Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 235
235 relations is regarded as the most important of the physi- cal needs of man. In this chapter the social relations of man are classified under three heads each of which has special reference to one of the Divine attributes. The first division has special reference to the Divine attribute of Providence, and comprises family, tribal or national relations, including relationship by blood or marriage and the bond of brotherhood established by residence in the same country or province. The second division comprises the relationship of sovereign and subject, and master and servant, and has reference to the Divine attribute of Mastership. The third division comprises international and inter-communal relations, and has reference to the attribute of Godhead. The attribute of Providence illustrates the relations which ought to exist between members of the same family, tribe or nation. The attribute of Mastership illustrates the relations between sovereign and subject, master and servant; and the attribute of Godhead illustrates the relations between people of different nationalities and different religions. I shall deal with each of these classes or divisions in the order just mentioned. So far as the relations between different members of the family are concerned, the most important relationship is that subsisting be- tween husband and wife, for on this depends the welfare of the whole family and in the long run the welfare of the whole nation. The first rule laid down by Islam in this connection is that this relationship ought to be based primarily on moral considerations and not on considerations of beauty, wealth, or rank. The Holy