From the Quran
Surah Al-An’am (6:86)
Arabic: وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَالْيَسَعَ وَيُونُسَ وَلُوطًا ۚ وَكُلًّا فَضَّلْنَا عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ
Translation: “And Ismail, Elisha, Jonah, and Lot—We favoured each one of them over the worlds.”
Surah Yunus (10:98)
Arabic: فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ آمَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَا إِيمَانُهَا إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّا آمَنُوا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ الْخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ
Translation: “If only there had been a society which believed and benefited from its belief, except the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in worldly life and gave them comfort for a while.”
Surah As-Saffat (37:139-148)
Arabic: وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ
إِذْ أَبَقَ إِلَى الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ
فَسَاهَمَ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْمُدْحَضِينَ
فَالْتَقَمَهُ الْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ
فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ
لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
فَنَبَذْنَاهُ بِالْعَرَاءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌ
وَأَنبَتْنَا عَلَيْهِ شَجَرَةً مِّن يَقْطِينٍ
وَأَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ مِائَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ
فَآمَنُوا فَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ
Translation: “Indeed, Jonah was among the messengers.
When he ran away to the laden ship,
He drew lots and was among the losers.
Then the fish swallowed him, while he was blameworthy.
And had he not been of those who exalt Allah,
He would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected.
But We cast him forth on the open shore while he was ill.
And We caused a gourd tree to grow over him.
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 Al-Anbiya (21:87-88)
Arabic: وَذَا النُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَن لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُنجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Translation: “And [mention] the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, ‘There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.’
So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.”
Prophet Yunus (PBUH), also known as Jonah in English, was one of the messengers of Allah sent to guide the people of Nineveh, a large city with a population of over 100,000. The people of Nineveh were idol worshippers and had turned away from the path of Allah. Prophet Yunus (PBUH) was tasked with calling them to monotheism and to abandon their corrupt ways, warning them of Allah’s punishment if they did not repent.
The Warning and Departure
Prophet Yunus (PBUH) spent many years preaching to the people of Nineveh, but they rejected his message and ridiculed him. Frustrated by their stubbornness and rejection, Yunus (PBUH) became disheartened. Believing that they were beyond hope, he decided to leave the city without waiting for further instructions from Allah, feeling that his mission had failed. This was an error on his part, as prophets are instructed to act only upon the command of Allah.
The Consequence and The Ship
After leaving Nineveh, Prophet Yunus (PBUH) boarded a ship, hoping to sail far away from the people who had rejected him. However, as the ship was at sea, it encountered a terrible storm. The sailors, who were polytheists, believed the storm was a divine punishment because of someone’s wrongdoing on board. They decided to draw lots to determine who among them was to be cast overboard to save the rest. When the lots were drawn, it was Yunus (PBUH) who was chosen.
Realizing that the storm was a result of his premature departure, Prophet Yunus (PBUH) accepted his fate. He was thrown into the sea, where he was swallowed by a large fish (often referred to as a whale in Islamic tradition). This was a punishment and a test from Allah for Yunus’ (PBUH) lack of patience and abandonment of his mission without divine permission.
The Prayer in the Belly of the Fish
While in the belly of the fish, Prophet Yunus (PBUH) realized his mistake. He turned to Allah in sincere repentance and supplication, acknowledging his error. In the darkness of the fish’s belly, deep in the ocean, Yunus (PBUH) recited a powerful prayer, which is mentioned in the Quran:
“There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.” (Quran 21:87)
This prayer is known as the “Dua of Yunus”, a supplication that is still recited by Muslims in times of distress and difficulty. Prophet Yunus (PBUH) recognized that only Allah could save him, and he fully submitted to His will.
The Mercy of Allah
Due to his sincere repentance, Allah forgave Prophet Yunus (PBUH) and commanded the fish to release him. The fish swam to the shore and spat Yunus (PBUH) out onto dry land. He was weak and ill from his time inside the fish, but Allah caused a gourd tree to grow near him, providing him with shade and nourishment. Gradually, Prophet Yunus (PBUH) regained his health.
The Return to Nineveh
After being saved, Yunus (PBUH) was instructed by Allah to return to Nineveh. To his surprise, upon his return, he found that the people of Nineveh had repented. During his absence, the signs of Allah’s impending punishment appeared in the sky, causing the people to realize the truth of Yunus’ (PBUH) message. They had turned to Allah in sincere repentance and sought His forgiveness.
Out of His infinite mercy, Allah spared the people of Nineveh from the punishment that had been destined for them. Prophet Yunus (PBUH) resumed his mission, guiding them on the straight path, and the people of Nineveh lived in peace for many years.
Also, read the Story of Prophet Alyasa (Elisha) (Pbuh)