The story of Yunus (Jonah)

We are speaking of the story of a prophet named Yunus ibn Matta (عليه السلام). He was called "Dhul-Nun" (ذو النون), which means "the man of the fish". "Nun" designates the whale, the great fish.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) sent him to a city named Nineveh [Naynawa] in a district called Mosul (in Iraq). This city still exists to this day. More than 100,000 inhabitants lived there who did not believe in Allah (سبحانه وتعالى).

All were idolaters. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) then sent to them this prophet, Yunus ibn Matta (عليه السلام). He called them to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), he called them to monotheism: "Worship Allah. For you, there is no other deity than Him."

For years, he called them to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). No one answered this call: neither man, nor woman, nor young, nor old, nor poor, nor rich. They all disbelieved in Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) and mocked Yunus (عليه السلام).

They all mocked Yunus (عليه السلام), they hurt him and jeered. He called them, endured and bore their harm. He did not leave a house, a road or a person without calling them to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). But they persisted in their disbelief in Allah, they grew stubborn and pride took hold of them.

وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

And indeed, Jonah was among the messengers.

Surah As-Saffat, verse 139

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah As-Saffat 37:139-148

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) revealed to Yunus ibn Matta (عليه السلام), after his call to his people, that his people would know the punishment in three days if they did not believe in Allah (سبحانه وتعالى).

An ultimatum of three days for his people: either they believe in Allah, or the punishment will strike them. Yunus (عليه السلام) came to his people and reminded them of Allah: "O people, the Lord grants you three days... either you believe in Allah, or a punishment will strike you as with the peoples before you."

Despite this, they persisted. They said: "Do what you want, O Yunus, we will not believe you." At that moment, Yunus (عليه السلام) felt anger toward his people, and he lost hope in them.

He decided to leave, regretting and leaving them to the punishment that was going to strike them. When Yunus (عليه السلام) left his people and Nineveh [Naynawa] in anger because they did not believe in Allah (سبحانه وتعالى).

No man will lose hope in his people if he hears the story of Yunus ibn Matta (عليه السلام). Even the prophets, despite their high rank, can feel impatience in the face of the persistent rejection of their message.

كَذَٰلِكَ مَا أَتَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا قَالُوا سَاحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌ

Similarly, there came not to those before them any messenger except that they said, "A magician or a madman."

Surah Adh-Dhariyat, verse 52

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:52-53

But the people began to feel that the punishment was really going to strike them, that the promise of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) is truthful, that after three days, they would be annihilated.

So they began to regret and to repent, and they decided to take refuge with Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). They separated the animals from their young, and the animals began to cry out. The people went out of their houses weeping and seeking refuge with Allah so that the punishment would not strike them.

Who will dispel the evil and the punishment if it descends? It is Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). Yunus (عليه السلام) had not sensed that. He went out angry with his people, but they all believed afterwards in Allah (سبحانه وتعالى).

They regretted and repented, and Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) dispelled the punishment. No city had believed like the people of Yunus (عليه السلام) in Nineveh in Mosul. The whole city believed in Allah (سبحانه وتعالى).

The punishment was removed. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) gave them enjoyment. Allah accepted their repentance. Regret is necessary for repentance. The whole city wept, the people cried out, they implored Allah, they asked Him (سبحانه وتعالى) for help. They believed in Allah, out of fear of His punishment, and Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) saved them.

فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ آمَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَا إِيمَانُهَا إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّا آمَنُوا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ الْخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

Then has there not been a [single] city that believed so its faith benefited it except the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in worldly life and gave them enjoyment for a time.

Surah Yunus, verse 98

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Yunus 10:98

Yunus (عليه السلام) had left his people in anger, regretting for them. How could they not believe in his call to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى)? He went out of Nineveh toward the sea to leave his people after the three-day deadline.

No one had believed in him. He headed toward the sea to emigrate for the cause of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), to transmit the religion of Allah on the earth. Yunus (عليه السلام) hurried quickly, and boarded a boat.

The boat was filled with people and goods. Yunus (عليه السلام) boarded with them to travel on the sea. When they entered the sea, a darkness fell suddenly.

With this darkness, the waves began to rise, the wind grew harsher. In the midst of the waves, the boat began to shake. The people began to weep and cry out. What is happening? The boat risks capsizing. The people were afraid.

Among them is the prophet of Allah, Yunus (عليه السلام). The waves and the wind became stronger and stronger and the boat shook. They began to throw the goods overboard to lighten the load of the boat, but without result, it still risks capsizing.

وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِذْ أَبَقَ إِلَى الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ

And indeed, Jonah was among the messengers. [Mention] when he ran away to the laden ship.

Surah As-Saffat, verses 139-140

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah As-Saffat 37:139-140

Then they said: "We would have to sacrifice a few people to save the others." Sacrifice whom? They said: "We will have to throw one after the other." The sea was dark, the darkness of the night is strong. They saw whales that were not far from the boat.

Who would dare to throw himself, except someone suicidal? They said: "One of us must be thrown", but no one wanted to disembark or be thrown. Then they said: "Let us draw lots, whoever is drawn will disembark", one after the other... until the boat is safe and sound.

The boat was full. The drawing began, and when it was the turn of Yunus (عليه السلام), he was drawn. Yunus (عليه السلام) understood that it is his lot. He began to prepare himself to throw himself into the sea.

But since he was a pious man with noble virtues, they said: "No, wait, O Yunus! We will start the drawing again." And once again the drawing falls on Yunus (عليه السلام). It is almost impossible for the drawing to give the same person twice, but that happened on that day.

Yunus (عليه السلام) was drawn a second time. He took off his tunic, but the people said: "No, we will start the drawing again a third time." And for the third time, the drawing falls on Yunus (عليه السلام). O Allah! You are the one aimed at, O Yunus! It is not the boat with its travelers that are aimed at, but it is you who are aimed at, O Yunus.

He took off his clothes, then he threw himself into the sea in the middle of the night. Yunus (عليه السلام) threw himself into the sea. And in the midst of this darkness, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) ordered the winds and waves to calm down. The boat was saved with its travelers.

فَسَاهَمَ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْمُدْحَضِينَ

And he drew lots and was among the losers.

Surah As-Saffat, verse 141

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah As-Saffat 37:139-141

And as for Yunus (عليه السلام), Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) revealed to a whale to swallow this prophet, but do him no harm.

And there is Yunus (عليه السلام) in the belly of the whale in complete darkness. He believed that he was dead, but he began to move in the belly of the whale. And when he understood that he was still alive, he prostrated himself to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى).

He said: "O my Lord, I prostrate myself to You in a place where no one has prostrated." No man has prostrated in a similar place. "I have taken this place as a place of prostration to You."

Yunus (عليه السلام) believed that Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) was not going to test him, but there he is in the complete darkness of the night, of the sea, and of the whale. Suddenly he heard a voice: "What is this voice, O Lord? While I am at the bottom of the sea?"

He heard a strange voice. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) said to him: "This is the glorification of Allah (Tasbih) by the fish in the sea." Even in complete darkness, he heard the glorification of the Lord by the fish.

Yunus (عليه السلام) recognized his fault, his shortcoming, for he had been hasty with his people. Yunus (عليه السلام) regretted, and judged himself anew before his Lord (سبحانه وتعالى).

فَالْتَقَمَهُ الْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ

Then the fish swallowed him, while he was blameworthy.

Surah As-Saffat, verse 142

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah As-Saffat 37:142, Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87

At that moment, Yunus (عليه السلام) said: "There is no deity except You!" He remembered the most magnificent phrase: "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."

Yunus (عليه السلام) recognized his fault, his shortcoming, for he had been hasty with his people. Yunus (عليه السلام) regretted, and judged himself anew before his Lord (سبحانه وتعالى). He multiplied the glorification of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). He said: "There is no deity except You!" in the three darknesses: the darkness of the fish, of the sea, and of the night.

But he kept saying these words. These words rise, cross the lowest heaven, then the second, then the third... Good words rise toward Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). These words reached the angels. The angels heard the voice of a servant saying "There is no deity except You!"

The angels said: "O Lord, we know this voice, but the place it comes from is unusual." The voice comes out of a strange place. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) said to the angels: "Do you not know whose voice this is?" "No, O Lord, we do not know", answered the angels. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) said: "It is the voice of My servant, Yunus." They said: "O Lord, will You save him?" Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) said: "Yes, I will save him."

Yunus (عليه السلام) remained in the belly of the whale invoking Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). Such are the people of faith: when they are distressed in this worldly life, they invoke Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). Yunus (عليه السلام) invoked Allah, before he was in the belly of the fish, during, and after.

فَنَادَىٰ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَن لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."

Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 87

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87

All his life, he invoked none but Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). All his life, he is in connection with his Lord (سبحانه وتعالى). He was among those who glorify Allah, among those who bow, among those who prostrate. Thus was Yunus (عليه السلام). If he had not been like that, he would have remained in the belly of the fish until the Final Hour.

The believer always invokes Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). It is through invocation and remembrances that the heart is reassured. If a person is in prison, in a well, in a cave, surrounded by enemies, or if the person is very ill, it is through his remembrance of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) that his heart is reassured.

Hunger could have killed him, the darkness could have killed him, but Yunus (عليه السلام) continued to invoke his Lord (سبحانه وتعالى). He continued to invoke and invoke Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), until Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) granted deliverance to Yunus (عليه السلام).

And what a deliverance?! How will Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) deliver Yunus (عليه السلام) while he is in the midst of his three darknesses? How will the deliverance come? And from where? Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) revealed to the fish that its mission was over, that it must cast Yunus (عليه السلام) out onto the beach.

Yunus (عليه السلام) was cast out onto the sand of the beach. He was all skinny, some say that his skin was on his bones. He became thin, like the chick that has just come out of the egg. Such is the description of Yunus (عليه السلام). He is on the beach, and the sun beats down hard. He was thrown onto the beach, and he was weak, between life and death. Illness, weakness, and fatigue afflicted him.

فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُنجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.

Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 88

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Al-Anbiya 21:88, Surah As-Saffat 37:145-146

As soon as he was cast out by the sea, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) made a plant grow beside him. What plant? It is a gourd plant, what is called a courgette. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) made it grow above his head.

Why? Because this plant has broad leaves, so that Yunus (عليه السلام) could shelter under its shade, and so that he could eat its fruit which would strengthen his body. He began to eat the fruits, and every day, a gazelle came so that he could drink of its milk. He drinks the milk of the gazelle and he eats the fruit of the plant, and shelters under the shade of the plant. Thus Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) protected him.

Why did the Lord (سبحانه وتعالى) save him? Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) saved him, from anguish and from the darknesses, why? Because he was among those who glorify Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), he was among the believers, he was among the worshippers. Yunus (عليه السلام) remained thus, and his body regained strength little by little, until he had regained all his strength.

Why did all this happen to Yunus (عليه السلام)? Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) wanted to teach Yunus (عليه السلام) one thing: "O Yunus, return again!" "Where shall I return?" "Return to your people!" "Return to whom?" "Yes, return to your people!" "Why must I return to them?" Do you know why?

After Yunus (عليه السلام) had regained his strength, he began to walk again toward his city Nineveh, that city which was disbelieving when he had left it. No one had believed, Yunus (عليه السلام) had given them an ultimatum of three days. "Why should I return, perhaps the punishment has come down? Why should I return, when they did not listen to me?"

When Yunus (عليه السلام) came back to his people... What did he find? He found the whole city with its 100,000 inhabitants, all had believed in Allah (سبحانه وتعالى)! O Allah! The whole city? Yes. The whole city believed in Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). Among the 100,000, not a single one had not believed. Never had such a thing happened to a prophet except for Yunus (عليه السلام) who was truthful with his Lord, but he committed a fault: he did not give his people time.

وَأَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ مِائَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ فَآمَنُوا فَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

And We sent him to [his people of] a hundred thousand or more. And they believed, so We gave them enjoyment [of life] for a time.

Surah As-Saffat, verses 147-148

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah As-Saffat 37:147-148

It is human, even the prophets make mistakes. Adam (عليه السلام) ate from the tree and Yunus (عليه السلام) did not give his people time. And when Yunus (عليه السلام) came back to the city, the whole city was believing, a hundred thousand men or more.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) wanted to teach the prophets and then men that a man must give his people time. He called upon his Lord, and Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) saved him. Then his Lord chose him and appointed him among the number of the righteous.

But one must never say "I am better than Yunus ibn Matta (عليه السلام), because I am patient." No! Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) willed, in His Wisdom, that this happen to Yunus (عليه السلام), perhaps to teach him, teach his people and teach us all until our days.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) wanted to teach the prophets and then men that a man must give his people time. This story teaches us patience, hope in the mercy of Allah, and that we must never despair of His servants.

This whole trial was a divine lesson to teach patience and hope. Even when all seems lost, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) can transform hearts and guide people toward faith.

A new page of one of the prophets has just been turned. The story of Yunus (عليه السلام) teaches us the beauty of patience, the power of invocation, and the immensity of the divine mercy.

وَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

And had he not been of those who exalt Allah, He would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected.

Surah As-Saffat, verses 143-144

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah As-Saffat 37:139-148, Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87-88