The Honour of Prophets — Page 9
9 always enduring but artificial relations are not, for the latter lack the attraction which characterizes the former. Hence, God instilled a natural love in Adam, as it ought to have been, on both fronts; i. e. love for God and love for humanity. So it is clearly evident from this exposition that the perfect man who is capable of being an interces sor must be one who partakes perfectly of both these relationships. Without these two forms of excellence no man can be perfect. It is for this reason that after Adam the practice of Allah ordained that both these relation ships were necessary for all the exemplary men who could serve as intercessors after him: firstly, a relation ship on account of the breathing of the heavenly spirit into them, enabling the establishment of a union with God as if He actually descended upon them; and sec ondly, the bond of human companionship, which had its origins in the mutual love and sympathy between Adam and Eve, and with which their characters resplendently shined to the greatest extent. This was also the reason they entered into ties of matrimony. This is the foremost sign that they possess a spirit of sympathy for mankind. Furthermore, this is the very fact that is indicated in the Hadith, which is as follows: