Quran Universe
38:48

وَٱذۡكُرۡ إِسۡمَٰعِيلَ وَٱلۡيَسَعَ وَذَا ٱلۡكِفۡلِۖ وَكُلّٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَخۡيَارِ

Waothkur ismaAAeela wailyasaAAa watha alkifli wakullun mina alakhyari

And remember Ishmael, Elisha and Dhul-Kifl, and all are among the outstanding.

Word by word
  1. وَٱذۡكُرۡAnd remember
  2. إِسۡمَٰعِيلَIshmael
  3. وَٱلۡيَسَعَand Elisha
  4. وَذَاand Dhul-kifl
  5. ٱلۡكِفۡلِۖand Dhul-kifl
  6. وَكُلّٞand all
  7. مِّنَ(are) from
  8. ٱلۡأَخۡيَارِthe best
Sad · 38:48Makkah

Remember Ismail, Al-Yasa and Dhul-Kifl: all among the best.

Some names are short in the Quran but great with Allah

Three more names
Ismail
Al-Yasa
Dhul-Kifl
all
among the bestal-akhyar
Being remembered
a long storyfame and detail
among the besta short line from Allah

Allah adds three more names and says all are among the best. Ibn Kathir says their stories and qualities were discussed in Surah Al-Anbiya. Here they are simply remembered together with honor.

Nobody will write a long post about you. Maybe a few lines at your funeral. A single line of praise from Allah is worth more than any biography.

If no one tells my story, my life did not matter much.

A short mention with Allah among the best is the greatest honor.

Try this

Quietly do one good thing today that no one will ever post or mention.

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."