The story of Prophet
Younus (Jonas) is narrated in three Surahs of the Glorious Qur’an viz
Al-Anbiya, As-Saffa’at, Al-Qalam. In
Ayah 87 of Surah al-Anbiya, he is referred as “Zan-Nun”. The Arabic word “Nun”
means a huge fish or crocodile. Zan-Nun means ‘The possessor of crocodile’ He
was the descendant of Prophet Hud born before 825B.C. in Neynawa, Iraq. He invited
people towards Monotheism and struggled against corruption for 40 years, but no
one accepted his invitation except a few. When he was disappointed with them,
he decided to curse them, and Allah accepted his plea and informed him of the
time of punishment to fall on the people. Before the arrival of chastisement,
he went away from his people and boarded a ship. Surah As-Saffa’t Ayah 140 uses
the word “Abaqa” meaning ‘a ran away slave’ shows how Allah treats a high
stationed Prophet, by virtue of his “leaving
the better” (Tark-e-Ula), treats him like a ran away slave! His “Tark
Ula was twofold; he made haste in invoking Allah’s Chastisement on his people
and left his people instead of
staying with them to the end. While on the ship, a huge fish came near it
with open mouth as if asking for food. The captain of the ship said that it
seemed there was a sinner on board (or that there was excessive weight in the
ship hence one person was to be off-loaded), and they cast lots 3 times and
each time it came for Younus; hence they threw him into the waiting mouth of
the fish. Allah ordered the huge Fish not to hurt him. Ayah 143 and 144 of Surah As-Saffa’t which says, “So had he not been of
those that Glorify Allah, He would have tarried in its belly until the Day of
Resurrection.”
As for the period for which he was in the belly of that huge
fish, there are reports stating that time varying from 9 hours to many weeks.
There is no definite proof for that. In
Tafsir Noor al-Thaqalayn by Ali ibn Ibrahim that the Commander of the Faithful
Imam Ali (a.s.) said that Prophet Younus was in the belly of the fish for 9
hours.
Allah protected four Prophets in relation with water in
different forms: Younus was protected under the water, Noah on the water, Musa
and Yousuf near the water. He supplicated to Allah as, “La Ilaha Illah Anta Subhanaka Inni Kuntu Minazzalimeen.” “There is no god but you (O my Lord!) Glory be to You! Verily
I was of the unjust ones!”. Allah accepted his Du’a’ and ordered the huge
fish to throw him out near a sea-side. He became sick being inside the belly and
Allah by His infinite Mercy, caused to grow the plant of gourds over Younus which
has large leaves full of water and prevents insects approach it. As a practical
advice facing any calamity or hardship, one should realize that except for
Allah there is no support or savior. Do not have any misgivings about Allah and
accept your mistake or sin. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) had advised us to
invoke any Beautiful Names of Allah (Asma-ul-Husna) relevant to the situation
for acceptance of Du’a’.
When Prophet Younus left his people, they were shocked severely
for the approaching Divine Wrath and went to a learned man and under his
leadership decided to repent. They went to a desert keeping men, women and
children separate, cried loudly for the sins which resulted in the termination
of Allah’s Wrath.
Later, Prophet Younus returned to his people to see the
extent of punishment but was surprised to see what repentance had done to them
that from idol-worshipers they had turned into worshipers of Allah.
Lessons drawn from
this story:
Sins or even “Leaving
the better” Tark Ula from a Prophet is not acceptable.
Realization of sins
and supplication seeking Allah’s forgiveness.
A community destined
to face the Allah’s Wrath may revert to virtues as early as possible and repent
to Allah.
Faith and abstention
from sins may increase Blessings and Gifts of Allah.
Allah is the Most
Powerful and nothing is impossible for Him.
Sources: The Holy Qur’an by S.V. Mir Ahmed Ali and Ayatollah
Agha H.M.M. Pooya Yazdi
The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu Translation) by Ayatollah
Nasir Makarem Shirazi
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