Yunus

يونس

Dhun-Nun (Companion of the Fish)

MessengerMentioned 4x in Quran

Era

After Sulayman

Location

Nineveh (Iraq)

Nation

People of Nineveh

Age

Unknown

Quick summary

Miracle

Survived inside the whale

The Story

Yunus (peace be upon him) was sent to the people of Nineveh, a city of about 100,000 people who had strayed from Allah's path. He called them to monotheism, but they initially rejected him.

Frustrated by their rejection, Yunus left his people before being given permission by Allah, assuming punishment would come to them. He boarded a ship, but a storm arose and the sailors cast lots to determine who should be thrown overboard to lighten the load. The lot fell on Yunus.

He was thrown into the sea and swallowed by a giant fish (whale). In the darkness of the fish's belly, Yunus called out with his famous supplication: "La ilaha illa anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu min adh-dhalimin" (There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers).

Allah accepted his repentance and commanded the fish to release him on the shore. Remarkably, the people of Nineveh had repented while he was gone - the only nation in history whose collective repentance saved them from punishment after it was decreed.

Yunus returned to his people to find them believers.

Key Events

Sent to Nineveh

Called 100,000 people to Allah

Left Early

Departed before being permitted

Cast from Ship

Thrown overboard after drawing lots

In the Whale

Swallowed by giant fish

The Du'a

Made his famous supplication

Released

Expelled onto shore, ill but saved

Return

Found his people had believed

Lessons from Yunus's Life

Never abandon your mission prematurely

Repentance is always accepted

The du'a of Yunus is powerful in distress

A whole community can be saved through repentance

Quran References

His supplication in the whale

“His supplication in the whale”

— Surah Al-Anbiya•Ayah 87-88

Story of the whale

“Story of the whale”

— Surah As-Saffat•Ayah 139-148

Warning not to be like him in impatience

“Warning not to be like him in impatience”

— Surah Al-Qalam•Ayah 48-50

His people's repentance

“His people's repentance”

— Surah Yunus•Ayah 98

Prophetic Lineage

Father/Ancestor

Ya'qub

يعقوب

Yunus

يونس

The Story

Yunus (peace be upon him) was sent to the people of Nineveh, a city of about 100,000 people who had strayed from Allah's path. He called them to monotheism, but they initially rejected him.

Yunus returned to his people to find them believers.

Quran References

His supplication in the whale

“His supplication in the whale”

— Surah Al-Anbiya•Ayah 87-88

Story of the whale

“Story of the whale”

— Surah As-Saffat•Ayah 139-148

Warning not to be like him in impatience

“Warning not to be like him in impatience”

— Surah Al-Qalam•Ayah 48-50

His people's repentance

“His people's repentance”

— Surah Yunus•Ayah 98

The Story

Yunus (peace be upon him) was sent to the people of Nineveh, a city of about 100,000 people who had strayed from Allah's path. He called them to monotheism, but they initially rejected him.

Yunus returned to his people to find them believers.

Quran References

His supplication in the whale

“His supplication in the whale”

— Surah Al-Anbiya•Ayah 87-88

Story of the whale

“Story of the whale”

— Surah As-Saffat•Ayah 139-148

Warning not to be like him in impatience

“Warning not to be like him in impatience”

— Surah Al-Qalam•Ayah 48-50

His people's repentance

“His people's repentance”

— Surah Yunus•Ayah 98

The Story

Yunus (peace be upon him) was sent to the people of Nineveh, a city of about 100,000 people who had strayed from Allah's path. He called them to monotheism, but they initially rejected him.

Yunus returned to his people to find them believers.

Quran References

His supplication in the whale

“His supplication in the whale”

— Surah Al-Anbiya•Ayah 87-88

Story of the whale

“Story of the whale”

— Surah As-Saffat•Ayah 139-148

Warning not to be like him in impatience

“Warning not to be like him in impatience”

— Surah Al-Qalam•Ayah 48-50

His people's repentance

“His people's repentance”

— Surah Yunus•Ayah 98