Yunus (A.S) in the belly of the whale

Yunus (A.S) had already left the town. He walked until he arrived at a sea harbor. As he approached the water, he found a ship ready to set sail. He boarded the ship in the sea. Soon a storm hit them. The sea rolled, and the ship was heavy and it almost sank. The people decided to draw lots with everyone’s name. The one whose name was drawn would be thrown into the sea to lighten their loads. The lot fell on Yunus (A.S). So they drew lots again. A second time the lot fell on Yunus (A.S). Then a third time fell on him again. So they knew that Allah had intended him in this matter.

Yunus (A.S) then was thrown into the sea. Allah sent a whale to swallow him. Allah commanded the whale not to eat him and not to bite him. The whale took him to depths of the sea.

Yunus (A.S) felt very sorry and prayed to Allah to forgive him. He was in the dark belly of the whale. He called out from the depth of darkness, “There is no god other than you. Glory be to You. I have truly been among the wrongdoers."

Allah’s Messenger (Pbuh) says about this supplication, “No Muslim calls upon Allah by these words, about anything, but that Allah will answer his supplication.”

[Ahmed and At-tirmidhee]

Allah showed mercy to Prophet Yunus (A.S) and saved him from the trail. He commanded the whale to spit him onto the shore. It was because of Yunus (A.S) praising Allah and repentance that he was saved from the belly of the Whale. Otherwise, he would have stayed there until the Day of Resurrection.

The Whale swam to the shore and threw him onto it. Yunus (A.S) was exhausted. He was ill. He lay there under the bright glare of the sun. he was feeling very weak.

Allah again showed mercy to Prophet Yunus (A.S). He commanded a plant of the gourd kind to grow over abundantly. Its leaves were very soft. It provided much shade, and flies never approached him. He ate of the fruit, whether cooked or not!

When Yunus (A.S) had fully recovered, he went back to his people and preached to them once again. This time his people believed him and a hundred and twenty thousand or more them accepted his teachings.

There are lessons for the believers in the story of Yunus (A.S). The lesson is that we should never give up our duty to call to the worship of Allah. We should not give up hope or be angry if we do not succeed first; we should continue to do our duty. Success will eventually come. It may be closer to us than we think!