Prophet Yunus (Jonah)
8th century BCE (people of Nineveh; Assyrian period).
Yunus (Jonah), also called Dhan-Nun, was sent to the people of Nineveh, who were idolaters. When they rejected his call, he left in anger, thinking Allah would not call him to account. He boarded a ship; when a storm arose, lots were cast and he was thrown overboard. A great fish swallowed him; in the darkness of its belly he called out: "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed I have been of the wrongdoers." Allah answered him and cast him onto the shore; a gourd vine grew over him. Meanwhile his people repented and believed; Allah removed the punishment and did not destroy them. His story is a reminder that one must not despair of Allah's mercy and that repentance can avert punishment.
Prophet Jonah (Yunus) (peace be upon him), also known as Dhan-Nun. About his people Almighty Allah said: "Was there any town community that believed after seeing the punishment, and its Faith at that moment saved it from the punishment? (the answer is none)—except the people of Jonah; when they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the present world, and permitted them to enjoy for a while." (Yunus 10:98) The inhabitants of the town of Nineveh were idolaters who lived a shameless life. Prophet Jonah was sent to teach them the worship of Allah. The people disliked his interference in their way of worship, so they argued: "We and our forefathers have worshipped these gods for many years and no harm has come to us."
In this story
- Description of Jonah’s people
- Jonah leaves his people
- The people are forgiven
- The storm at sea and Jonah jumps into the sea
- The whale swallows Jonah
- Allah forgives Jonah
- Jonah’s people — changed
- The ship and the fish (Quranic summary)
- His people believed and were forgiven
Where the Quran tells it
- As-Saffat 37:139-148
- Yunus 10:98
- Al-Anbiya 21:87-88
- Al-Qalam 68:48-50
- An-Nisa 4:163