What is the Muslim's purpose in life, and is it achieved merely by obeying commands, avoiding prohibitions, and increasing supererogatory acts and voluntary prayers? What is the relationship between the Muslim's purpose and humanity's purpose in striving to acquire wealth, a spouse, children, food, and drink? If a Muslim wishes to serve the Ummah, how does he serve it, and what is the Ummah's goal that it seeks to achieve?

The primary goal of a Muslim in life is the worship of Allah, and both the individual and the community must achieve this, in fulfillment of His (the Almighty's) saying: "And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me" (Adh-Dhariyat: 56). And from this worship is the call to Allah, for His (the Almighty's) saying: "Say, 'This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me'" (Yusuf: 108). This does not contradict the pursuit of worldly interests, for a righteous intention transforms permissible acts into acts of worship.