بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Yunus (Jonah) was appointed as a prophet when he was twenty-eight years old. He was given the book known in the Old Testament as The Book of Jonah and was sent to the people of Nineveh.
After the demise of Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him), the Israelites turned away from faith and became involved in idolatry, disbelief, and disobedience to the commands of their Lord. When their faith in God weakened and they became absorbed in the love of wealth and worldly gain, the divine law of consequence took effect. Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, killing over seventy thousand Israelites, while many more were taken captive. Fifty years later, the Romans invaded the Holy Land and once again punished these ungrateful people for their transgressions.
After the Roman period, Nineveh and Babylon regained prosperity. During the Assyrian era, when Ashur was the capital, Nineveh was a small town on the banks of the River Tigris. One Assyrian king built a temple for his god, and subsequent kings added palaces, libraries, and grand structures, transforming this small town into one of the most respected cities in Northern Mesopotamia and the capital of the Assyrian Empire. King Ashurbanipal constructed a magnificent palace and library.
The royal palace and temple stood at the city’s center, allowing the king to overlook its bustling streets, markets, and gardens. In the north were multistoried buildings, in the west lay fields, orchards, and farms. The city was adorned with fountains, marble slabs, and flourishing plantations, reflecting the Assyrians’ love of art and architecture. They were famous for their sculptures and carvings, filling their stone reliefs with vibrant colors depicting gods, kings, and animals. Yet, despite their civilization, the people of Nineveh were cruel and oppressive. When they conquered a land, they destroyed it completely, showing no mercy to its inhabitants. Their soldiers were rewarded for every head they severed. Their greatest god was Ashur, and their kings were revered as divine representatives on earth.
When Allah commanded Jonah to preach, he went to Nineveh and delivered the message of God to King Banipal, urging him to release the Israelite captives. The king became enraged and sought to punish him, but God restrained him. Jonah continued to call him to repentance, but the king refused to listen. When the king ignored him, Jonah began preaching to the people, warning them to abandon idol worship and follow the One God.
The people, however, mocked and ridiculed him. They dismissed his message of righteousness and continued in corruption. Seeing their stubbornness, Jonah warned them: “If you do not abandon idolatry and free the Israelite captives within forty days, the wrath of God will descend upon you and this city will be destroyed.”
The people scoffed and replied, “We will wait to see your wrath of God.”
After thirty days, Jonah left the city and went about twelve miles away. On the thirty-fifth day, dark smoke filled the skies over Nineveh, and fire began to fall upon the city. Terror spread among the people, including the king. Men, women, and children dressed in sackcloth, gathered in the open, and cried in repentance, begging for God’s forgiveness and promising to follow His messenger. Allah accepted their repentance, and the punishment was withdrawn.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ آمَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَا إِيمَانُهَا إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ ۚ لَمَّا آمَنُوا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ الْخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ
“Why was there not a single township among those We warned that believed, so its faith should have profited it, except the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the penalty of disgrace in this world and granted them enjoyment for a while.”
(Surah Yunus, 10:98)
Jonah waited outside the city for God’s punishment to fall. But when he saw that no destruction came upon them, he grew disheartened. He thought that God had forsaken him and feared being called a liar by the people if he returned. Without waiting for divine instruction, he departed in frustration.
According to tradition, Jonah traveled toward Rome with his wife and two children. On the way, they camped in a wilderness. When Jonah left briefly to find provisions, a passing king abducted his wife. When Jonah returned and learned what had happened, he accepted it as the will of God and comforted his children.
Later, while crossing a stream, a wolf carried off one of his sons, and the other was lost to the river’s current. Jonah, broken-hearted yet patient, continued his journey until he reached the Euphrates, where he boarded a boat. Soon a violent storm arose.
The people on the ship believed that a runaway slave among them had angered the gods, and that unless he was cast overboard, the ship would sink. Jonah realized his error and confessed, “It is I who fled from my Lord.”
The captain, out of respect for him, hesitated to throw him into the sea. But when the storm worsened, they cast lots three times, and each time Jonah’s name appeared. He was thrown into the water, and a great fish swallowed him by God’s command.
فَسَاهَمَ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْمُدْحَضِينَ فَالْتَقَمَهُ الْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
“So he cast lots and was among the losers. Then the fish swallowed him, and he was blameworthy. Had he not been among those who glorify Allah, he would have remained in its belly until the Day of Resurrection.”
(Surah As-Saffat, 37:141–144)
In the darkness of the fish’s belly, Jonah realized his mistake and repented sincerely, glorifying his Lord.
وَذَا النُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَن لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُنجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“And remember Zun-nun (Jonah) when he went off in anger and thought We would not decree upon him. He cried out from the darkness: ‘There is no god but You, Glory be to You, indeed I was among the wrongdoers.’ So We responded to him and saved him from distress, and thus do We save the believers.”
(Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:87–88)
Jonah remained in the fish’s belly for three days and three nights. When God accepted his repentance, the fish released him upon the shore, weak and exhausted. Allah caused a plant to grow over him for shade and healing.
فَنَبَذْنَاهُ بِالْعَرَاءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌ وَأَنبَتْنَا عَلَيْهِ شَجَرَةً مِّن يَقْطِينٍ
“So We cast him forth on the naked shore while he was ill, and We caused a gourd plant to grow over him.”
(Surah As-Saffat, 37:145–146)
His body, fragile like that of a newborn, gradually healed under the tree’s shade. Later, the plant withered, and Jonah grieved its loss. Allah revealed to him, “You grieve for a single plant, yet you were angered at the thought of Me sparing a city of one hundred thousand souls.”
Jonah fell in prostration, repented again, and prayed for mercy.
God then commanded Jonah to return to Nineveh and guide its people once more. This time, they welcomed him with joy, accepted faith in the One God, and lived righteously.
وَأَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ مِائَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ فَآمَنُوا فَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ
“And We sent him to a hundred thousand or more, and they believed; so We allowed them to enjoy life for a time.”
(Surah As-Saffat, 37:147–148)
By God’s grace, Jonah’s wife and children were also restored to him. He lived the rest of his life in Nineveh and was eventually buried near Mosul.
Scholars mention that Jonah made three errors for which he endured hardship. He fixed a date for the punishment without divine instruction. He left his people before receiving God’s command to depart. When the punishment was withheld, he did not return, fearing humiliation.
Yet God, the Most Merciful, forgave him.
The Qur’an reminds us that Jonah’s story is not merely history but a lesson for all humanity. Just as the people of Nineveh repented and were saved, we too can find deliverance if we return to God with sincerity and faith.
إِنَّ كُلًّا لَّمَّا لَيُوَفِّيَنَّهُمْ رَبُّكَ أَعْمَالَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
“Indeed, to each, your Lord will fully repay their deeds. Surely He is All-Aware of what they do.”
(Surah Hud, 11:111)
Indeed, every one of us is a servant of God, and none can escape His decree. If we repent, follow His guidance, and live in righteousness, He will deliver us just as He delivered Jonah.