Distinction between believers and transgressors

وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَٱلْيَسَعَ وَيُونُسَ وَلُوطًا ۚ وَكُلًّا فَضَّلْنَا عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot - and all [of them] We preferred over the worlds.