وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَٱلْيَسَعَ وَيُونُسَ وَلُوطًا ۚ وَكُلًّا فَضَّلْنَا عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 86
Translations
And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot - and all [of them] We preferred over the worlds.
Transliteration
Wa-Isma'ila wa-al-Yasa'a wa-Yunus wa-Lutan, wa-kullan faddalna 'ala al-'alamin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah mentions four righteous prophets—Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah, and Lot—and affirms that Allah elevated all of them above the worlds ('alamin), meaning above their respective peoples and generations. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that each of these prophets was chosen for specific missions and granted honor, knowledge, and righteousness that distinguished them in their times. The phrase 'above the worlds' emphasizes their rank among creation and their distinction as guided messengers who fulfilled their divine responsibilities.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Al-An'am's broader context of listing noble prophets whom Allah honored and guided. The surah, revealed in Mecca, emphasizes Allah's guidance through His messengers and the importance of following their path. This particular verse is part of a longer sequence (6:83-86) enumerating prophets from Abraham's line and their descendants, reinforcing the concept of divine guidance throughout generations.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of people are the people of my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them' (Sahih Bukhari 2652). This relates thematically to the elevated status of these prophets. Additionally, the Quran itself (19:56-57) praises Idris, confirming the pattern that prophets receive divine elevation.
Themes
Key Lesson
Recognizing that true honor and elevation come from righteousness, obedience to Allah, and fulfilling one's divine purpose rather than from wealth or worldly status. Modern believers are reminded to seek spiritual elevation through devotion and following the teachings of the prophets.
Related Ayahs
وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا يَـٰمَعْشَرَ ٱلْجِنِّ قَدِ ٱسْتَكْثَرْتُم مِّنَ ٱلْإِنسِ ۖ وَقَالَ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُم مِّنَ ٱلْإِنسِ رَبَّنَا ٱسْتَمْتَعَ بَعْضُنَا بِبَعْضٍ وَبَلَغْنَآ أَجَلَنَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَجَّلْتَ لَنَا ۚ قَالَ ٱلنَّارُ مَثْوَىٰكُمْ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], the Day when He will gather them together [and say], "O company of jinn, you have [misled] many of mankind." And their allies among mankind will say, "Our Lord, some of us made use of others, and we have [now] reached our term which You appointed for us." He will say, "The Fire is your residence, wherein you will abide eternally, except for what Allāh wills. Indeed, your Lord is Wise and Knowing."
فَقَدْ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِيهِمْ أَنۢبَـٰٓؤُا۟ مَا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
For they had denied the truth when it came to them, but there is going to reach them the news of what they used to ridicule.
أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍ مَّكَّنَّـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَا لَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّكُمْ وَأَرْسَلْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْهِم مِّدْرَارًا وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرَ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمْ فَأَهْلَكْنَـٰهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَأَنشَأْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ قَرْنًا ءَاخَرِينَ
Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them which We had established upon the earth as We have not established you? And We sent [rain from] the sky upon them in showers and made rivers flow beneath them; then We destroyed them for their sins and brought forth after them a generation of others.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يَمَسُّهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْسُقُونَ
But those who deny Our verses - the punishment will touch them for their defiant disobedience.