will and hath a free choice. But they, the false gods, have no power to choose.' ¹

In both of these passages as well as in many others the word 'create' does not carry us back to the beginning of all things, but refers to the life-history of the world, all whose events are the creation of God. He not merely at some time in the distant past created the world, but He now rules it by continuing to create.

In this providential government of the world the divine purpose may be expressed by a spoken command. 'His command when He willeth aught, is but to say to it BE and IT IS.' ²

In other passages the words of command are represented as written. 'If all the trees that are upon the Earth were to become pens, and if God should after that swell the sea into seven seas of ink, His Words would not be exhausted: for God is Mighty, Wise.' ³ 'And with Him are the keys of the secret things; none knoweth them but He: He knoweth whatever is on the land and in the sea; and no leaf falleth but He knoweth it; neither is there a grain in the darknesses of the earth, nor a green thing or sere, but it is noted in a distinct writing.' ⁴ 'There is no moving thing on earth whose nourishment dependeth not on God; He knoweth its haunts and final resting place: all is in the clear Book.''

It is to be noted that these passages do not refer to the divine decrees. The 'words' which are here referred to are the creative words whereby God brings to pass whatsoever He wills. The teaching of the verses quoted may be summarized thus: The creative power of the Most High is infinite.¹ All things not merely happen in accordance with God's will, the expression of which forms a written record of all that comes to pass, but nothing can happen without its being recorded.²

This record is what may be called, for want of a better expression, a day-book of the continuous commands of God whereby all things came to pass. In another passage we find: 'No mischance chanceth either on the earth or in your persons, but ere We created them, it was in the Book: — for this is easy to God.' ³ This verse is often taken as a 'proof-text' of the doctrine of Predestination; but when it is properly considered it is seen to refer to this same 'day-book' of the divine actions.

6. We see then that by Muhammad no clear distinction is drawn between the nature of those actions which are strictly creative and of those that deal with the providential ruling and governing of the world. All God's acts are creative. His providential dealings are all the outcome or result of the divine will, which act of will is frequently, if not regularly, described as a divine decree. This aspect of the teaching of the Qur'an must be carefully noted, for it has an important bearing on the interpretation of many passages which