His acts, “Why?”, we have merely ruled out asking “Why?” This denies the questioners’ knowledge of the ultimate purpose intended by the act—the purpose that could serve as an answer to “Why?” It is expressed in the answer, “For such-and-such a purpose.” When the preposition lām (“for”) is omitted, this purpose takes the accusative as an expression of purpose, provided that it is a verbal noun denoting an action performed by the same agent as the act being explained, and occurring at the same time. Thus, one says, “I did this seeking Allah’s Countenance,” and similar expressions.

With lām, however, one may express either the intended purpose itself or the intention and pursuit of it. Thus, one says, “I did this for Allah,” or “to seek Allah’s Countenance.” But when lām is omitted, the accusative can express only a motive present in the agent, such as desire, aversion, or something that entails either. Thus, one says, “He stayed away from battle out of cowardice,” because cowardice entails dislike and aversion. Likewise, the poet says:

“I forgive the noble man’s offensive words, to keep him in reserve;
And turn away from the base man’s censure, out of generosity of spirit.”