The Story of Prophet Yunus (Jonah) - Peace Be Upon Him

 

Summary: Allah sent Yunus to the people of Nineveh to call them to worship Him alone. However, they rejected and were arrogant, so he left them, warning them of impending punishment after three nights. Fearing for their lives, they believed, and Allah lifted the punishment from them. Meanwhile, Yunus boarded a ship that was about to sink. They cast lots to decide who would be thrown overboard, and it fell on Yunus three times. He threw himself into the sea, where a whale swallowed him. Allah commanded the whale not to harm him. Yunus prayed to Allah to save him from the darkness, and Allah responded, sending him to a hundred thousand or more people.

His Life: Yunus, son of Matta, was a noble prophet sent by Allah to his people. He preached, advised, and guided them towards goodness, reminding them of the Day of Judgment, warning them of Hell, and encouraging them towards Paradise. He commanded them to do good and called them to worship Allah alone. Despite his efforts, no one believed.

One day, feeling despair and anger towards his people for their disbelief, he left them, promising that punishment would befall them in three days. The Quran does not specify where Yunus’s people were, but it is understood they were near the sea. According to scholars, Yunus was sent to the people of Nineveh in the land of Mosul. His anger led him to the seashore, where he boarded a loaded ship. He had not received divine permission to leave his people or despair of them. When he left, the people repented, turned to Allah, and regretted their actions towards their prophet. They cried out and pleaded to Allah, and everyone, men, women, and children, believed. Allah, in His great power, mercy, and compassion, lifted the punishment they deserved for their disbelief.

The Ship Incident: The ship Yunus boarded faced a storm, and waves rose around it. The people believed that someone on board had committed a sin and must be thrown overboard to save the ship. They cast lots, and Yunus’s name came up. Known for his righteousness, they repeated the lot, and his name came up again. After the third time, they threw him into the sea, or he threw himself. A whale swallowed him because he had abandoned his mission without Allah’s permission. Allah commanded the whale not to harm Yunus. Scholars differ on how long Yunus stayed in the whale’s belly; some say from morning to evening, others say three days, and some say seven days.

Yunus in the Belly of the Whale

When Yunus felt distress in the belly of the whale, in the darkness - the darkness of the whale, the sea, and the night - he glorified Allah, sought His forgiveness, and acknowledged his wrongdoing. He said: “There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers” (Quran 21:87). Allah heard his prayer and responded, causing the whale to release him. “Had he not been of those who exalt Allah, he would have remained in its belly until the Day they are resurrected” (Quran 37:143-144). He emerged from the whale’s belly sick and naked on the shore. Allah caused a gourd plant to grow over him. Scholars mention many benefits of the gourd plant: its leaves are soft, abundant, and provide shade, it repels flies, and its fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, with its skin and seeds. This was part of Allah’s care and kindness. Once Yunus regained his health, Allah sent him back to his people, whom he had left in anger.

The Virtue of Yunus (Peace Be Upon Him)

Many hadiths highlight the virtue of Yunus. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “It is not appropriate for anyone to say that I am better than Yunus ibn Matta” and “Whoever says I am better than Yunus ibn Matta has lied.”
The Sin of Yunus (Peace Be Upon Him)
Now, let’s consider what scholars refer to as the sin of Yunus. Did Yunus commit a sin in the true sense of the word? Do prophets sin? The answer is that prophets are infallible, but this infallibility does not mean they do not commit actions that Allah deems deserving of reprimand. The matter is relative.

Those who know Allah say: “The good deeds of the righteous are the sins of those close to Allah.” This is true. Let’s consider Yunus fleeing from his ungrateful and stubborn people. If any righteous person other than Yunus had done this, it would have been a commendable act for which they would be rewarded, as they fled with their faith from a criminal people.

However, Yunus was a prophet sent by Allah to them. He was supposed to convey Allah’s message without concern for the outcome or waiting for the results of his call. His only duty was to deliver the message.

Therefore, his departure from the village, in the scale of the prophets, warranted Allah’s teaching and punishment.

Allah taught Yunus a lesson in calling to Him, that a prophet’s duty is only to call to Allah. This is the limit of his mission, and he should not exceed it with his sight or heart, nor grieve because his people do not believe.

Yunus left without permission, and look what happened to his people. They believed after he left. Had he stayed, he would have seen this, known it, and his heart would have been at ease, and his anger would have subsided. However, he was hasty, driven by his desire for people to believe. He left out of dislike for their disbelief. Allah punished him and taught him that a prophet’s duty is only to call to Allah, and Allah guides whom He wills.