‘WHY Are You?! ’ – Well, I have to say that this is by far the most basic question every person should know and be taught while growing up. Because in a time where people are busy chasing ‘how to live’, we’ve forgotten to ask why we live. But before diving into the core answer, if it exists, let me give you some idea of what the greatest minds on this planet have to say about this WHY.

What Scientists Say

 Many scientists, the most logical, rational people, have disregarded the question itself. One of the most elite evolutionary biologists – Richard Dawkins said that asking WHY is a pompous question. The people dependent on science believes that all we can measure is the process i.e. the HOW of life, not the WHY, not until now.
 Physicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson explains the ‘why’ questions to be limitless, and many a times, even senseless. Because there will be a point when asking ‘why’ would become inevitably unanswerable. For example,

Question: Why do things fall down and not up?
Answer: Gravity pulls objects with mass towards itself.
Question: Why does gravity pull?
Answer: Because that is its nature.
Question: Why is the nature of gravity made to pull, not push?
Answer: …

 The bottom line is, we might keep asking ‘why’ to the point when there is no answer discovered yet. This is what Mr. Neil Tyson says. But hang on, do you notice the answers here? It’s not actually answering the ‘reason’ behind the effect/gravity. Rather the ‘process’ until we haven’t discovered the further mechanism of gravity. (Read the above example again.) That’s not how you answer ‘Why’. My simple understanding of this is – where the HOW ends, WHY begins.
 In simpler words, when we reach to an optimum answer of the process, like “how gravity works” – now we enter a phase where we need an answer to “why does it work that way ?”. But again, science tries to answer even that question with another deeper process-oriented answer.

My Curious Mind is not satisfied. Here’s why –

 Imagine being handed a book, best-seller, praiseworthy. Science can tell you the ink, the paper, the binding process. But not – ‘why that book was written in the first place?’.
 Trust me, my dear brothers and sisters, knowing the actual ‘why’ is important; not because I say so. It is logically crucial because once a human is separated from the purpose he is here for, we tend to live lives out of our mere animosity i.e. the animal nature. Which means, we wake up in the morning, go out to earn money for food and shelter, consume that earning and return to sleep. In other words, we become nothing more than eat-sleep-repeat.
 So, if I change ‘why’ with other questioning words, it would still sound something that a ‘process’ cannot justify. Try answering it for yourself –

• Is this highly powerful mind given to us to live our lives for eat-sleep-repeat?
• What is different between us and other species on this planet?
• If the evolution is branched, how the intelligence did not grow in directions other than humans? Coincidence?
• Is the difference all about intelligence, wearing clothes, earning money to hunt food and communication?

The Philosophy of the Question

 Coming to philosophers, there are multiple philosophies answering this very question of ‘Why Are You?!’ . But this makes it multi-choice.

 Aristotle says, ‘Achieving well-being and living in harmony with nature’. Immanuel Kant proposed, ‘Moral duty and reason is the Purpose’. While, a few modern philosophers like Jean Paul and Albert Camus completely rejects a defined purpose of life. They rather say that every human should create their own purpose, their own ‘why’.

 Here are my thoughts for some –

Aristotle: The Purpose is to Achieve well-being and live in harmony with nature.
 ‘Achieve Well-being’ – how broad is that spectrum. Though this purpose fits very well with morality and humanity yet the meaning of well-being differs from person to person. For some, it’s fame and/or money, for others it’s love, children, societal acceptance, respect, happiness, etc. And to achieve their personalized well-being, many suffer and still fail to achieve it. If the first isn’t fulfilled, how can one live in harmony with nature? Genuine question.

Immanuel Kant: The Purpose is based on moral duty and reason.

 If I have to choose any of the philosopher-proposed definitions, this would be it. When you talk about reason, it is very much evident that it can be logically understood with humane capacity. But I differ too, a little.

 Morality like many people think, is not limited to kindness and empathy. This can definitely exist without moral laws or religion. Because it’s in human nature – that’s humanity.

 Talking on a global scale, perspective differs when it comes to (cultural) dressing, cooking food, government policies and taxes, relationship requirements, gender equality, etc. How can simple kindness and empathy (moral duty) deal with complex morality standards? Someone in the society will have to make rules, some had to follow, some have to sacrifice their desires for happiness.

Jean Paul, Albert Camus: Every human should create their own purpose.

 Let’s keep the previous argument aside (i.e. global difference of perspective). And let’s assume for once, everyone is having their own personalized purpose without a defined set of rules and morality by anyone or anything. But then, this would include criminals and psychopaths too. Who are we to say that their purpose (ex. Killing someone) is against morality? Because, we cannot rule-out who is eligible to define his/her own purpose. Perhaps, why would anyone follow the law and order or any man-made rule.

 Precisely, a purpose cannot be self-defined. Logically asking, what do you think of these theories?

Can Religion Satisfy the Question

 Some humans answer with faith. They say: “We are created by God, placed here with intention.” While some others say, “Belief without reflection turns blind. Reflection without belief turns empty.”
 There are over 4000+ religions around the globe. And which one satisfies the need and purpose of purpose – difficult to research for every person.
 To solve this issue, I went on to check the World’s major religions, and their theories of life and death and… WHY. Cannot list all, but here’s what I majorly agree and disagree with religious ideologies.
 Yes, we’re not here to be social animals, I agree. We are here for a higher purpose that aligns with the higher-level thinking that our brains are capable of. But there’s more. Because I’m someone who questions both – to science, “Why?” and to religion, “How?”
 Think about it. You and I did not choose to be here. We woke up to a life already in motion. The sun was already shining, the earth already spinning. And before we even knew how to ask, we were handed identities, languages, cultures, rules. But when you begin to ponder, there sits the raw, unshakable question: Why are you?!
 What we need is not to silence one voice for the other, but to bring them together, so that science explains the how, and faith reveals the why. Let’s take the previous example.

Question: "Why gravity works the way it does?”
Answer: Because, it is for stability. For humans and other living, non-living creatures to stick to the ground and work with efficiency. So that, nothing floats randomly in air.

 Much better, isn’t it? This answer is not giving us a process, but a reason – the answer to ‘why’. No man of reason would further query the senseless WHYs.
 And that is the core of this journey – our journey. To realize that we are not random. We are not a meaningless accident drifting in space. We are a being of consciousness – capable of love, justice, sacrifice, and reflection.

What seems Logical, Comforting, and All-Encompassing

 The danger today is not that we don’t have answers. The danger is that we have stopped asking. Where most religions do not allow to question the Divinity, while science do not let us ask Why.

 We live in comfort, in routine, in endless consumption, without once facing the mirror of existence. We rush to build higher towers, stronger weapons, faster networks. But all without answering the child’s question echoing inside us: Why are you?! And so, let’s answer the most basic, most crucial question.

 After analysing and studying the world’s major theories and religions with respect to Purpose, the logical conclusion derived is that –

• A purpose in life should be defined enough for no crimes to exist within it.
• It should be broad enough for the whole mankind – personalized.
• It should not stop one from reasoning/questioning.

 Having this basic need in mind, any man of reason would rather agree, or at least try to comprehend the deep meaning given by one religion. This one definition of purpose is highly convincing to me that seems logical, comforting, and all-encompassing. And trust me when I say, this is not just belief. I’ve come to this conclusion after researching and counter-questioning this religion –

Surat-ul-Asr recitation

 “By the Time, indeed mankind is in grave Loss, except for those who believe, do good deeds, call towards Truth and call towards patience.” (Al-Qur’an: Chp. 103: Vrs. 1-3)

 For detailed analysis of this definition of Purpose click here.

 Briefly stating, Allah (s.w.t.) firstly swears by the ‘time’, in which every physical entity is trapped. We cannot rewind or erase what has been done. And for the same reason, the mankind – us, is in grave… severe loss. Because once, this ticking clock gets to zero, we cannot fulfil what has been left undone or, wrongly done.

 This looks like a threat, doesn’t it? So, what’s the remedy? Surprisingly to me, Allah did not leave us confused. The very next verse gives us the actual meaning to our animal existence, ‘except for those who believe, do good deeds, call towards Truth and call towards patience’.

• Believing in Allah – For hope and for good and bad. And for the ultimate relief (well-being) that cannot be achieve in this life of suffering.
• Do good deeds – That does not allow criminals to add their personalized Ikigai in this. Also, in Islam, thinking, pondering or reasoning is promoted and is ranked among the greatest good deeds – (Ulul-Albaab). So, this condition satisfies two of the criteria for a Purpose.
• Call towards Truth – It invites those who are unaware and lost.
• Call towards Patience – Now this is the answer to all suffering that people usually ask, “If God exists, why so much suffering?” Though the last two are also among the good deeds, but these acts are separately mentioned because of its importance.

 Now why this works for me and 2 billion other people? Because it has an ‘AND’ condition between all four criteria. That clearly means that even if one fails to achieve any one (after being given enough life to achieve it) will fail the entire test. It also includes those who believe but do not do good deeds; or those who do good deeds but do not call others towards it. And the same goes for patience in the times of sufferings.

 What do you think? Does this very verse complete the entire spectrum and need of purpose?

 One of the greatest Muslim scholars, Imam Shafa’i (r.h.a.) famously said that this small chapter, Surat-ul-Asr is sufficient for the guidance of mankind, emphasizing its comprehensive nature as a summary of the entire Qur’an’s essence.

 My message to you is simple. Don’t settle for shallow living. Don’t let life pass you in a blur of deadlines and distractions. Dare to pause and reflect. In prayer and in science, in silence and in dialogue, seek your answer. Because without meaning, even paradise feels empty. But with meaning, even suffering has purpose.

 Every human being is writing a story, whether they realize it or not. And when the final page is written, it will not matter how much you owned, or how many applauded you. What will matter is whether you discovered your why.
Remember -

• Surat-ul-Asr recitation
• Surat-ul-Asr Detailed Analysis (Article)
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 Follow this space as I continue to explore the question. And what do you think defines our purpose? Comment below.