Allah Subhaanahu Wata’ala said:

{I have not created the jinn and mankind except to worship me. I do not want from them any sustenance and I do not want (from them) that they feed me. Indeed Allah is the provider, the possessor of power and strength.} [51: 56-58]

This is the sole reason that Allaah created the jinn and mankind, and the reason that Allah sent the messengers, in order to call and preach their people to. It is the worship of Allaah which necessitates knowing and loving Him, as well as repenting and turning to Allaah in servitude.

It also necessitates rejecting and turning away from all false gods. In order to accomplish this, one must first have knowledge of Allaah, for one to perfect Allaah’s worship he must know Allaah (His names and attributes and their meanings). In fact, the more knowledge a servant has of Allaah, the more his worship is perfected. That is why Allaah (the Most High) created the universe; He did not create the jinn and mankind because He is in need of them, and He certainly does not need any sustenance or food from them.

Allaah is greater and self sufficient to need anything from anyone. In fact creation, in its entirety, is in need of the Creator’s sustenance in all of their needs and requirements, by way of necessity or other than that. That is why Allah said:

{Indeed Allaah is the Provider}

He provides sustenance in abundance, enough to sustain and provide for every living thing in the heavens and earth. Ya’lamu mustaqarraha wa mustawdiuaha?? And He knows its dwelling place and its deposit (in the uterous, grave, etc.).

The One who possesses all the strength and ability, by which He created the enormous entities in the heavens and earth. Due to this, He is able to command that which is apparent as well as hidden. His will and decree are enforced and executed in all that He created. Whatever He has decreed is fulfilled instantly; Similarly whatever He has not decreed can never occur.

Nothing can escape Him, nor can anything escape His dominion. From the proofs of His vast power and strength is the fact that His bounties and sustenance reach all living creatures. Also, from the many proofs of His power is the fact that He is able to raise the dead even after their bodies have corroded and vanished and the winds have scattered their remains. And even after their bodies have been swallowed by wild animals and birds. Wa tafarraqu wa tamazzaqu fee mahaamihi alqafffaar wa lujjaj albihaar??

No one will go missing on the Day of Reckoning, and He knows which ones of His slaves are yet to be buried. Glory and praise to Allaah (the Most Powerful).

Shaykh Abdur-Rahman ibn Nasir as-Sa’dee