Perhaps the Syrians were better off when they actually worshiped Ba' al
Surah 37:123 - 130
And Elias was most surely of the messengers. He asked his people: 'Do you not fear God? Will ye call upon Baal and forsake the best of creators? God is your Lord and the Lord of your fathers, the ancients' But they rejected him, and they will certainly be called up for punishment, except the sincere and devoted servants of God among them, and we left this blessing for him among generations to come in later times, peace be upon Elias.