Quran Universe
38:47

وَإِنَّهُمۡ عِندَنَا لَمِنَ ٱلۡمُصۡطَفَيۡنَ ٱلۡأَخۡيَارِ

Wainnahum AAindana lamina almustafayna alakhyari

And indeed they are, to Us, among the chosen and outstanding.

Word by word
  1. وَإِنَّهُمۡAnd indeed,they
  2. عِندَنَاto Us
  3. لَمِنَ(are) from
  4. ٱلۡمُصۡطَفَيۡنَthe chosen ones
  5. ٱلۡأَخۡيَارِthe best
Sad · 38:47Makkah

With Us, they are among the chosen and the best.

Whose opinion of you matters most

Their standing
the prophetsoften rejected by people
with Allah
chosenelected by Him
the bestal-akhyar
Where value is decided
people's opinionlikes, status
with Allahthe only real ranking

Allah says these servants are, with Us, among the chosen and the best. Ibn Kathir explains they were elected and chosen. This was said while the Prophet ﷺ himself was being mocked in Makkah, a reminder that standing with Allah is what counts.

You were passed over at work, or left out of the family plans, or ignored online. People's ranking changes every week. The words with Us are what lasts.

How others see me shows what I am worth.

What matters is how I stand with Allah, not how I rank with people.

Try this

Do one good deed today that only Allah will see.

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."