[1391] The Arabs of that time, like many people nowadays, did not deny that ‘Allah’ was their sole Lord (known as tawḥīd al-rubūbiyyah) Whom they turned to in hard times, but what they denied was His sole Godhood (known as tawḥīd al-ulūhiyyah), i.e. that He is the only God worthy of worship. Discourse here draws their attention to this fact in argument against them (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī).
[1392] That is they summon up their most sincere prayers in true humbleness and whole-heartedly as people would do in hard times, yet once their prayers are answered, they renege on their promise to God.