increase in knowledge and power until he reaches perfection. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, thus explained that Adam was created with complete and perfect knowledge and power from the very outset. His statement, “Allah created Adam in his image,” means that He created him from the outset with the attributes he possessed at the end.

Moreover, it is quite possible that the word “image” includes his being blessed or wretched, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The blessed is he who is blessed in his mother’s womb, and the wretched is he who is wretched in his mother’s womb.” Thus, the statement of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him,