Quran Universe
38:46

إِنَّآ أَخۡلَصۡنَٰهُم بِخَالِصَةٖ ذِكۡرَى ٱلدَّارِ

Inna akhlasnahum bikhalisatin thikra alddari

Indeed, We chose them for an exclusive quality: remembrance of the home [of the Hereafter].

Word by word
  1. إِنَّآIndeed,We
  2. أَخۡلَصۡنَٰهُم[We] chose them
  3. بِخَالِصَةٖfor an exclusive (quality)
  4. ذِكۡرَىremembrance
  5. ٱلدَّارِ(of) the Home
Sad · 38:46Makkah

Chosen for one quality: remembering the final Home.

What set the prophets apart

What filled their hearts
love of this worldremoved from them
replaced with
the final Homeremembered, striven for
What they lived for
the next goal herethe next milestone
the Hereafterand reminding others

Mujahid said Allah made them strive for the Hereafter, with nothing else for them besides that. Malik bin Dinar said Allah removed the love of this world from their hearts. Qatadah said they used to remind people about the final Home and strive for it.

Your phone is full of plans: the holiday, the next car, the house deposit. None of them are wrong. But which home are you saving for most?

My future means my plans for the next few years.

The people Allah chose kept the final Home at the front of their minds.

Try this

Add one thing to your plans this week that only matters for the Hereafter.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 38:45)

And remember Our servants, Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya'qub, Ulil-Aydi wal-Absar (45)Verily, We did choose them by granting them the remembrance of the Abode (46)And they are with Us, verily, of the chosen and the best (47)And remember Isma'il, Al-Yasa', and Dhul-Kifl, all are among the best (48)This is a Reminder.. ()

The Chosen and the Best among the Prophets

Allah tells us about the virtues of His servants the Messengers and His Prophets:

وَاذْكُرْ عِبَادَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ أُولِي الْأَيْدِي وَالْأَبْصَارِ

(And remember Our servants, Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya'qub, Ulil-Aydi wal-Absar.) meaning, righteous deeds, beneficial knowledge, strength in worship and insight. 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

أُولِي الْأَيْدِي

(Ulil-Aydi) "Of great strength and worship;

وَالْأَبْصَارِ

(wal-Absar) means, understanding of the religion." Qatadah and As-Suddi said, "They were given strength in worship and understanding of the religion."

إِنَّا أَخْلَصْنَاهُمْ بِخَالِصَةٍ ذِكْرَى الدَّارِ

(Verily, We did choose them by granting them the remembrance of the Abode.) Mujahid said, "This means: We made them strive for the Hereafter, and there is nothing else for them besides that." As-Suddi also said, "The remembrance of the Hereafter and striving for it." Malik bin Dinar said, "Allah removed the love of this world from their hearts, and singled them out for land remembrance of the Hereafter." Qatadah said, "They used to remind the people about the Abode of the Hereafter and to strive for it."

وَإِنَّهُمْ عِنْدَنَا لَمِنَ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ الْأَخْيَارِ

(And they are with Us, verily, of the chosen and the best!) means, they are among those who have been elected and chosen, and they are the best and the chosen ones.

وَاذْكُرْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَالْيَسَعَ وَذَا الْكِفْلِ ۖ وَكُلٌّ مِنَ الْأَخْيَارِ

(And remember Isma'il, Al-Yasa', and Dhul-Kifl, all are among the best.) We have already discussed their characteristics and stories in detail in Surat Al-Anbiya', may peace be upon them, and there is no need to repeat it here.

هَٰذَا ذِكْرٌ ۚ

(This is a Reminder) means, a reminder to those who will be reminded. As-Suddi said, "This means the Holy Qur'an."