Why Mankind Needs Religion
Religion is necessary for the interpretation of life, guiding people and leading mankind to salvation in this world and the next.
Religion is among man’s spiritual needs and has a fundamental role in life as it gives purpose to people’s life and sets the ground for them to believe in God and in the Resurrection Day.
Such a belief makes enduring problems and hardships meaningful and gives man calm and peace. Verse 40 of Surah Al-An’am says:
“(Muhammad), say to them, ‘Should God afflict you with torment, or should the Day of Judgment arrive, if what you claim is true, could you then seek help from any one other than God?’”
Man cannot live without religion in anyway just as he is a social being and cannot live in isolation. He has a Fitrat that seeks religion and without it cannot live a good and correct life.
Also, there is no other reason strong enough to lead one to resort to God in times of hardship and problems.
God says in verse 65 of Surah Al-Ankabut: “When they sail in a boat, they sincerely pray to God with pure faith. But when We bring them safely to land, they start considering things equal to God.”
As the Creator is compassionate and merciful and omniscient, He sent religion to make people’s life purposeful, orderly and law-abiding. Another point in this verse is that getting saved from difficulties and problems is a reason for being thankful not for Shirk (disbelief).
When in safety and welfare, man is normally neglectful but when he faces hardships and problems in life, his God-seeking Fitrat awakens and he prays to God.
Overall, it can be said that by teaching about God, the Resurrection Day and the philosophy of man’s creation, religion gives meaning to life.
