that surah is the Opening of the Book and the Mother of the Quran. He therefore places first in it the intended end, which is the final cause, for it is an efficient cause of the final cause. I have explained this meaning at length in several places: at the beginning of the “Quran Commentary,” in “A Treatise on Love and Will,” and elsewhere.

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People recognize their need for and dependence upon the Lord before recognizing their need for and dependence upon God as the One to be worshipped, and they seek to meet their immediate needs before their future ones. Thus, their acknowledgment of Allah’s lordship precedes their acknowledgment of His divinity. They supplicate to Him, seek His help, and put their trust in Him more often than they worship Him and turn to Him in repentance. This is precisely why He sent the messengers to call them to worship Allah alone, without any partner: this is the intended end, which necessarily entails acknowledging His lordship. He has told us concerning them:

“If you ask them who created them, they will surely say, ‘Allah.’”

He also tells us that when adversity befalls them, those they call upon vanish from their thoughts—all but Him. And He says:

“When waves like canopies engulf them, they call upon Allah, devoting their religion sincerely to Him.”

Thus, He states that they acknowledge His lordship and devote their religion sincerely to Him when they are afflicted by