Dua of Prophet Yunus: Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87

سُورَةُ الأَنبِيَاءِ · Meccan · Verse 87 of 112

وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَٰضِبًۭا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Translation

And remember the man with the whale,when he went off angrily, thinking We could not restrict him, but then he cried out in the deep darkness, ‘There is no God but You, glory be to You, I was wrong.’

English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.

Meaning and reflection

Wording

The Quran beautifully recounts the story of Dhun-Nun, Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him), as a profound lesson in reliance on Allah. This verse speaks of his journey, his trial, and his powerful return to his Lord, offering deep wisdom through its precise words.

The Companion of the Fish

The verse begins, "And [mention] Dhun-Nun" (وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ). "Dhun-Nun" literally means "the companion of the fish" or "the owner of the fish." This descriptive title, as scholars like Ibn Ashur point out, immediately calls to mind the extraordinary event that defined a significant part of Prophet Yunus’s life story. Allah then describes him: "when he went away in anger" (إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَٰضِبًۭا). This "anger" (مغاضباً) was directed towards his people, who persisted in disbelief despite his efforts. Al-Jalalayn and al-Razi explain that Yunus felt deeply frustrated by their rejection and left them without receiving explicit divine permission to do so. It was an act of human exasperation, not disobedience to a direct command, but a departure from what would have been better and more patient.

A Moment of Assumption

Yunus's departure led to a critical moment described as, "and he thought that We would not restrict him" (فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ). The word "نَّقْدِرَ" here has been a point of deep scholarly discussion. As Ibn Abbas clarified to Mu'awiyah (a story mentioned by al-Zamakhshari and Ibn Ashur), this refers to "qadar" (divine decree or restriction), not "qudrah" (Allah's power). Yunus did not doubt Allah's power, but rather, he assumed that Allah would not constrain him or hold him accountable for his hasty departure, or that the path ahead would not be difficult for him. It was a human misjudgment about the unfolding of divine decree and the consequences of leaving without direct instruction.

Crying in the Deep

Then came the trial. "Then he called out in the depths of darkness" (فَنَادَىٰ فِي ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ). The verb "نَادَىٰ" signifies a desperate, heartfelt cry. The word "ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ" is plural, emphasizing the overwhelming, layered darkness he was in: the darkness of the night, the darkness of the deep sea, and the darkness of the whale's belly, as explained by al-Jalalayn and al-Razi. This multi-layered gloom highlights the intensity of his isolation and despair.

The Powerful Supplication

In this profound darkness, Yunus uttered a supplication that is a cornerstone of turning to Allah in distress: "There is no god except You; exalted are You! Indeed, I was of the wrongdoers" (أَن لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ). This prayer unfolds in three powerful parts:
1. "Lā ilāha illā Anta" (لا إله إلا أنت): The declaration of pure Tawhid, acknowledging Allah's absolute uniqueness and sole right to worship. It's an affirmation that only Allah can save.
2. "Subḥānaka" (سبحانك): A declaration of glorification, affirming Allah's perfection and freedom from any weakness, injustice, or inability (al-Razi). It acknowledges that Allah is above all imperfections.
3. "Innī kuntu mina ẓ-ẓālimīn" (إِنِّى كُنْتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ): His humble admission of his own fault. He confessed, "I wronged myself by fleeing my people without Your permission," as al-Razi clarifies. This was not a confession of a major sin, but an acknowledgment of his lack of patience and leaving what was better, a deeply personal and humbling self-reproach fitting for a prophet striving for the highest standard of conduct. Hasan al-Basri (al-Zamakhshari) noted that this sincere admission of wrongdoing was what ultimately saved him.

This verse, with its precise choice of words, vividly paints a picture of human vulnerability and divine mercy, reminding us that even in the deepest darkness, the light of sincere repentance and absolute reliance on Allah is our salvation.

Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)

Topics that discuss this verse

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