their hearts to knowing Him, loving Him, and turning to Him in repentance; who has opened for His servants the doors of mercy and varied provision, and provided them with the means by which they attain the good of this world and the Hereafter1.

His granting of openings takes two forms:

The first is through His religious rulings and His judgments of recompense.

The second is through His decrees.

His opening through His religious rulings consists in His prescribing, through His messengers, everything that those accountable before Him need and by which they remain steadfast on the straight path. His opening through recompense consists in His judging between His prophets and their opponents, and between His allies and His enemies, by honouring and saving the prophets and their followers, and humiliating and punishing their enemies. Likewise, He will judge between all creatures on the Day of Resurrection, when everyone will be fully recompensed for their deeds. His opening through His decrees consists in whatever He decrees for His servants of good and evil, benefit and harm, giving and withholding. Allah Most High says:

“Whatever mercy Allah opens up for people, none can withhold; and whatever He withholds, none can release thereafter. And He is the Almighty, the All-Wise.” 2.

Thus, the Lord Most High is the Opener, the All-Knowing, who opens the treasuries of His bounty and generosity to His obedient servants, and unleashes the opposite upon His enemies, in accordance with His bounty and justice3.