A Study of the Purposes of Human Creation from the Perspective of Islam and Zoroastrianism

Islam and Zoroastrianism have set a goal or some goals for the creation of man. Using the original and sacred sources of both religions, this descriptive-analytical article examines the purposes of human creation. In Islam, the main goal is to be close to God. Through closeness to God, man reaches existential perfection, knows and worships Him, and can be God's caliph on earth. In contrast, in Zoroastrianism, the main goal is to eradicate evil from the universe, and man is regraded to be created for this reason. Achieving true perfection and individual happiness and prosperity in the world is possible only through the eradication of evil. The important difference between Islam and Zoroastrianism in this regard is the rationality of the ultimate goal of human creation, i.e. nearness to God in Islam, and its being based on mythology in Zoroastrianism.