The second sign mentioned is that God has created humans in pairs and instilled love and affection between both elements of these pairs. The words used for this are: khalaqa lakum min anfusikum azwājan litaskunū ilayha wa ja‘ala baynakum mawaddatan wa rahmatan (He has made your pairs from your own species so that you can receive comfort from them and has created love and affection between you). The meaning is that God did not create humankind in a singular form, but rather in two different genders, male and female. Both are equal in terms of their soul and psyche, but they possess differences and diverse aspects in terms of their physical attributes and functional characteristics. Despite this gender difference, their needs are interdependent, and they have been endowed with feelings of closeness, love, and compassion for each other. From this expansion, families and societies have come into existence.
Javed Ahmed Ghamidi writes regarding this sign:
That is, mankind was not created as a single gender, but rather in the form of two genders, and each was endowed with distinct individual characteristics. Yet, a compatibility was established between them such that both derive comfort and solace from each other. A sentiment of love and mercy was instilled within them that draws them towards one another and makes them lifelong well-wishers, empathetic sharers of pains and pleasures. (Al-Bayan 4/52)
Imam Amin Ahsan Islahi has elucidated this verse as four distinct signs. He writes:
There is a clear sign in this matter that Allah Almighty has created everything in this universe in pairs, and every entity fulfills its purpose in existence by uniting with its pair. This indicates that this world also has a pair, which is called the Hereafter. The fulfillment of the purpose of this world is achieved through this very Hereafter. The second sign in this is that our Creator is exceedingly compassionate and loving. When He instilled in us the desire for a pair, He created our pair from our own kind, and then He endowed both with the feelings of love and compassion so that they may live as two bodies with a single soul. The third sign is that within the opposites of this universe, there exists a profound harmony and a deep compatibility for a higher purpose, which is a very clear indication that its Creator and Owner is one, who brings harmony in the opposites of this universe under His wisdom. The fourth sign in this is that the idea of those people is utterly foolish, who think that the evolution of this universe happened by itself. If its evolution happened by itself, then where did this astonishing harmony among its opposites come from? This is clear evidence that there is an Omnipotent and Wise entity, which is running this entire system under His wisdom. (Tadabbur-e-Qur’an 6/85)