Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 16

(Ayah 16){ وَ مَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَآءَ وَ الْاَرْضَ … :} In the previous verses, the destruction of the oppressive towns was mentioned; now its wisdom is explained, that it is not the case that We created this earth and sky in play, so that people may commit oppression and tyranny as they wish and there be no accountability for them. Rather, in their creation there are countless wisdoms and benefits of Ours, and in the universe, the process of reward or punishment for every action is ongoing. Therefore, if these oppressors were destroyed, it was in complete accordance with the law of justice and reward and punishment. You should prepare for accountability in the next life.

16. 1 Rather, it has many purposes and wisdoms, for example, that the servants may remember and thank Me, that the righteous may be rewarded for their good deeds, and the wicked may be punished for their evil deeds, etc.

And We did not create the heavens, the earth, and whatever is between them merely as a play [14].

[14]
In What Sense is the World a Play and Amusement?

Worldly people and those heedless of Allah’s remembrance have always thought that this world is nothing but a play and amusement. They believe that we have been created here for luxury and pleasure. Therefore, every person has the right to acquire as much luxury and pleasure for himself as he can, in whatever way he can. In other words, the ultimate goal of worldly people is just this. Moreover, Allah Almighty has also, in several places, described the world as a play and amusement, but only from the aspect that this short-lived world, in comparison to the Hereafter, is like a play and amusement. Because it is destined to perish after a short time, while the life of the Hereafter is everlasting and enduring. Therefore, you should focus all your attention not on the world, but on the Hereafter. Here, at this place, it is not only about the life of this world, but about the entire system of the universe, that it has not been created as a play. This includes the life of this world, which is sustained by the earth and the heavens. And all of man’s needs are dependent on the earth, air, sun, clouds, etc. When the noblest of creation, i.e., man, was created on earth, it was not just so that he, considering it a play and amusement, could live here however he wished and then depart from here without any accountability. Nor is it that the Creator of the universe merely watches this spectacle, seeing how people oppress one another in this world, and considers it only a means of amusement for Himself. As used to happen in the Roman arena, where humans were made to fight with beasts, and the way the beasts would tear humans apart, the king and his courtiers would watch this scene and be pleased, considering it a source of amusement. This is absolutely not the case. If Allah had only intended amusement, there could have been many other ways in which there would not have been even a trace of oppression and injustice, nor would there have been any need to create a conscious, intelligent, and free-willed creature like man.