Does Islam address those profound existential questions—Where did we come from? Why are we here in this world? What happens after we die?

Existential questions are profound inquiries concerning the nature, meaning, and purpose of human existence. Human beings have been asking themselves these questions for as long as they have been capable of thought and reflection. Islam addresses the three most pressing of these questions succinctly in a single verse of the Noble Qurʾān. Our Lord, Glory be to Him, says: {And why should I not worship the One Who has originated me, and to Whom you will be returned} (Qurʾān 36:22). Where did I come from? Allāh created me. Why am I here in this world? I am here to worship Allāh and to be tested. What happens after I die? I will return to my Creator and be held accountable for my deeds. Why do I worship Allāh? It is natural for a servant to worship the Lord Who created them. This sentence, mentioned in Sūrat Yā-Sīn and spoken by a servant of Allāh who was calling their people to follow Allāh’s Messengers, is a masterpiece of reasoning and preaching wisdom. First, this righteous person affirmed that worshipping the Creator is a requirement of both reason and human nature; it is utterly irrational for someone to reject servitude to the One Who created them and instead worship those who did not create them. Second, they reminded their people that everyone will eventually die and return to the very Lord they refused to serve.