Why did god create mankind and jinn?

Asalamu alaykum,
Obviously the answer can be simply found in the Quran (51:56), however I’m simply transmitting a question I heard from an atheist.
the argument used is if god is a being that is all powerful, why create us from the first place? The argument already considers that mankind has a spiritual need to worship god, however that fact does not answer why god created us in the first place.

after I heard this argument, I looked for answers from different faiths and sects of Islam and it seems like some have unique approaches to answer the question. Hence, I am very curious what the A’imah of ahlulbayt had to say about this argument.

PS. Please don’t consider this post as sign of doubt on my end, I’m already convinced that god exists and Muhammad SAWAS is his messenger.

Asalamu alaykum,

wa alaikum as-salam,

Obviously the answer can be simply found in the Quran (51:56), however I’m simply transmitting a question I heard from an atheist.
the argument used is if god is a being that is all powerful, why create us from the first place? The argument already considers that mankind has a spiritual need to worship god, however that fact does not answer why god created us in the first place.

This question/argument is flawed on several levels.

1. There is no reason to assume that Allah being all-powerful must have any direct correlation with why He created us.
   The atheist is inserting an imagined dependency that simply does not exist. Power does not impose obligation, nor does it dictate purpose.
2. Not having an answer to a motive is not proof of anything except that we do not know the motive.
   When an agent states the reason for his action, that is the highest and most direct evidence for his intention. Intentions cannot be extracted from external observation alone; they are internal matters. Therefore, the only way to know the intention of a free agent is if he communicates it.

Either he accepts the existence of a creator who actually communicates with humanity, such as Allah who states clearly in the Qur’an that He created us to worship Him, or he rejects that possibility entirely.If he rejects it, then he has removed the only possible source from which such an answer could ever come. In that case, the question “Why were we created?” becomes unanswerable by pure logic, because it depends on the intentions of a creator he denies.

after I heard this argument, I looked for answers from different faiths and sects of Islam and it seems like some have unique approaches to answer the question. Hence, I am very curious what the A’imah of ahlulbayt had to say about this argument.

 The Aimmah (ʿalayhim as-salām) have always taught nothing other than reason and the Qur’an. Their answers consistently follow two paths: direct citation of revelation and sound, rational conclusions. You will not find them relying on anything beyond that.One of our Imams, al-Qāsim ibn Ibrāhīm (ʿalayhi as-salām), wrote a remarkable work against atheism in which he debates an atheist directly. This Imam is well-known for the depth and sophistication of his arguments. The book is titled al-Dalīl al-Kabīr.Imam al-Ṣādiq (ʿalayhi as-salām) also has a recorded debate with an Indian atheist in another text. When I have time, I will share some excerpts from these discussions.

PS. Please don’t consider this post as sign of doubt on my end, I’m already convinced that god exists and Muhammad SAWAS is his messenger.

I don’t think anyone here would interpret that as doubt on your part. No need to worry.

wa salam