Prophet Yunus (A.S.)
Quran References:
Prophet Yunus is mentioned in the Quran 4 times by name in the following Ayats:
(Quran, 4:163, 6:86, 10:98, 37:139)
Yunus (AS) is also mentioned in the Quran by his titles: ‘Dhul-Nun’ (the man of the whale) in (Quran, 21:87) and ‘Sahib al-Hut’ (companion of the fish/whale) in (Quran, 68:48)
Mission to Nineveh:
The people of the town of Nineveh were idol worshippers and Prophet Yunus (AS) had been sent to teach them to worship Allah SWT alone.
However, the residents of Nineveh refused, saying: we and our forefathers have worshipped these gods for many years and no harm came to us.
Yunus (AS) warned them of the punishment of Allah, but the people responded: Let it happen.
Yunus then replied: I will leave you to your misery.
Yunus (AS) left the city of Nineveh, fearing that Allah’s anger would follow.
Allah SWT mentions this in the Quran: ‘When he went off angrily and thought We would not decree upon him.’ (Quran, 21:87)
The Repentance of Nineveh:
The skies began to change colour and the people of Nineveh saw this and became scared. They remembered the destruction of the people of ‘Ad, Thamud and Nuh.
After seeing this, Iman entered their hearts and they all gathered on a mountain and started to ask Allah SWT for his mercy and forgiveness.
Allah then removed His wrath and showered His blessings on the people of Nineveh.
The Storm and the Whale:
Prophet Yunus (AS) was on a small ship with other passengers and when the night came, a horrible storm formed.
Behind the ship, Allah SWT commanded a large whale to follow the ship.
The people on the ship decided to lighten their load by removing one person and they drew lots with all the traveller’s names and the name that was called out had to be thrown into the sea.
This was a tradition where people considered the sea and wind to have ‘gods’ that would riot so the captain had to please these ‘gods’.
Yunus’ name was drawn out from the lot and because the people knew he was honourable, they did not want to throw him in the sea. They decided to draw a lot for a second time and Yunus’ name was called out again.
They gave him one more chance and drew a third lot, where Yunus’ name was called out for a third time.
Prophet Yunus (AS) realised that this was because he had abandoned Nineveh without Allah’s consent.
Yunus (AS) then kept mentioning Allah’s name as he jumped into the sea.
In the Darkness of the Whale:
The whale swallowed Yunus and dived to the bottom of the sea.
Yunus (AS) was now under three layers of darkness, which was the darkness of the whale’s stomach, the darkness of the bottom of the sea and the darkness of the night.
Prophet Yunus (AS) was stuck in the three layers of darkness but he continued to remember Allah SWT and would say ‘La ilaha ila Anta’.
Yunus (AS) continued to repeat this invocation throughout his time in the whale.
Allah SWT mentions Yunus’ invocation in the Quran: ‘He cried out in the darkness. There is no god except You, glory be to You. Indeed, I was of the wrongdoers’. (Quran, 21:87)
Recovery and Yunus’ Forgiveness:
Allah SWT saw the sincere repentance of Yunus and heard his invocation in the whale’s stomach. He then commanded the whale to surface and throw him onto an island.
The whale did this, and Yunus’ body was inflamed because of the acid in the whale’s stomach. He became very ill, but he continued to repeat his Duas to Allah SWT.
Allah SWT allowed Prophet Yunus (AS) to recover and forgave him. This is mentioned in the Quran, where Allah says: ‘So We responded to him and saved him from distress’. (Quran, 21:88)
Allah SWT told Yunus (AS) that if it was not for his repentance, he would have stayed in the whale’s stomach till the Day of Judgement. Allah says: ‘Had he not constantly glorified Allah, he would have remained in its belly until the Day they are resurrected’. (Quran, 37: 143-144)
Yunus’ Return to Nineveh:
Prophet Yunus (AS) then found his way back to his hometown of Nineveh and the residents welcomed him.
Yunus (AS) was surprised to see that they had all turned to believing in Allah SWT alone.