Prophet Jonah (Yunus) (pbuh) 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. (Ch 10:98 Quran)
The inhabitants of the town of Nineveh were idolaters who lived
a shameless life. Prophet Jonah (pbuh) 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."
Try as he might to convince them of the foolishness of idolatry
and of the goodness of Allah's laws, the ignored him. He warned them that if
they kept on with their foolishness, Allah's punishment would soon follow.
Instead of fearing Allah, they told Jonah that they were not afraid of his
threats. "Let it happen," they told him. Jonah was disheartened. "in that case,
I will leave you to your misery!" so saying, he left Nineveh, fearing that
Allah's anger would soon follow. Remember Dhan Nun (Jonah), when he went off
in anger, and imagined that We shall not punish him (the calamities which had
befallen him)! (ch 21:87)
Hardly had he left the city when the skies began to change color
and looked as if they were on fire. The people were filled with fear by this
sight. They recalled the destruction of the people of 'Ad, Thamud and Noah. Was
theirs to be a similar fate? Slowly faith penetrated their hearts. They all
gathered on the mountain and started to beseech Allah for His mercy and
forgiveness. The mountains echoed with their cries. It was a momentous hour,
filled with sincere repentance.
Allah removed His wrath and showered His blessings upon them
once again. When the threatening storm was lifted, they prayed for the return of
Jonah so that he could guide them.
Meanwhile, Jonah had boarded a small ship in the company of
other passengers. It sailed all day in calm waters with a good wind blowing at
the sails. When night came, the sea suddenly changed. A horrible storm blew as
if it were going to split the ship into pieces. The waves looked wild. They rose
up as high as mountains then plunged down like valleys, tossing the ship and
sweeping over the deck.
Behind the ship, a large whale was splitting the water and
opening its mouth. A command had been issued from Almighty Allah to one of the
greatest whales of the sea to surface. It obeyed. The whale hurried to the
surface of the sea and followed the ship as it had been commanded.
The tempest continued and the chief crewman asked the crew to
lighten the ship's heavy load. They threw their baggage overboard, but this was
not enough. Their safety lay in reducing the weight further, so they decided
among themselves to lighten their load by removing at least one person.
The captain directed: We will make lots with all of the
travelers' names. The one whose name is drawn will be thrown into the sea."
Jonah knew this was one of the seamen's traditions when facing a tempest. It was
a strange polytheistic tradition, but it was practiced at that time. Jonah's
affliction and crisis began.
Here was the prophet, subjected to polytheistic rules that
considered the sea and the wind to have gods that riot. The captain had to
please these gods. Jonah reluctantly participated in the lot, and his name was
added to the other travelers' names. The lot was drawn and "Jonah" appeared.
Since they knew him to be the most honorable among them, they
did not wish to throw him into the angry sea. Therefore, they decided to draw a
second lot. Again Jonah's name was drawn. They gave him a final chance and drew
a third lot. Unfortunately for Jonah, his name came up again.
Jonah realized that Allah's hand was in all this, for he had
abandoned his mission without Allah's consent. The matter was over, and it was
decided that Jonah should throw himself into the water. Jonah stood at the edge
of the ship looking at the furious sea. It was night and there was no moon. The
stars were hidden behind a black fog. But before he could be thrown overboard,
Jonah kept mentioning Allah's name as he jumped into the raging sea and
disappeared beneath the huge waves.
The whale found Jonah floating on the waves before it. It
swallowed Jonah into its furious stomach and shut its ivory teeth on him as if
they were white bolts locking the door of his prison. The whale dived to the
bottom of the sea, the sea that runs in the abyss of darkness.
Three layers of darkness enveloped him, one above the other; the
darkness of the whale's stomach, the darkness of the bottom of the sea, the
darkness of the night. Jonah imaged himself to be dead, but his senses became
alert when he found he could move. He knew that he was alive and imprisoned in
the midst of three layers of darkness. His heart was moved by remembering Allah.
His tongue released soon after saying: La ilaha illa Anta (none has the right
to be worshipped but You (O Allah), Glorified (and Exalted) be You (above all
that evil they associate with You), Truly, I have been of the wrong doers." (Ch
21:87 Quran)
Jonah continued praying to Allah, repeating this invocation.
Fishes, whales, seaweeds, and all the creatures that lived in the sea heard the
voice of Jonah praying, heard the celebration of Allah's praises issuing from
the whale's stomach. All these creatures gathered around the whale and began to
celebrate the praises of Allah in their turn, each in its own way and in its own
language.
The whale also participated in celebrating the praises of Allah
and understood that it had swallowed a prophet. Therefore it felt afraid;
however, it said to itself; "Why should I be afraid? Allah commanded me to
swallow him."
Allah Almighty saw the sincere repentance of Jonah and heard his
invocation in the whale's stomach. Allah commanded the whale to surface and
eject Jonah onto an island. The whale obeyed and swam to the farthest side of
the ocean. Allah commanded it to rise towards the warm, refreshing sun and the
pleasant earth.
The whale ejected Jonah onto a remote island. His body was
inflamed because of the acids inside the whale's stomach. He was ill, and when
the sun rose, its ray burned his inflamed body so that he was on the verge of
screaming for the pain. However, he endured the pain and continued to repeat his
invocation to Allah.
Almighty Allah caused a vine to grow to considerable length over
him for protection. Then Allah Exalted caused Jonah to recover and forgave him.
Allah told Jonah that if it had not been for his praying to Him, he would have
stayed in the whale's stomach till the Day of Judgment.
Almighty Allah recounted: And, verily, Jonah was one of the
Messengers. When he ran to the laden ship, he agreed to cast lots and he was
among the losers, Then a big fish swallowed him and he had done an act worthy of
blame. Had he not been of them who glorify Allah, he would have indeed remained
inside its belly (the fish) till the Day of Resurrection. But We cast him forth
on the naked shore while he was sick and We caused a plant of gourd to grow over
him. And We sent him to a hundred thousand people or even more, and they
believed; so We gave them enjoyment for a while. (Ch 37:139-148 Quran).
Gradually he regained his strength and found his way to his
hometown, Nineveh. He was pleasantly surprised to notice the change that had
taken place there. The entire population turned out to welcome him. They
informed him that they had turned to believe in Allah. Together they led a
prayer of thanksgiving to their Merciful Lord.
Ibn Abbas narrated: "The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: 'One
should not say I am better than Jonah Ibn Matta.'" (Sahih Bukhari).
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