believers are remembered—with a good reward. Rather, he is forgotten and is not remembered in this way, even though he is known to Allah; it is impossible for him to be unknown to Him. As Qatāda said, “They were forgotten with respect to good, but not with respect to evil.”

This is further clarified by the Prophet’s words, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in the authentic hadith:

“Whoever remembers Me within himself, I remember him within Myself; and whoever remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering better than theirs.”

This remembrance is the recompense for the servant’s remembrance of Allah. Allah knows him whether He remembers him or not. As for anyone who does not remember Allah but instead turns away from remembering Him, Allah