يونس
Yunus (Jonah)
Companion of the Whale
Prophet Yunus (Jonah, peace be upon him), also known as Dhun-Nun (The Companion of the Fish/Whale), was sent to the people of Nineveh (in modern-day Iraq). He called them to worship Allah, but they rejected him.
Frustrated by their rejection, Yunus left his people before receiving Allah's permission. He boarded a ship which encountered a violent storm. The passengers cast lots to lighten the load, and Yunus was thrown overboard. He was swallowed by a great whale.
Inside the whale's belly, in layers of darkness, Yunus called out to Allah with the famous supplication: 'There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.' Allah heard his prayer and commanded the whale to release him on shore.
Meanwhile, his people had repented after he left, and Allah forgave them. This is the only example in the Quran of an entire nation being saved after initially rejecting their prophet. Surah Yunus (Chapter 10) is named after him.
Key Events
Rejected by His People
The people of Nineveh initially rejected Yunus's message.
Leaving Without Permission
Yunus left his people in anger without waiting for Allah's command.
Swallowed by the Whale
After being thrown from the ship, Yunus was swallowed by a great whale.
Prayer in Darkness
Inside the whale, Yunus prayed the famous supplication and was saved.
His People's Repentance
The people of Nineveh repented and Allah forgave them.
Survival in the Whale
Yunus survived being swallowed by a whale and was released safely after his repentance.
An Entire Nation Saved
The people of Nineveh repented after Yunus left, and Allah removed the punishment from them.
وَذَا النُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَن لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
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.'
Read Full Verseفَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُنجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.
Read Full Verseفَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ
And had he not been of those who exalt Allah.
Read Full Verseلَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
He would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected.
Read Full VerseDon't leave your mission - Yunus left without permission and faced consequences.
Dhikr saves - Yunus's remembrance of Allah in darkness led to his salvation.
Repentance is always accepted - Both Yunus and his people were forgiven after repenting.
Never give up on people - His people repented after he left, showing change is possible.