86 Preface وَإِسماعيلَ وَاليَسَعَ وَيونُسَ وَلوطًا ۚ وَكُلًّا فَضَّلنا عَلَى العالَمينَYusuf AliAnd Isma'il and Elisha,1 and Jonas, and Lot: and to all We gave favour above the nations:This is the last group, described as those “favoured above the nations.” It consists of four men who had all great misfortunes to contend with, and were concerned in the clash of nations, but they kept in the path of God, and came through above the clash of nations. Isma'il was the eldest son of Abraham; when he was a baby, he and his mother had nearly died of thirst in the desert round Mecca; but they were saved by the well of Zamzam, and he became the founder of the new Arab nation. Elisha (Al Yasa') succeeded to the mantle of the Prophet Elijah (same as Elias, see last note); he lived in troublous times for both the Jewish kingdoms (of Judah and Israel); there were wicked kings, and other nations were pressing in on them; but he performed many miracles, and some check was given to the enemies under his advice. The story of Jonah (Yunus) is well-known: he was swallowed by a fish or whale, but was saved by God’s mercy: through his preaching, his city (Nineveh) was saved (10:98). Lot was a contemporary and nephew of Abraham: when the city of Sodom was destroyed for its wickedness, he was saved as a just man (7:80-84).