• Who created us?
Allah, All the glory be to Him, the Most Exalted ﴿اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ﴾

• Why?
To worship Him alone and associate nothing with Him ﴿وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ﴾

• How do we worship Him?
By believing in what He has commanded, and by doing and saying what Allah loves and is pleased with ﴿وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ﴾

• How do we know what Allah loves?
By reading the Qur’an and following the guidance of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ﴿أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ﴾

• Why the Qur’an specifically, and not any other book?
Because the Qur’an is the word of Allah ﴿حَتَّىٰ يَسْمَعَ كَلَامَ اللَّهِ﴾

• Then why do we face hardships even when we are trying to please Allah?
Because life is a test; hardships distinguish those who are patient and steadfast in obeying Allah from those who don't. ﴿وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ...﴾

• So how do we live through this test?

With integrity: Do what is right even when no human being is watching ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَيْبِ﴾

With accountability: Take responsibility for your choices; no excuses and no blaming others ﴿كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ رَهِينَةٌ﴾

Be a leader, not a follower: Think for yourself, hold firmly to what is right, and lead by example through your actions ﴿ فَيَقُولُ الضُّعَفَاءُ لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًا ﴾

Stay in control of yourself: You may not be able to control everything that happens around you, but you can control how you respond to it; if you do not control yourself, something or someone else will control you ﴿وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ﴾

Do not surrender to failure: As long as you are sincerely trying, you have not failed; you either succeed, or you learn, grow, and try again ﴿وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا﴾

Respect others and demand respect: Treat people with dignity, and protect your own dignity as well ﴿وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ﴾

Guard your tongue: Words are powerful; they can heal or hurt, build or destroy, so think before you speak, and speak the truth even in times of hardship ﴿وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا﴾

Be patient, trust Allah, hold firmly to His guidance, keep doing what is right, and never stop moving forward ﴿اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ﴾