Aristotle and his followers affirmed (1) the First Cause only insofar as it is (2) a final cause (3) in relation to the motion of the celestial sphere. For in their view, the celestial sphere moves voluntarily, just as a human being does, and voluntary movement must have an intended object; the First Cause is therefore what it seeks.

[What this means, in their view, is that the celestial sphere moves in order to resemble (4) the First Cause, like someone following his imam and one emulating (5) his exemplar. This is what they mean by comparing it to the way a beloved moves a lover. They do not mean that the essence of Allah itself sets the celestial sphere in motion. They mean only that the celestial sphere seeks to become like Him insofar as possible. This is false for several reasons, the full discussion of which belongs elsewhere.] (6)

They therefore said: “The First Cause—which is (7) that for whose sake the celestial sphere moves (8)—is its cause and moves it (9), just as a lover moves toward his beloved (10). It is like a man who craves food (11) and reaches out his hand for it, or who sees someone he loves and hastens toward him. That (12) beloved is the mover because the person in motion loves him, not because the beloved originated or performed the movement.”