Tafsir of Al-Anbiya' 21:71

"And We saved him and Lot" — he is, according to what has preceded, his cousin. It is also said that he is his nephew, and this was narrated in al-Mustadrak on the authority of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both). The verb "saved him" (najjaynahu) implies the meaning of "We brought him out" (akhrajnahu); therefore, it is made transitive with ila (to) in His, the Glorified's, saying: "to the land which We have blessed for all the worlds."

It is said that [the prepositional phrase] is connected to an implied word functioning as a state (hal), meaning: "arriving at the land," so there is no implication of another verb. What is intended by this land is the land of al-Sham (Greater Syria). It is also said to be the land of Makkah, or Egypt, but the first [opinion] is the most correct. It is described with the generality of blessing because the majority of the prophets (peace be upon them) were sent within it, and their laws, which are the foundations of perfections and of religious and worldly benefits, spread throughout the world. It did not say "which We have blessed" (barakna-ha) to emphasize its inherent quality of blessing. It is said that the blessings refer to worldly favors such as fertility and others, but the first [interpretation] is more evident and more befitting the state of the prophets (peace be upon them).

It is narrated that he (peace be upon him) departed from Iraq accompanied by Lot and Sarah, the daughter of his uncle Haran the Elder, and they had believed in him (peace be upon him), seeking to flee with their religion. He descended upon Harran and stayed there as long as Allah willed. Some have claimed that Sarah was the daughter of the King of Harran and that he (peace be upon him) married her there, with her father stipulating that he not change her from her religion, but the first [account] is the correct one. He then arrived in Egypt, and afterward went out from it to al-Sham, settling in al-Sab' in the land of Palestine, while Lot settled in al-Mu'tafikah, a day and a night's journey from al-Sab' or closer.

In the verse is that which is in it regarding the praise of al-Sham. In the Hadith: "There will be a migration after a migration; the best of people will be those who inhabit the migration place of Abraham." (Recorded by Abu Dawud). From Zayd ibn Thabit, he said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "Blessed are the people of al-Sham." I asked: "And why is that, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Because the angels (peace be upon them) spread their wings over it." (Recorded by al-Tirmidhi on the authority of Bahz ibn Hakim, from his father, from his grandfather).

As for Iraq, al-Ghazali (may Allah have mercy upon him) mentioned in the chapter on Tribulation in al-Ihya that a group of scholars agreed upon its disparagement, the dislike of dwelling in it, and the desirability of fleeing from it. Perhaps the reason for that is self-evident, so we shall not tire our pens investigating it.