The remembrance of Allah

Surah Al-Baqara, (2:152)
"So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me."

One of my favourite verses from the Quran filled with utmost profundity. The message within is quite clear.

Over the course of our lives, we will face many trials and tribulations. Some greater than others. Some trials lengthier than others. I'm sure we have all come to a point where we just thought, "Why are my prayers never answered?". Well I have many times and if there are some reading this who are thinking they haven't experienced this, well you're one of the blessed people.

Many times throughout my short life, this question propped up in my mind. What was I doing wrong? Why am I being rejected? Will I ever get an answer? The message is quite clear. "So remember Me; I will remember you." What is this remembrance? Surely Allah was always on my mind? Surely I thought of Allah when asking for these trials to be removed? Surely I relied upon him during hard times? But after pondering, I realised this was not remembrance. This was merely a form of 'using someone', as we might say.

True remembrance is during times of ease. I remember when I passed my theory test at the second attempt, my dad said to me, "Now that you've passed, don't forget to thank Allah." Although, I always did, I questioned myself what this thanking actually meant. Remembering Allah during times of ease is the key to the answer of future prayers. Think of a friend for example. If you had a friend who you never spoke to and suddenly one day you get a phone call off them and they said, "Salaam Akhi/ Salaam Ukthi. I'm in some difficulty, can you borrow me a couple of hundred pounds?".
Immediately you would think, "I haven't spoken to you in so many weeks/months and you come to me for help now? To use me and then forget me?" Almost certainly you would question giving any aid to them.
However, take this friend, but now think of it like you always maintain contact. Every other day you chat asking about each other's well being, family, life, always maintaining the relationship you have. Now if they phoned you asking for help, wouldn't you help? Or would you question yourselves? Almost certainly this time round, you wouldn't think twice and offer support because you know this friend isn't using you.

Now try and transfer this thought to Allah. If you never remember Allah when you are all fine and dandy, what makes you think support in times of difficulty will come onto a gold plate? This is a lesson I learnt. Have a conversation with Allah. Tell Allah how grateful you are of all the things he has bestowed you with. Tell Allah the plans you have in your mind (Of course Allah already knows this), whatever you want! But by doing this you show appreciation at times of ease and this is the true remembrance of Allah. The more we invoke ourselves in the remembrance of Allah, the more likely it is, during times of difficulty, our duas shall be answered In Shaa Allah and of course what I have mentioned above isn't the only way of remembering Allah, but I hope the message has been put across.

Forgive me for any mistakes I may have made in this post, and remember me in your duas In Shaa Allah..