Did god create us to suffer on earth or to work for the hereafter?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

Allaah created people for a great wisdom which is achieving full submission to Him. Allaah says: {And I (Allaah) created not the Jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).}[51:56].

In fact, Allaah subjugated all creatures to human beings as well as Jinns to enable them to eat, drink, cloth, dwell, travel, etc. in order to achieve this great objective which is to submit fully and unconditionally to Allaah.

On the other hand, this life is a life of trials, temptations and afflictions. It has happiness as it has misery; it has comfort as it has distress. So, what befalls the Muslim (trials, fatigue, and shortcomings) is an expiation for his/her sins and a way of raising high his rank. Ahmad and At-Tirmithi reported from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said: "Trials keep befalling the Muslim in his own self, his children and his wealth until he meets Allaah clear of sins."

So, trials are a means to achieve the goal for which the person was created.

Know also that what distinguishes the good believer from others is that he is either having blessings bestowed on him or being tried. In both cases, he is a winner, as he thanks his Lord for blessings and bear trials patiently. Muslim, reported that the Prophet, said: "How wonderful is the matter of the believer! Every matter of his is good. This is for no one except the believers. When a good thing happens to him he thanks Allaah and that is good for him. If he is afflicted with a misfortune he remains patient and that is good for him."

So, Allaah created us to worship Him alone and everything that happens to us while fulfilling that mission is good whether it is joyful or distressful.

Allaah knows best.