The Meaning of Life from the Viewpoint of Islamic Philosophy

The question of the meaning of life is one of the fundamental issues that humanity was asking since the beginning of its creation. Among various approaches to addressing the issue of meaning of existence, one of the primary methods is the philosophical ap- proach. Meanwhile, Islamic philosophy, when confronted with the question of the mean- ing of life, establishes its foundation upon the understanding of human capacities and capabilities. It asserts that the answer to the question of the origin of life can only be achieved through recognizing human nature, which with its faculty of intellect, tends to discover truth and the meaning of life. Islamic philosophy does not view human life as separate from the system of the universe. Instead, it seeks to find the meaning of life within this framework and a specific context. The significance, value, and credibility of human life are based on its interpretation of the universe and its connection to the ultimate purpose. Therefore, meaningfulness is contingent upon the humans' relationship with the ultimate purpose of the universe. In this article, I examine the perspective of Islamic phi- losophy on the meaning of life based on its definition of the human being and the universe.