The Story of Prophet Yunus

 The Story of Prophet Yunus

Allah said in Soorah Yunus:

“Was there any town that believed [after seeing the punishment] and its faith [at the time] saved it [from the punishment], except the people of Yunus (Jonah). When they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of this world, and permitted them to enjoy for a time.” (Qur’an 10:98)

And in Soorah al-Anbiyâ’:

“And remember Dhun-Noon [Yunus] when he went off in anger, and imagined that We shall not punish him. But he cried through the darkness [saying], ‘There is none worthy of worship except You. Glory be to You, truly I have been among the wrong doers.’ So We answered his call and delivered him from distress, and thus do We deliver the believers.” (Qur’an 21:87-88)

And in Soorah as-Sâffat:

“And Yunus was also one of the Messengers, when he ran to the laden ship. He [agreed to] cast lots and he was among the losers. Then a whale swallowed him as he had done an act worthy of blame. Had he not been of those who glorify Allah, he would have indeed remained inside its belly till the Day of Resurrection. But We cast him forth on the bare shore while he was sick. And We caused a plant of gourd to grow over him. And We sent him to a hundred thousand or more, and they believed. So We gave them enjoyment for a while.” (Qur’an 37:139-148)

And in Soorah al-Qalam:

“So wait with patience for the decision of your Lord and do not be like the companion of the fish [Yunus], when he cried out [to Us] when he was in deep sorrow. Were it not for the Grace of his Lord reaching him, he would indeed have been [left in the fish, but We forgave him]. So he was cast out onto the barren shore while he was to be blamed. Then is Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.” (Qur’an 68 :48-50)

The Qur’anic exegetes said that Allah sent Yunus (peace be upon him) to the people of Ninevah in the land of Mosul. He invited them to the worship of Allah, but they belied him and became firm upon their disbelief. When this situation continued for a long time, he left them and promised them that the punishment will inflict them after three days.

Ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him), Mujâhid, Qatâdah and many others said that when he left them and his people became sure of the punishment befalling them, Allah guided them to repentance of their sins. They regretted the way they dealt with their Prophet. They wore special clothes and took their cattle in order to separate the elder from their calves. Then they started imploring Allah for His Mercy while lowering themselves. Everybody cried, including the men, women, sons, daughters and mothers. It was a special moment.

Allah with His mercy and kindness removed from them their punishment, which was going to befall them. For this reason, Allah said, “Was there any town that believed [after seeing the punishment] and its faith [at that moment] saved it [from the punishment].” (Qur’an 10:98)

This shows that never in human history has it happened that a town, with all its inhabitants, believed in their Prophet.

In this context, Allah said, “And We never sent to any town a warner except the wealthy among them said, ‘We disbelieve in what you have been sent with.’” (Qur’an 34:34)

Then Allah said regarding the people of Yunus (peace be upon him), where all of them believed:

“Except the people of Yunus when they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in the life of the world and We gave them the enjoyment for a life time.” (Qur’an 10:98)

The Qur’anic exegetes differed as to whether this belief will benefit them in the Hereafter, thus saving them from the punishment there as it saved them from the punishment of this world. However, the most apparent opinion seems to be that, yes, it will save them from the punishment in the Hereafter. And Allah knows best. This deduction is on the basis of what Allah said, “….when they believed” and also: “And We sent him to a hundred thousand or more, and they believed, so We gave them enjoyment for a time.” (Qur’an 37:147-148)

So this enjoyment given to them in this world does not necessitate that their punishment in the Hereafter will not be raised. And Allah knows best.

When Yunus (peace be upon him) left his people in anger, he went and boarded a ship. However, after this ship set sail, it started swaying severely with them due to the huge waves. It was to such an extent, that according to many exegetes, it was on the verge of sinking.

The passengers on board gathered and discussed the action to be taken. They decided to cast lots, with the name of all the travellers and whoever’s name is withdrawn will be thrown overboard, thus lightening their loads.

When they drew the lots, the name of Yunus (peace be upon him) came out. However, the people did not want to throw him overboard (because of what they knew of him). So they repeated the draw a second time and again his name was drawn. He volunteered to throw himself, to which they refused. Again, they repeated the lots a third time and once again his name came. This was because it was already decreed for him by Allah to be overthrown for the great reason that He wanted. And so he was thrown into the sea.

The All-High said: “And verily Yunus was among the messengers. When he ran to the laden ship, he [agreed to] cast lots and he was among the losers. Then the whale swallowed him as he did an act worthy of blame.” (Qur’an 37:139-142)

So when his name was drawn a third time, he was thrown in the sea. Then Allah sent a huge whale to swallow him up. Allah ordered the whale not to eat his flesh or his bones and that there he was not the food for the whale. So the whale took him and went around and around in the sea with him. It is said that that whale was in fact swallowed by another larger whale.

When settled down, in the belly of the whale, Yunus (peace be upon him) thought that he was dead. He tried to move his limbs and they moved and thus knew he was alive. So he prostrated to Allah and said, “O’ my Lord, I have taken as a place of prayer where nobody else has ever worshipped You.”

When Allah made that whale go around and around in the depth of the sea, Yunus (peace be upon him) heard the glorification of the All-Merciful by the two whales therein. He even heard the pebbles glorifying Allah. At that, he started glorifying Allah himself, which is recorded in the Qur’an as:

“And remember Dhun-Noon [Yunus] when he went off in anger and imagined that We shall not punish him, then he called out in the darkness, ‘There is no God worthy of worship except You. Glory be to You, verily I was among the wrong doers.’ So We responded to his call, and rescued him from distress, thus do We rescue the believers.” (Qur’an 21:87-88)