e with the various controversies which have thus
arisen is necessary to a correct knowledge of Islam. I commence the
consideration of this subject by giving the substance of a Sunni, or
orthodox treatise known as the Risala-i-Berkevi. The learned orientalist M.
Garcin de Tassy, considered it to be of such authority that in his
"L'Islamisme d'apres le Coran" he has inserted a translation of the
Risala.[103] Muhammad Al-Berkevi, speaking of the Divine attributes,
says:--

(1). Life. (Hyat). God Most High is alone to be adored. He has neither
associate nor equal. He is free from the imperfections of humanity. He
is neither begotten nor does He beget. He is invisible. He is without
figure, form, colour or parts. His existence has neither beginning nor
end. He is immutable. If He so wills, He can annihilate the world in a
moment of time and, if it seem good to Him, recreate it in an instant.
Nothing is difficult to Him, whether it be the creation of a fly or
that of the seven heavens. He receives neither profit nor loss from
whatever may happen. If all the Infidels became Believers and all the
irreligious pious, He would gain no advantage. On the other hand, if
all Believers became Infidels, He would suffer no loss.

(2). Knowledge. ('Ilm). He has knowledge of all things hidden or
manifest, whether in heaven or on earth. He knows the number of the
leaves of the trees, of the grains of wheat and of sand. Events past
and future are known to Him. He knows what enters into the heart of man
and what he utters with his mouth. He alone, except those to whom He
has revealed them, knows the invisible things. He is free from
forgetfulness, negligence and error. His knowledge is eternal: it is
not posterior to His essence.

(3). Power. (Qudrat). He is Almighty. If He wills, He can raise the
dead, make stones talk, trees walk, annihilate the heavens and the
earth and recreate of gold or of silver thousands similar to those
destroyed. He can transport a man in a moment of time from the east to
the west, or from the west to the east, or to the seventh heaven. His
power is eternal a priori and a posteriori. It is not posterior to His
essence.

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(4). Will (Iradah). He can do what He wills, and whatever He wills
comes to pass. He is not obliged to act. Everything, good or evil, in
this world exists by His will. H