Prophets of Banī IsrāʾīlQur'an

Yūnusعليه السلاميُونُس

Also known as Dhū al-Nūn

About

The prophet sent to the people of Nineveh. Leaving in anger, he was swallowed by the great fish, and in the darkness called upon Allah; he was delivered, and his people believed — the one town saved by faith after warning.

The name

Dhū al-Nūn — the companion of the fish (21:87, 68:48)

Source: Qur'an

The story, as the Qurʼan tells it

The beginningA city of a hundred thousand or more.
37:147
وَأَرْسَلْنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ مِا۟ئَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ
The callIn the darkness he called: 'There is no god but You; glory be to You — I was among the wrongdoers.'
21:87
وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَٰضِبًۭا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
The signHe was cast onto the shore, sick, and a gourd plant was made to grow over him.
37:145-146
۞ فَنَبَذْنَٰهُ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌۭ
The testHe left in anger, thinking Allah would not constrain him; he fled to the laden ship, drew the lot, and was swallowed by the fish.
21:87
وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَٰضِبًۭا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
37:139-142
وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
The outcomeHis people believed — the one city that believed after the warning — and Allah lifted the punishment from them.
10:98
فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ ءَامَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَآ إِيمَٰنُهَآ إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّآ ءَامَنُوا۟ كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْخِزْىِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَٰهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍۢ
37:147-148
وَأَرْسَلْنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ مِا۟ئَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ

The lesson'Do not be like the companion of the fish' — never give up on a people, and never doubt that Allah answers the one who calls in the dark.

68:48-50

فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌۭ

21:88

فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَنَجَّيْنَٰهُ مِنَ ٱلْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُۨجِى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Duʿāʾ — in their own words

Yūnus in the belly of the fish · 21:87

لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Lā ilāha illā anta subḥānaka innī kuntu mina ẓ-ẓālimīn

There is no god but You; glory be to You. I was among the wrongdoers.

Key Qurʼan appearances

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