Surah 21. Al-Anbiya, Ayah 9

I.e., their believing followers.

As regards my rendering of al-musrifun as "those who had wasted their own selves", see note [21] on the last sentence of {10: 12}.

But, however difficult (or impossible) their mission may have appeared to them, or to the world at first, they won through eventually, even those who seemed to have been defeated. Examples are given in the latter part of this Sura, especially in xxi. 51-93. They were delivered from the Wrath which overtook the Unbelievers, as were those with them who accepted Allah's Message and placed themselves in conformity with His Will and Plan. That is the meaning of "whom We willed."