Where the story is told

The Quran mentions Yunus in several surahs. In Surah al-Anbiya (21:87-88) he is called Dhun-Nun, 'the man of the fish'. In Surah as-Saffat (37:139-148) the Quran says that he was among the messengers and tells what happened to him. In Surah al-Qalam (68:48-50) he is called 'the companion of the fish'. Surah Yunus (10:98) speaks about his people.

The Quran does not tell his story as one long account. We learn it from these verses together, and we keep to what they say.

Leaving his people and the fish

Surah al-Anbiya says that Yunus went off in anger and thought that Allah would not decree anything upon him (21:87). Commentators explain that this does not mean he doubted Allah's power. They understand it as meaning that he did not expect that Allah would put him in hardship for it. The Quran does not give the reason for his anger, and some commentators say that he left his people in frustration at their refusal before Allah gave him permission to go.

Surah as-Saffat says that he ran away to a laden ship, drew lots and was among the losers, and then the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy (37:140-142). The Quran does not describe how the lots were drawn or what the people on the ship did.

The dua in the darkness

Inside the fish, Yunus called out in the darknesses. The Quran gives his words, in the meaning of the verse: «إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ», no deity except You, glory be to You, I have been among the wrongdoers (21:87). In few words he declared Allah's oneness, glorified Him, and admitted his own fault.

Allah responded and saved him from the distress, and added, 'And thus do We save the believers' (21:88). Surah as-Saffat says that if he had not been among those who glorified Allah, he would have stayed in the fish's belly until the Day of Resurrection (37:143-144). Then Allah threw him onto an open shore while he was ill and caused a gourd vine to grow over him (37:145-146).

Surah al-Qalam adds that a favour from his Lord reached him, so he was not left on the bare shore in disgrace, and that his Lord chose him and made him among the righteous (68:49-50). In the same place Allah tells the Prophet ﷺ to be patient for the decision of his Lord and not to be like the companion of the fish when he called out in distress (68:48).

Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet ﷺ said that the dua of Dhun-Nun, when he called from the belly of the fish, was the words of 21:87, and that no Muslim man calls upon Allah with it for anything without Allah answering him (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3505, graded sahih).

The people who believed

Allah sent Yunus to a hundred thousand people or more, and they believed, so Allah let them enjoy life for a time (37:147-148). Surah Yunus says that there has been no town that believed, and whose faith benefited it, except the people of Yunus. When they believed, Allah removed from them the punishment of disgrace in this world and let them enjoy life for a while (10:98).

This is a gentle reminder that the door of repentance is open to a whole community, not only to an individual.

What the Prophet ﷺ said about Yunus

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Let none of you say, I am better than Yunus' (Sahih al-Bukhari 3412). In another narration of Ibn Mas'ud he said that it is not right for anyone to say, 'I am better than Yunus ibn Matta' (Sahih al-Bukhari 4603). Scholars explain this as a protection of the honour of the prophets, so that no one lowers the rank of a prophet because of the incident mentioned in the Quran.

The Quran does not name the city of his people, and it does not give the length of time he spent in the fish. Stories that name the city or give a number of days are not found in the Quran or authentic hadith, so we leave them out. The Quran also does not describe the fish or the sea.

Lessons from this story

  • Turn back to Allah in every hardship. Yunus called from the darkness, and Allah answered him (21:87-88).
  • Admitting a mistake is a sign of faith. Yunus did not blame others but said 'I have been among the wrongdoers'.
  • Glorifying Allah in easy times protects a person in hard times (37:143-144).
  • Be patient with people and wait for Allah's decision. The Prophet ﷺ was told not to be like the companion of the fish (68:48).
  • Never lose hope in repentance. A whole town believed and was spared (10:98).
  • Respect the prophets. The Prophet ﷺ taught that no one should say he is better than Yunus (Sahih al-Bukhari 4603).

General information for learning, not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.

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