The Purpose of Creation in Christian and Islamic Views
Senior 1 · Religion and Ethics
The Purpose of Creation in Christian and Islamic Views
Lesson 4 of 4
18 min
Rwanda has banned plastic bags, and on the last Saturday of every month citizens clean streets and plant trees during umuganda. Why should believers care about such things? Because Christianity and Islam teach that knowing the purpose of creation must change the way people live: how they worship, work, use the earth and treat one another.
Christians pray, read the Bible and worship together, especially on Sunday; Muslims pray five times a day and gather for Friday prayer. Both teach that the whole of life can be offered to God: "And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men" (Colossians 3:23).
"The earth is the LORD’s, with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell in it." (Psalm 24:1). People are its stewards, not its owners. The Qur'an warns: "Corruption doth appear on land and sea because of (the evil) which men’s hands have done" (Qur'an 30:41), and calls for balance: "And the sky He hath uplifted; and He hath set the measure, That ye exceed not the measure, But observe the measure strictly, nor fall short thereof." (Qur'an 55:7–9). The Prophet Muhammad taught that when a Muslim plants a tree and a person, bird or animal eats from it, it counts as charity for him (reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim).
In Rwanda: planting trees, protecting forests such as Nyungwe, keeping rivers and Lake Kivu clean, avoiding plastic, and taking part in umuganda. The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) oversees environmental protection.
"O Children of Adam! Look to your adornment at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but be not prodigal." (Qur'an 7:31). Prodigal means wasteful. After Jesus fed a great crowd, he told his disciples: "Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost." (John 6:12)
God put the first man in the garden "to cultivate and keep it" (Genesis 2:15): work is part of human purpose. Paul wrote: "If anyone is not willing to work, don’t let him eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The Prophet Muhammad taught that nobody eats better food than what he has earned by the work of his own hands (reported by al-Bukhari).
"Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God?" (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Qur'an says: "be not cast by your own hands to ruin; and do good." (Qur'an 2:195). Both faiths therefore reject drug abuse and anything that destroys the body God has given.
Because every person is created by God and honoured by him (Genesis 1:27; Qur'an 17:70), living by the purpose of creation means respecting everyone, whatever the person's background.
| For the individual | For society and the world |
|---|---|
| life has meaning and direction | natural resources are used carefully and last for future generations |
| peace of mind and a clear conscience | a cleaner, healthier environment |
| discipline and hard work lead to self-reliance | development through honest, hard work |
| preparation for accountability before God | respect for life and dignity, and unity among people |
Question: Explain three ways in which a Rwandan student can live according to the purpose of creation. (6 marks)
Model answer: First, by caring for the environment: planting trees during umuganda and not littering plastic, because people are stewards of God's earth (Genesis 2:15) and must not spread corruption on land and sea (Qur'an 30:41) (2 marks). Second, by working hard at school, since work is part of human purpose: "work heartily, as for the Lord" (Colossians 3:23) (2 marks). Third, by avoiding waste of food, water and electricity, as Qur'an 7:31 says "eat and drink, but be not prodigal" (2 marks).
Tip
Memory hook: W-E-W-W-R-R. Worship, Environment, avoid Waste, Work, Respect the body, Respect people. In an exam, give the action, a text from one faith, and a Rwandan example.
What does "prodigal" mean in Qur'an 7:31?
Answer: wasteful. The verse tells believers to eat and drink but not to waste.
Quote Psalm 24:1.
Answer: "The earth is the LORD’s, with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell in it."
Give two ways in which Rwandans care for the environment.
Answer (any two): planting trees; umuganda; the ban on plastic bags; protecting forests such as Nyungwe; keeping rivers and lakes clean.
Why do both faiths reject drug abuse?
Answer: the body is a gift from God: a "temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19); the Qur'an says "be not cast by your own hands to ruin" (Qur'an 2:195).
Give two reasons why living according to the purpose of creation is important for society.
Answer (any two): resources last for future generations; the environment stays clean and healthy; hard work brings development; people respect life and one another, which builds unity.
Remember
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