﴿ إِلَّا عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ ﴾

“EXCEPT for God’s true servants, [most people are apt to go astray.]”

Allah then made an exception, saying: (Save singled minded slaves of Allah) who are protected from disbelief and idolatry; and it is said that this means according to a variant reading: except those chosen for worship and the profession of Allah's divine Oneness. The latter did not disbelieve and therefore We did not destroy them.