The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 164
PREFACE ESSENCE OF ISLAM 163 not born from it. Human nature has within it the capacity of 600 eggs. A person whose 600 eggs of capability are sheltered under the 600 wings of Jibra'il is the perfect human whose spiritual birth is perfect and whose life is perfect. Careful consideration reveals that the spiritual children of the egg of humanness—who were born through the Holy Spirit by the bless- ing of following the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him- —are more perfect and complete than the spiritual chil- dren of all other Prophets, whether in their number or in their quality, appearance, nature, or condition. It is to this that Allah, glorified be His eminence, alludes when He says: كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ Meaning that: You are the best of people because you have been created for the reformation of mankind. In reality, the extent of the special excellences of Quranic teach- ings bears witness to the excellent qualities of this blessed Ummah because the Books revealed by Allah, glorified be His eminence, inevi- tably descend only to the measure to which the people who are charged with carrying out the commandments possess the ability to do so. For example, all authorities agree that the teachings of the Gospel are not perfect; it continuously emphasises just one aspect, ignoring the other side altogether. In reality, this is the fault of the capacity of those for whom the Gospel was revealed. As God Almighty has advanced human faculties through a process of evolution, many of the people of earlier times were comparatively weaker in intelligence, sagacity, and understanding. They were frail-hearted, weak of resolve, poor of faith, and low in thinking. They were entangled in worldly greed. Their intel- lectual and mental powers were very weak. But then came the time of our Chief and Leader, the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of 1. Surah Al-e-Imran, 3:111 [Publisher]