Allah likes those who do not want to harm themselves, and they want to be successful here and in the hereafter, living trouble free.
Therefore remember Me (by praying,
glorifying, etc.).[] I will remember you, and be grateful to Me
(for My countless Favours on you) and never be ungrateful to Me. (2:152)
The realizing of Allah's blessings is very essential. This verse (2:152) teaches us that this is the only way for mankind to earn a greater favor and wealth from his creator and provider.
If we do not realize Allah as our provider and creator, then it is similar to that of someone who takes care of us, and fulfills our requirements. Without asking us for any return. We use our eyesight, hands, legs, hearing, brain etc. And all of our desires and requirements that surround us and comfort us is from our provider.
In today's lifestyle, we are really occupied in this world, instead of looking towards Allah's help, we look at our bank accounts and financial status.
We forget Allah, the one who has given us the facility to use our brain in the right direction. In order for us to think and earn money, and pay off our expenses, in order for us to enjoy the comfort of this life. If one's brain is unable to function right, then that person would be unable to earn money, and would be unable to pay their expenses. And they would be out from their facility, such using electricity or paying the expenses of the home, when we pay our expenses, by Allah's will, we enjoy our facilities.
We should extrapolate on more examples, regarding the Allah's blessings on us, and how important it is for us to remember them. One who is complete with all functions and parts in the body, and lets say he were to loose one of his eyes, or ears, or hands, he would be thankful to Allah, that at least he has the other one.
Why don't we thank Allah, when we are enjoying this life complete?
"I will remember you, and be grateful to Me (for My countless Favours on you) and never be ungrateful to Me."
What does this mean "I will remember you,"?
The realization of Allah is essential, which keeps a person connected to Allah, after he realizes Allah's mercy.
It is similar to having water in a tab, but a person must go in order to drink that water.
Or eating food. When we eat, with the mercy and will of Allah, we benefit from the nutrition in the food. And the nutrition benefits our body from Allah's mercy, and if he were to order the stopping of nutrition to our legs or hands, or any part of the body, people would then start to complain about the status of their hands or legs.
Whenever we are short of comfort, then this means we go far from Allah. When we remember Allah's blessings, then Allah's favor encompasses that person greater, who realizes the real source and root for all of our comfort. For verily all of our comfort and our peace of mind is from Allah only.
In today's lifestyle, most deaths occur because of stress and pressure. When we are unthankful to Allah, regardless how wealthy and healthy we may be, Satan teaches us to be unthankful to Allah. Allah hates those people, who do not realize their real source, and they look at only fake attractions from Satan. If you do not turn you light on, you will never receive light. If you don't dial to someone else over the phone, you will never be answered. Likewise, if you do not focus on the correct direction, you will never reach their successfully to that destination.
Although, regardless of our religion, any human being is provided by Allah. Verily the provider for mankind is truly Allah alone. Those who claim to be Muslims, when they ignore Allah, and look at worldly success, then after that they complain that calamities only fall on them.
Allah says, "Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying, etc.).[] I will remember you",
Allah reminds us in this line of verse 2:152, to remember his favors. Which we enjoy, by his grace, every day in our lives.
We enjoy bounties, without even realizing. Such as using our eyes, ears, nose, brain, and many other parts of our body. And our surrounding facilities in our lifetimes.
It is just like if someone owns millions of dollars. However, he has throat cancer, and is unable to eat food normally. The only way he could eat his food his through a tube placed of his stomach. That individual suffering from this disease, would be willing to give his life's hard work, in order to be cured.
When a person is complete, he should always remember Allah's favors. By remembering Allah, and realizing his favors upon us, it will save us from any calamity, disease, or any other evil attack. Because, those who remember Allah are under his shield of protection and security. Nothing can harm us, if we are true believers.
Allah guarantees us, the more we realize his bounties and favors bestowed upon us, he will increase them in number, inshallah.
Another favor is that Allah reminds us to be thankful for his bounties upon us. And not to be ignorantly ungrateful for the bounties and necessities he bestowed upon us.
Whomever is not thankful to Allah, then he goes further away from Allah. And he is trying to survive on his own, from his own sources, without realizing the real source, Allah.
When we add two and two, it equals four. Any non-Muslim or non-practicing Muslim will get after their daily hard work, however their hearts are always empty and unsatisfied in their lifetimes. They work as if they are slaves to their daily routines, and get only artificial and temporary happiness. It is like watching a movie, and once it finishes we go back to our difficult daily routines.
When Allah bestows an individual with blessings, regardless of how poor he may be, he is the most satisfied and happy person. If you ask him of his condition, he will always be thankful to Allah. He knows, that the next second of his life is only in the hands and control of Allah. And whatever his age may be, Allah has kept him as a healthy and satisfied individual.
Allah warns us not to be unthankful and unsatisfied, because Allah hates those who are not grateful for the blessings he bestowed upon them. And those people will go far from Allah's blessings.
O you who believe! Remember Allâh
with much remembrance. (33:41)
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying Allah has mobile (squads) of angels, who have no other work (to attend to but) to follow the assemblies of Dhikr and when they find such assemblies in which there is Dhikr (of Allah) they sit in them and some of them surround the others with their wings till the space between them and the sky of the world is fully covered, and when they disperse (after the assembly of Dhikr is adjourned) they go upward to the heaven and Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, asks them although He is best informed about them: Where have you come from? They say: We come from Thine servants upon the earth who had been glorifying Thee (reciting Subhan Allah), uttering Thine Greatness (saying Allah o-Akbar) and uttering Thine Oneness (La ilaha ill Allah) and praising Thee (uttering al-Hamdu Lillah) and begging of Thee. Be would say: What do they beg of Me? They would say: They beg of Thee the Paradise of Thine. He (God) would say: Have they seen My Paradise? They said: No, our Lord. He would say: (What it would be then) if they were to see Mine Paradise? They (the angels) said: They seek Thine protection. He (the Lord) would say: Against what do they seek protection of Mine? They (the angels) would say: Our Lord, from the Hell-Fire. He (the Lord) would say: Have they seen My Fire? They would say: No. He (the Lord) would say: What it would be if they were to see My Fire? They would say: They beg of Thee forgiveness. He would say: I grant pardon to them, and confer upon them what they ask for and grant them protection against which they seek protection. They (the angels) would again say: Our Lord, there is one amongst them such and such simple servant who happened to pass by (that assembly) and sat there along with them (who had been participating in that assembly). He (the Lord) would say: I also grant him pardon, for they are a people the seat-fellows of whom are in no way unfortunate. (Book 035, Number 6505: Sahih Muslim)
And remember your Lord by your
tongue and within yourself, humbly and with fear without loudness in words
in the mornings, and in the afternoons and be not of those who are
neglectful (7:250)
The ayahs mentioned below refer to those who Allah likes because of there actions:
The liking of Allah is the realization of our true creator and provider. As we see, there are people who admire worldly matters more than their creator, as a provider.
Satan has made the currency of countries such as the US Dollar, British Pound, or any other currency as being more admired by people, than Allah.
If one wants to really check himself to see how much is he doing to achieve what Allah likes, he should see whether he is giving first priority to the laws of Allah, leaving worldly matters as secondary. Or he should see how much of the blessed examples of the Holy Prophet is being implemented in his lifestyle.
During the time of worship, how much is a person concentrating towards his Lord while forgetting about worldly matters? How much effort are we trying to put to learn about the greatness of Allah, the All-Mighty, and his controls upon us.
Whomever does not question with but or why, and fully surrenders himself to the will of Allah, as a Muslim should do, has attained a very great success, and is a person whom Allah likes.
History informs us about the companions of the Holy Prophet, and until today or up to the day of Judgment, whenever any Muslim mentions their name they say "Raddiyallahu Anhu", which means that Allah is pleased with those who surrender themselves towards the will of Allah fully, and those who follow the blessed footsteps of the Holy Prophet, without questioning.
The greatness of those people, the companions was that when they started to receive the Quran through the Prophet Muhammed, they did not question or seek proof about matters which we are discovering today with the use of Scientific technology. They never questioned the Prophet, or say things like the Prophet does not know how to read or write, or they did not seek any proof. They followed as the Holy Prophet commanded them to do so.
And spend in the Cause of Allâh and do
not throw yourselves into destruction (by not spending your wealth in the
Cause of Allâh), and do good. Truly, Allâh loves Al-Muhsinûn[]
(the good-doers). (2:195)
(2:195) refers to everything belonging to Allah (SWT) and that one should realize this.
No one takes his wealth along with him in his grave. So whomever spends his money in the cause of Allah, such as helping individuals getting Islamic knowledge, helping the poor and needy people, building mosques, Islamic centers and so on, has attained a great success and those people are the real Muhsinun (good-doers).
Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay the Zakat of his wealth, then on the Day of Resurrection his wealth will be made like a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say, 'I am your wealth, I am your treasure.' " Then the Prophet recited the holy verses:-- 'Let not those who withhold . . .' (to the end of the verse). (3.180). (Volume 2, Book 24, Number 486: It was narrated by Abu Hurariah, and found in Saheeh Bukhari)
Narrated 'Adi bin Hatim heard the Prophet saying: "Save yourself from Hell-fire even by giving half a date-fruit in charity." (Volume 2, Book 24, Number 498:, and found in Saheeh Bukhari)
Narrated Asma' bint Abu Bakr: that she had gone to the Prophet and he said, "Do not shut your money bag; otherwise Allah too will with-hold His blessings from you. Spend (in Allah's Cause) as much as you can afford. " (Volume 2, Book 24, Number 515, and Saheeh Bukhari)
... Truly, Allâh loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and
loves those who purify themselves.(2:222)
Verse (2:222) mentions that Allah loves those who realize there mistakes, after receiving guidance. They try their best and commit themselves not to ever do it again their lifetimes, and whenever they remember their mistakes, they cry and seek Allah's repentance. truly, forgiveness is only in the hands of Allah.
Those Muslims who keep themselves in a state of wudu (ablution) all the time. And always supplicate to Allah, to keep them with the purified and with those who seek Allah's forgiveness always. They always try themselves to take care of their thinking, and to keep it according to the laws ordained by Allah.
They take care of their eyesight, avoiding to looking at that which has been declared unlawful, to enjoy it with the eyes.
They control their tongues, in order not to harm anyone with the tongue, and not to get involved in slandering, backbiting, lying, and so on.
O you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salât (the prayer).
Truly! Allâh is with As-Sâbirin (the patient ones, etc.).(2:153)
The verse (2:153) mentions those who are believers and are practicing Muslims. Who never are attracted in worldly matters, and they keep patience from evil forbidden desires. For example, if someone has a small house, and worries about getting a bigger house, and is always unsatisfied with what Allah has given them. Who control there desires from unnecessary things, or from desires which attracts from the movies, drama, soap operas, music, magazines, or pornography or any other forbidden thing related to sex.
And they seek help always from Allah, whenever Shaytan (Satan) tries and controls, they are patient and perform there Salah to seek help from Allah.
And by the Mercy of Allâh, you dealt with them gently. And had you been
severe and harsh hearted, they would have broken away from about you; so
pass over (their faults), and ask (Allâh's) Forgiveness for them; and
consult them in the affairs. Then when you have taken a decision, put your
trust in Allâh, certainly, Allâh loves those who put their trust (in
Him).(3:159)
The above verse (3:159) refers to, those people who are giving hard times to others, and we know who has treated us wrongly and un-justly, and we are leaving it on the hands of Allah, and are forgiving those people and are asking Allah to grant them guidance. Allah would see that person getting a hard time, but is patient and is asking Allah for guidance, and it is still that person who is giving hard times to the other person, then Allah becomes the wakil (disposer of affairs) and takes care of that un-just person.
Allah loves those who always put there matters only in the trust of Allah (SWT), and whoever does that is always successful, and are liken by Allah (SWT).
(They like to) listen to falsehood, to devour anything forbidden. So
if they come to you (O Muhammad SAW), either judge between them,
or turn away from them. If you turn away from them, they cannot hurt
you in the least. And if you judge, judge with justice between them. Verily,
Allâh loves those who act justly. (5:42)
The verse (5:42) mentions that we should seek refuge from those who are after this world based on falsehood. For example, today's fashion, movies, and other attractions of this world.
Stay away from those people who are misguiding you and are keeping you away from Islam, regardless if they are Muslim. Try to first explain them about Islam and the orders of Allah, and if they do not listen to you then stay away from those people.
So those people will not hurt you, it means that they would not involve you in there things, if you involve with those people then you are one of them.
Allah loves those people who always deal justly.
...Verily, Allâh loves Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - see V.2:2).(9:7)
(9:7) refers to the practicing Muslims who obey the laws of Allah (SWT) and do not go after the attractions of this world, and always seek help from Allah (SWT) day and night, and only focus on Allah and his Messenger's examples only, which was from Allah. Those who do this are pious and Allah loves.
Never stand you therein. Verily, the mosque whose foundation was laid
from the first day on piety is more worthy that you stand therein (to
pray). In it are men who love to clean and to purify themselves. And Allâh
loves those who make themselves clean and pure (i.e. who clean their
private parts with dust [i.e. to be considered as soap) and water from
urine and stools, after answering the call of nature]. (9:108)
(9:108) mentions that Allah loves those people who perform there prayers in the Masjid (Mosque), because they keep themselves clean and the, and they always keep there private parts clean, and Allah loves those people who are always purified.
Verily, Allâh loves those who fight in His Cause in rows (ranks) as if
they were a solid structure. (4:61)
Who firmly stand to obey the laws of Allah (SWT) regardless of the results. And always seek knowledge about Islam, and teach it to others, and preach it to non practicing Muslims, or non-Muslims. These people are the winners and they will always be loved by Allah (SWT), who are firm in these matters like a solid rock, or a firm structure.
These ayahs are a reminder and a commandment for us, if we obey and follow what is his will only. And Allah (SWT) loves those type of people.