World created for purpose beyond itself
Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 463
٤٦٣. وَقَالَ (عليه السلام): الدُّنْيَا خُلِقَتْ لِغَيْرِهَا، ولَمْ تُخْلَقْ لِنَفْسِهَا.
463. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: This world has been created for other than itself and has not been created for itself.