that all may testify to the oneness and singleness of God and become aware of that which profiteth or harmeth them.

This is because the purpose of Divine law is the education of all -- others as well as oneself -- and, in the sight of God, the harm done to one individual or to his neighbour is the same and is reprehensible in both cases.

As to spiritual happiness, this is the true basis of the life of man because life is created for happiness, not for sorrow; for pleasure, not for grief.

… This happiness is the fundamental basis from which man is created, worlds are originated, the contingent beings have existence and the world of God appears like unto the appearance of the sun at mid-day.

This happiness is but the love of God.

This happiness is but the eternal might the brilliant traces of which are shining forth unto the temples of unity.

Were it not for this happiness the world of existence would not have been created.

O servant of God! Your detailed letter was received, and from the accounts mentioned therein extreme astonishment was produced, and it became clear that some have not comprehended the divine utterances. Therefore, they have imagined that faithful souls have no station except in the world of names, and no reward, success or prosperity. Glory be to God! What a notion this is, what a thought! If this were so, we would all be in manifest loss and great abasement. Are all these afflictions, trials and calamities for the sake of a station in the world of names? God forbid! Rather, in the estimation of the people of truth, the world of names has no station or significance. Others, due to lack of reflection and insight, give importance to the station of names, but in the view of the people of truth it is counted as mere fancy.

Yes, in the divine utterances it is mentioned that paradise is the recognition of God and hellfire is separation from the Lord of Lords. The intent of this utterance is not that there is no divine realm or infinite bounty beyond this - God forbid! Rather, the meaning is that recognition and separation are like the tree, while bliss and torment in all divine worlds are like the fruit. At every level of the ranks, bounty and punishment exist. In the world of the heart, recognition is bounty and separation is punishment, for these two are the foundation of every bounty and punishment in the divine worlds. But in God's realm, for accepted souls there exists that which no eye hath seen, nor ear heard, nor hath entered into the heart of man.

For this mortal world is like the womb, wherein the physical perfections and deficiencies of man are not evident. When one emerges from the world of the womb into this world, physical perfections and deficiencies become manifest and clear, though in the womb one is unaware of both. Now if someone were to explain to a fetus the virtues and vices of this world, and describe its bounties and punishments, could the fetus conceive of it? No, by God! For in the world of the womb these virtues and vices, these bounties and punishments do not exist for it to conceive of them. For instance, the fetus cannot imagine hearing and sight, and whatever you might convey would be mere fancy to it. Yet when it steps into this world, it observes that which no eye hath seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the heart of the fetus.

Similarly is man's condition in the womb of this world. When he hastens to the other world, he observes that he has been delivered from a narrow and dark world and has entered into the divine world. If in this merciful existence that universal spiritual existence remains unknown and unrecognized, let there be no wonder or astonishment, for every lower realm is unaware of the higher realm, just as the fetus in the womb is unaware of this world. When it transfers to the higher world it becomes aware and perceives, but before transfer, conception and comprehension are impossible.

O seeker of truth! Consider the ranks of physical existence - the mineral kingdom is entirely unaware of the vegetable kingdom, and while the vegetable world exists, it is wholly unaware of the animal kingdom, for the vegetable capacity cannot encompass the perception of the animal realm, nor can it conceive of the faculty of the senses. Yet when it enters the animal kingdom, it acquires hearing and sight and beholds bounties that were entirely absent, veiled and hidden in the vegetable world. Likewise, the animal cannot conceive of the rational soul and is completely deprived of understanding human reality, for the animal realm lacks this capacity. Now if the vegetable world is wholly unaware of the human world, does this prove the non-existence of the human world? No, by God! Thus, the denial by human souls of the divine world is like the denial of the mineral which has no knowledge of the vegetable world, and like the denial of the plant which has no knowledge of the animal world, and like the denial of the animal which has no knowledge of the human world.

Now the greatest doubt of the deniers is this: where is that world? And everything which has no concrete external existence is mere imagination. However, the world of existence is one world, but it becomes manifold in relation to diverse realities. For example, the mineral, vegetable and animal worlds are one world, but the animal world in relation to the vegetable world is a spiritual reality and another realm, another condition.

In brief, if human life and the result of this infinite universe were merely that a sun should rise, a breeze should blow, a cloud should rain, a plant should grow, culminating in human existence which is the essence of creation, and if human existence were confined to the conditions of this mortal world---meaning that man should spend a few days in this earthly world amidst various afflictions, trials and pain, and then perish, and creation should end thus---in such a case existence would surely be mere delirium, and creation would be but fancy and imagination, the result entirely absent and the fruit completely destroyed. Yet if they would reflect even slightly, it is clear and evident that this infinite universe has a wondrous wisdom ordained and destined for it, and a mighty result established and assured. These thoughts and imaginings that deny the divine worlds are characteristics of animals, not of man. The animal cannot conceive of another world, knows not the divine realm, contemplates neither paradise nor hell, and can imagine neither bounty nor retribution. God forbid that blessed souls who are the manifestations of supreme guidance should be veiled by such imaginings.

And upon you be the most glorious Glory.

Were there no spiritual kingdom, life would be useless.

For example: We plant a tree, we water and care for it. From branches we see it advance to leaf and from leaf to fruit. Should the fruit be opened and found to contain nothing, all would be useless. So the people of common sense, studying the universe, see that creation must have a result.

If the aim were this physical life only, then this creation would be in vain and men would not have more honor or be nobler than other creatures.

Know that God hath not created all these existing things without purpose.

But that which is the reality of the matter is this: The world of life, the world of existence is connected, each with the other. All the created beings are the members of this stupendous body. Each one is a member, and that member should not remain imperfect. … For instance, we do not know what is the use of this nail. It grows and it is cut again. We see that we have the nail; but we do not know that there are a thousand wisdoms within the creation of this nail.

This means that in both heaven and earth there exist living beings. Thus it became known that all these luminous bodies are inhabited and the light of truth certainly shines and radiates in all of them. God did not create these infinite luminous bodies in vain.

Assuredly it is not to eat, nor to sleep, nor to dress, nor to repose on the couch of negligence. Nay, it is to find one's way to eternity an understand the divine signs; to receive wisdom from the Lord of Lords, and to move steadily forward like a great sea.

[They] are like great worms in the depths of the earth and are unaware of the realm of the highest heaven, and guided all those present to turn toward the Supreme Kingdom and the imperishable dominion and eternal life and everlasting felicity, for this is the purpose of creation and being - otherwise what fruit would there be in this fleeting two-day life and what benefit and effect would this creation have?

At this stage all things appear in their utmost degree of beauty and refinement, which is the result and perfection of their creation, except these human forms that are far removed from the perfection and result of their life, and like cattle they gather together, and they appear as though they were created to serve the material world, rather than the material world being created for their service and the manifestation of human perfections.

Man is not created by God so that he may live a material life like unto the animals. The Almighty has destined for him eternal life, spiritual existence, the perfections of the divine world and the virtues of the celestial realm.

This is the fruit of the tree of creation - to be freed from the darkness of the planet in order to enter the worlds of light. This is the object of existence; this is the fruit of the tree of humanity.

The Baha'i Movement bestows upon man a new spirit, a new light and a new motion. It enlarges the sphere of thought. It illumines the horizon of the intellect. It expands the arena of comprehension. This is the ultimate goal of human life. This is the fruit of existence. This is the brilliant pearl of cosmic consciousness. This is the shining star of spiritual destiny...

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May you become thirsty for the water of Reality! May you become hungry for the Bread of the Kingdom! It was in this instance that His Holiness Christ says: He that drinketh of this water shall never thirst! This means the infinite bestowals of God; the virtues of the Divine world, the perfections of the world of humanity and the ideals of the heavenly realm. … This is the ultimate result of human life! This is the fruit of existence!

The Sun of the spiritual world has shone forth so that the hidden mysteries and protected gifts that lie within the reality of all things may become manifest and visible, and this mighty bounty may be realized in the realm of being, and these divine bestowals may be revealed, and creation may yield wondrous results, and the tree of contingent being may bring forth new fruit.

But the Almighty fashioned man in his own image and likeness for the [sake] of His Love, for drawing the lights of divine virtues, for the manifestation of the celestial power, for the appearance of the efficacy of the Holy Spirit and for the projection of the ideals names and qualities of Divinity. He has ordained the subservience of all the contingent beings to man, but He hath chosen man for His own service.

Yet man must ever remember the earth plane is a workshop, not an art gallery for the exhibits of powers. This is not the plane of perfection, but earth is the crucible for refining and moulding character.

If one were to ponder and reflect, which is better: to consummate one's days amidst tests and trials sustained for the love of God, or to pass them on the bed of ease? When both kinds of days have drawn to a close, the first is to be preferred, for assuredly the fruit of the tree of life is to train the spirit of man, while the second is not even worth mentioning, since it will be the cause of sorrow and regret.

We must look at the realities and not the appearances. The end is the only wise thing to consider.

… The breeze of the Disciples quickened the spirit and the words of the Pharisees deadened and killed it. Every tree has a fruit and every shadow an effect and so is every seed sown in the heart of man, and his influence (manis) has a purpose and a result.

Thoughts of wealth and riches, as well as hopes of rank and glory, are sheer illusion. God has cast these thoughts into our minds only so that this world might prosper; apart from this, they are of no importance.

The purpose of God--glorified be His majesty--in creating the means of heaven and earth hath been the ease, comfort and progress of His servants.

God, exalted be His glory, hath brought forth creation from the realm of nothingness that it may be the cause and means for the development of the world.

Verily, He hath come for the reformation of the world and the refinement of the souls of His servants.

O Suhrab! God, exalted be His Glory, hath manifested Himself for the reformation of the world and the education of its peoples.

We desire naught on earth save the betterment of the world and the edification of its peoples.

All have been created for the knowledge of God, exalted be His glory, and the exaltation of His Word, and likewise have they been brought from nothingness into being for the reformation of the world and the education of its peoples.

The kings saw no benefit for themselves in acknowledging Him, and likewise the ministers and clergy, even though in the divine Books and Scriptures the Purpose has been clearly and explicitly made manifest, and the True One has proclaimed in the most exalted utterance that this supreme Manifestation has come for the reformation of the world and the advancement of the peoples.

O Abdul-Karim! The purpose of this Revelation is the purification of hearts from hatred and rancor, that perchance the peoples of the world may be illumined with the light of unity.

His purpose hath been the reformation of the world and the tranquility of nations. This reformation and tranquility shall not appear except through unity and harmony, and this shall not be achieved except through the counsels of the Most Exalted Pen.

Today We summon all to love, unity, fellowship and concord, that perchance through the light of assured souls the horizons may be cleansed and sanctified from the darkness of tyranny, and all may acknowledge the oneness and singleness of God, exalted be His glory, and attain unto the ultimate purpose of creation.

It beareth glad-tidings of that which hath been ordained for mankind.