Curious about the story of the prophet Yunus? You’re in the right place! Welcome back to our series, where we talk about the stories of the Quran. We break down and simplify these stories so kids can easily understand and learn from them. We talked about the story of the prophet Ibrahim and Surah Al-Fil for kids. Today we explore one of the most interesting stories in the Quran: the prophet who was swallowed by a whale.
Think about a time when you felt overwhelmed by a challenging situation. Maybe you wanted to simply walk away and leave all the troubles behind. The story of Prophet Yunus, known as Jonah in the Bible, is the perfect example of the same experience we all go through. however, it’s not just a tale to tell, it’s a powerful lesson in patience and the importance of fulfilling our duties and commitments. More importantly, it teaches us how to find our way back to Allah.
In this article, we will dive into the story of Prophet Yunus and explore some key points along the way:
- What is the story of Prophet Yunus in the Quran?
- Why did the whale swallow Prophet Yunus?
- How long did Prophet Yunus stay inside the whale?
- What lessons can we take from the experience of Prophet Yunus?
We’ll also touch on his death and how old he might have been when that happened. Are you ready to join us through this tale? Let’s get started.
What is the Story of Prophet Yunus and the Whale?
The story of Prophet Yunus was mentioned in Quraan in various Surahs:
- Surah As-Saffat (Chapter 37, verses 139–148)
- Surah Al-Anbiya (Chapter 21, verses 87–88)
- Surah Yunus (Chapter 10, verse 98).
- Surah Al-Qalam (Chapter 68, verses 48-50)
Allah Almighty sent the prophet Yunus to the people of Nineveh in the land of Mosul (Iraq). It was infamous for being a wicked city where everyone worshipped idols and forgot about Allah. Yunus tried his best to spread Allah’s message and invite his people to worship only Allah SWT. However, no one listened, and they rejected his invitation. He was persistent and did not give up despite their harsh words, he warned them of Allah’s punishment. But they laughed at him and mocked him. They continued to worship their idols.
Even though Yunus was a prophet, he was also human. He felt angry and lost hope. He was frustrated and felt like he was getting nowhere and his people’s fate was already sealed, so he decided to leave in anger. He prayed that Allah would punish his people for not listening. But here’s the thing: He left the city without waiting for Allah’s permission.
He boarded a ship and wanted to get as far away as possible from his people. Things were fine at first but then a fierce storm hit, the ship was shaking and almost sank. so people kept throwing things and luggage out of the ship to ease the load. but it didn’t work out. Then they had to choose to sacrifice someone so they don’t all drown. To do this they drew lots and the one with the shortest straw will be the one they throw into the sea. When they drew the lots, the name of Yunus (peace be upon him) came out. However, they did not want to throw him (because of what they knew of him). So they repeated the draw a second time and again, it was him. He volunteered to throw himself, but again they refused. They repeated it a third time and once again his name came. With no other choice, they threw him into the sea, It was all written, nothing can change the decree of Allah. When he fell into the sea a whale, swallowed him.
وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ ١٣٩ إِذْ أَبَقَ إِلَى ٱلْفُلْكِ ٱلْمَشْحُونِ ١٤٠ فَسَاهَمَ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُدْحَضِينَ ١٤١فَٱلْتَقَمَهُ ٱلْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌۭ ١٤٢
“And indeed, Yunus was among the messengers. [Mention] when he ran away to the laden ship. And he drew lots and was among the losers. Then the fish swallowed him, while he was blameworthy.” (Surah As-Saffat, 37:139-142)
The Dua of Prophet Yunus
Prophet Yunus was unconscious. When he woke up, he found himself in total darkness. He thought he had died and was in the grave. But soon he realized he was inside a whale. Someone else would have just accepted that they would soon meet their end if they hadn’t already. But, Prophet Yunus had faith in Allah. It was there, in that moment of utter despair, that he realized his mistake of leaving without consent. He admitted he was wrong saying his infamous Dua:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
“There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.” (Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:87)
: “La ilaha illa anta, Subhanaka, inni kuntu minaz-zalimin”
He constantly repeated this Dua for as long as he stayed in the whale’s belly believing that only Allah was capable of saving him from such hardship.
Today, this dua of Prophet Yunus is one of the most famous duas Muslims use when they feel they have made a mistake and want to repent. It also brings relief from anxiety, grief, and depression. Saad ibn Abi Waqâs reported that the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said:
“Whoever supplicates using the supplication of Yunus will be answered.” (Sunan Al Tirmidhi 3505)
Allah heard Yunus’ prayer and supplication. Therefore, he commanded the fish to release him safely on the shore.
After this, he returned to Nineveh. To his surprise, he found out that his people also repented and returned to Allah. When he left, a fierce storm hit the town, and people feared and remembered Yunus’s warning of Allah’s Punishment. They also recalled what happened to the people of ‘Ad, Thamud, and Noah. They became very frightened that Allah would destroy them so they prayed for mercy and forgiveness.
Allah says in the Quran that there was never any town before Ninevah in which the entire population repented. and He saved them from his wrath and punishment.
فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ ءَامَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَآ إِيمَـٰنُهَآ إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّآ ءَامَنُوا۟ كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْخِزْىِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَـٰهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍۢ ٩٨
“Was there any town that believed [after seeing the punishment] and its faith [at the time] saved it [from the punishment], except the people of Yunus (Jonah)? When they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of this world, and permitted them to enjoy for a time.” Surah Yunus – 98
Prophet Yunus became known as the man of the fish, as referred to him in Quraan (Zun-Nun).
وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَـٰضِبًۭا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ٨٧
“And remember Dhun-Noon [Yunus] when he went off in anger and imagined that We shall not punish him. But he cried through the darkness, [saying], ‘There is none worthy of worship except You. Glory be to You, truly I have been among the wrongdoers. Surah Al-Anbya – 87
You might be asking yourself: Why did the whale swallow him in the first place? Keep reading to find out.
Why Did the Whale Swallow Prophet Yunus?
Your kids might think that being swallowed was a punishment in the story of the prophet Yunus because he walked out of his responsibility. But the truth is, it wasn’t. That’s a very important thing to correct for your child. Allah sent the whale to save Yunus, not to harm or punish him. Let’s think about it: when people threw him out of the ship, Yunus was in the middle of a stormy sea. If it weren’t for the whale, he would have simply drowned and died. The whale was Allah’s way of protecting him and giving him a chance to think about what he had done.
فَلَوْلَآ أَنَّهُۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُسَبِّحِينَ ١٤٣ لَلَبِثَ فِى بَطْنِهِۦٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ ١٤٤ ۞ فَنَبَذْنَـٰهُ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌۭ ١٤٥ وَأَنۢبَتْنَا عَلَيْهِ شَجَرَةًۭ مِّن يَقْطِينٍۢ ١٤٦ وَأَرْسَلْنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰ مِا۟ئَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ ١٤٧ فَـَٔامَنُوا۟ فَمَتَّعْنَـٰهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍۢ ١٤٨
“And had he not been of those who exalt Allah, he would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected. But We threw him onto the open shore while he was ill. and caused a squash plant to grow over him We ˹later˺ sent him ˹back˺ to ˹his city of˺ at least one hundred thousand people,who then believed ˹in him˺, so We allowed them enjoyment for a while..” (Surah As-Saffat, 37:143-148)
You see, it wasn’t a punishment. The whale also brought him safely to land. Allah SWT grew trees over him to provide him with food and shade. This was yet another sign of Allah’s (SWT) mercifulness.
How Long Did Yunus Stay in the Whale?
How long was Yunus there? The Quran and Hadith don’t mention an exact number of days. However, scholars believe it was three days and three nights. Some say it could have been longer (seven or even forty days.)
While inside the whale, Yunus didn’t just sit there feeling sorry for himself. He prayed, and he repented. This was like a second chance for him to reflect and reconnect with Allah and Ask for forgiveness.
So now that we know the story of the prophet Yunus, let’s reflect on the lessons we can learn from his miraculous saving. Keep reading.
What Lesson Do We Learn from the Story of Prophet Yunus?
Even though The story of Prophet Yunus was many many years ago, it still lives on. It teaches us so much about life and how we should handle tough situations. Here are some key lessons we can all learn:
Be Patient When Times Are Tough
The story of prophet Yunus shows us that patience is so important and it is an essential act of worship. Even If you don’t see immediate results of your effort, be patient. He kept praying and repeating his Dua and he stayed patient waiting for Allah to save him and he never stopped praying.
فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌۭ ٤٨ لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌۭ ٤٩ فَٱجْتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ فَجَعَلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ٥٠
“So wait with patience for the decision of your Lord and do not be like the companion of the fish [Yunus], when he cried out [to Us] when he was in deep sorrow. Were it not for the Grace of his Lord reaching him, he would indeed have been [left in the fish, but We forgave him]. So he was cast out onto the barren shore while he was to be blamed. Then his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.” Surah Al-Qalam – 48-50
Always Repent And go back to Allah.
Allah is the most Forgiving ” Al-Ghafour. No matter how big our mistakes might seem, it’s never too late to return to Allah. Yunus’ prayer inside the whale shows us that when we sincerely ask for forgiveness, Allah’s mercy is always there for us. He is always there for us and loves us to pray and repent so he can forgive our mistakes.
Prophets are Human after all.
Even though prophets are righteous people who never commit sin or disobey Allah’s command, they are humans after all. they feel anger, frustration and sometimes lose hope.
But Allah shows us and tells us their stories so we can learn such lessons from them.
Think about a time when you felt like giving up. Maybe things weren’t going your way no matter how much you felt you tried. Therefore, you wanted to quit. This is a normal feeling for us humans. Yunus felt that way too,
Trust Allah and Stick to Your Responsibilities
Have you ever wanted to just walk away from something difficult? Yunus did; it’s par of our human nature. However, the story of Prophet Yunus shows us why it’s important not to give up on our responsibilities. It teaches us to always trust that Allah has a bigger and better plan, even when it’s tough.
وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱلْحَىِّ ٱلَّذِى لَا يَمُوتُ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِهِۦ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِهِۦ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِۦ خَبِيرًا ٥٨
“And rely upon the Ever-Living who does not die, and exalt [Allah] with His praise.” (Surah Al-Furqan, 25:58)
Allah is the most merciful
Even though Yunus made a mistake, Allah didn’t abandon him. Instead, he gave him a way to return and finish what he started. Teach your children that it’s okay to make mistakes; it is a natural part of life. Encourage them to seek forgiveness from Allah, as He is always ready to show compassion and grant forgiveness. just as he forgave Yunus and saved him from the belly of the whale, he will forgive our mistakes if we are honest.
Sometimes we find ourselves desperate in the face of many challenges. At those moments we must always remember that Allah is the most merciful, the most compassionate. We should never despair at his mercy. We must always believe he is with us and that he will ease our suffering just as he brought Yunus to the land.
فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَنَجَّيْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُـۨجِى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٨٨
“So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.” (Surah Al-Anbyaa 88)
The Power of Dua and Supplication
Dua and Dhiker (Remembrance of Allah) are such a powerful tool. When you constantly make Dua and remember Allah, you feel connected to him. They remind you that Allah is always with you every step of the way. Make sure to teach your kids this and you can always engage them and make them repeat Dua and Dhiker with you so they can develop this beautiful habit and grow with it. If it weren’t for his dua, Yunus would have stayed in the whale’s belly until the day of judgment.
فَلَوْلَآ أَنَّهُۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُسَبِّحِينَ ١٤٣ لَلَبِثَ فِى بَطْنِهِۦٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ ١٤٤
“And had he not been of those who exalt Allah, he would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected. (Surah As-Saffat, 37:143-144)
How Did Prophet Yunus Die?
You might wonder how Prophet Yunus’ life ended after all this. Actually, the details of his death aren’t fully known, as Islamic texts don’t specify how he passed away. But it’s generally believed that he continued to live a life devoted to Allah. He spread his message and eventually passed away peacefully.
How Old Was Prophet Yunus When He Died?
Prophet Yunus spent his life in Ninevah until he died in the 8th century BC and was buried in Mosul, Iraq. The Quran and Hadith do not mention his age when he died. Thus, we don’t know exactly how long he lived. However, what truly matters is not the details of his death but rather the way he lived his life and the lessons he left behind. the way he was patient inside of the whale and the way he admitted his wrongdoing and trusted Allah. The story of prophet Yunus is the biggest example of never giving up on our responsibilities.
Conclusion
Your child may be excited by how Yunus was swallowed by the whale and how he survived. However, it is important to let them know that there’s so much more they can take away from the story of prophet Yunus. Such as the importance of patience, faith, and trust in Allah. Talk to them about repentance and seeking forgiveness for our sins and never despair or lose hope at his mercy. Remember as you explain the story to them tell them about the beautiful dua he made and how it can be a powerful tool to help us in the face of hardships. May Allah guide us all to the right path and may we always return to him
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