Surah 9

Surah 9:108

"Never stand in it! A mosque founded from the first day on the (obligation of) guarding (oneself) is indeed (more) worthy for you to stand in. In it (there are) are men who love to purify themselves, and God loves the ones who purify themselves."

The objects of love here are the “purifiers” (also 2.222) in relation to ritual prayer. See “The Language of Love in the Quran”.

- from The Quran with Christian Commentary: A Guide to Understanding the Scripture of Islam