Prophet
Jonah (Yunus)
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).