The Call of Yunus to His People
Allah sent His prophet Yunus to his people, who were idol worshipers. He forbade them from worshiping idols and called them to the Oneness of Allah. Yunus exerted great effort in delivering the message of his Lord, but they responded with rejection, hostility, and denial. When Yunus sensed their disbelief, he warned them of Allah’s wrath and anger. He threatened them with the coming of Allah’s punishment after three days if they did not believe. Then, he left his people, angry, thinking that he had fulfilled his duty in delivering the message. He set out toward the sea.
It appears from the texts related to the story of Yunus that Allah did not command him to leave, as Allah described him as a runaway slave. Allah says in the Quran:
“When he ran away to the laden ship” (Surah As-Saffat, 37:140).
(إِذْ أَبَقَ إِلَى الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ)
Yunus should have submitted to Allah’s command. It is not permissible for a prophet to leave his town or migrate without Allah’s permission. This is why Allah forbade His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) from being like the companion of the whale (Yunus) in his hastiness and lack of patience. Allah says:
“So be patient with the decree of your Lord, and do not be like the Companion of the Fish” (Surah Al-Qalam, 68:48).
(فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ الْحُوتِ)
The Repentance of Yunus’s People
When Yunus’s people saw the signs of the impending punishment, they realized it was coming to them. They repented to Allah, regretting their denial of their messenger. They separated every animal from its young, then went out praying, pleading, and supplicating to Allah. By His power and mercy, Allah removed the punishment that had encompassed them. Allah informed us that the belief of Yunus’s people benefited them after the punishment was decreed, and He lifted it from them. Allah says:
“Then has there not been a single city that believed so its faith benefited it except the people of Yunus? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in the worldly life and gave them enjoyment for a time” (Surah Yunus, 10:98).
(فَلَولا كانَت قَريَةٌ آمَنَت فَنَفَعَها إيمانُها إِلّا قَومَ يونُسَ لَمّا آمَنوا كَشَفنا عَنهُم عَذابَ الخِزيِ فِي الحَياةِ الدُّنيا وَمَتَّعناهُم إِلى حينٍ)
Yunus in the Belly of the Whale
When Yunus left his people in anger due to their rejection of his call, he walked until he boarded a ship at sea. The ship was tossed by the waves, nearly causing it to sink. The passengers realized that one of them had to be thrown overboard to save the rest. They decided to draw lots, and the lot fell on Yunus.
Although they knew who he was and were reluctant to throw him into the water, they drew lots again, and once more, the lot fell on Yunus. After drawing lots a third time and the lot falling on Yunus yet again, they found no choice but to cast him into the sea. Allah sent a whale to swallow him, and it carried him through all the seas. Allah commanded the whale not to harm Yunus by eating his flesh or breaking his bones. Yunus was surrounded by three layers of darkness: the darkness of the sea, the darkness of the whale, and the darkness of the night. He remained in the belly of the whale for a period known only to Allah.
Allah’s Response to Yunus’s Supplication
While in the belly of the whale, Prophet Yunus heard the pebbles and the sea creatures glorifying Allah. He realized his mistake and turned to Allah in praise. He remembered Allah, glorified Him, and earnestly supplicated for the removal of his distress. Allah inspired him with the words that would dispel the darkness and remove the distress. Yunus called upon his Lord, saying:
“But he cried through the darkness, ‘There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.’ So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers” (Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:87-88).
(وَذَا النُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَى فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَن لَّا إِلَـهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ * فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَكَذَلِكَ نُنجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ)
Allah caused a tree of gourd to grow over him for shade and food. Scholars have mentioned that the wisdom behind this was that the gourd tree has many benefits; it strengthens the body, and its fruit can be eaten in various forms, whether raw, cooked, with its peel, or with its seeds. After Yunus regained his health, Allah commanded him to return to his people, whom he had left behind. He found them believers in Allah, eagerly awaiting his return to follow him. He stayed with them, teaching and guiding them.