Remember Him, and He Will Remember You
“So remember me, and I will remember you, and thank Me and do not be ungrateful to me” (Quran 2:152).
In this verse from the holy Quran, Allah the Most High promises us a promise that Arab linguists tell us is solemn and absolute, that every time we remember Allah, Allah will, in turn, remember us. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) echoes this covenant and reiterates it in no uncertain terms, that whenever we mention Allah, no matter how fleeting, no matter how briefly, Allah will, in turn, mention us. Imam Bukhari reported in his authentic compilation on the authority of Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said that Allah the Most High says: “I am with my servant each time he remembers me and his lips move with my mention” (Bukhari).
Abu Hurairah also narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Allah the Most High says: “I am at the assumption of my servant of me, and I am with my servant each time he remembers me. If he remembers Me in himself, I remember him in Myself, and if he mentions Me in a gathering, I will mention him in a superior gathering” (Bukhari & Muslim).
In addition, there is another meaning of this verse. This verse contains layers upon layers of meaning, light upon light, and is of multiple dimensions. Another of its implications that the scholars of Qur’anic interpretation point out is a much broader one. That the verse is not merely the outward mention of Allah with one’s tongue, but rather, whenever we are moved to act based on our yearning to achieve Allah’s pleasure, that this is included in Allah’s promise. Hence, the verse is also saying: Obey me, and I shall reward you. Preserve my commandments, and I shall preserve you. Refrain from what I have prohibited, and I shall protect you from what you fear.
Ibn Abbas narrates that once when riding behind the Prophet (ﷺ), he said to him: “Young man, I am going to teach you some words of wisdom: preserve Allah’s commandments, and Allah will, in turn, preserve you. If you preserve Allah’s commandments, you will find Him there ahead of you. When you ask, ask from Allah, and if you seek aid, seek aid from Allah. Know that if the world were to collaborate to benefit you with anything, they would only benefit you with something Allah has already written. And conversely, if the world were to collaborate to harm you in any way, they could only harm you with something Allah has written upon you. The pens (of destiny) have been lifted, and the ink has already dried (Tirmidhi). In another wording, he added: “Preserve Allah’s commandments, and you will find Him before you. Know Allah in your times of ease, and He will know you in your times of difficulty. Know that whatever has missed you was never meant to afflict you, and whatever afflicts you could never have missed you. Know that victory comes with patience, that relief comes with a crisis, and that hardship comes with ease” (Ahmad).