Section: On the meaning of “Praise be to Allah, Lord of all beings”

Allah, exalted is He, says at the very beginning of the surah, “All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all beings” (Q 1:2). He thus opens with two Names: Allah and the Lord.

“Allah” is the sole deity worthy of worship, so this Name is most deserving of acts of worship. Hence we say: “Allahu akbar,” “al-ḥamdu li-llāh,” “subḥāna-llāh,” and “lā ilāha illā-llāh.”

The “Lord” (rabb) is the One who nurtures, creates, provides, helps, and guides. This Name, therefore, is most fitting when seeking assistance or making requests. Thus the Qur’an says, “My Lord, forgive me and my parents” (Q 71:28); “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we shall surely be among the losers” (Q 7:23); “My Lord, I have wronged myself, so forgive me” (Q 28:16); “Our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excesses in our affair” (Q 3:147); “Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or err” (Q 2:286). In short, virtually every sanctioned plea and request for aid is framed with the Name Rabb.

The first Name, then, embraces the servant’s ultimate goal, his destiny and end, the very purpose for which he was created and that in which his welfare and perfection lie, while the second—