The Story of Prophet Yunus (as)
Reading time: 3 - 4 minutes
By some random dude off the internet
The Quran and Hadith are full of stories from the life and times of the Prophets sent down by Allah. For every nation, there was a warner - a prophet, who would call to righteousness and good deeds. This weeks newsletter will focus on the story of Prophet Yunus (Jonas) as.
Description of Jonah’s People
The inhabitants of the town of Nineveh were wrongdoers who lived a shameless life. Prophet Jonah 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.”
Jonah Leaves His People
Try as he might to convince them of the foolishness of of their ways and of the goodness of Allah’s laws, they 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.
The People are Forgiven
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.
Jonnah is eaten by a whale
Meanwhile, Jonah had boarded a small ship in the company of other passengers. He was thrown overboard in a devastating storm and swallowed whole by a whale.
He knew that he was alive and imprisoned in the belly of a whale. His heart was moved by remembering Allah. His tongue was released soon after saying:
“La ilaha illa Anta (none has the right to be worshipped but You (0, Allah), Glorified (and Exalted) be You above all that (evil) they associate with You. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers.” Surah 21:87
Jonah continued praying to Allah, repeating this invocation. Fishes, whales, sea-weeds, 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.”
Jonah’s People - Changed
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.
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