Jonah (P.B.U.H.)

Jonah is a prophet whom Muslims believe was sent by God to the people of Nineveh (in ancient Mesopotamia). He is also known as Dhun-Nun (the one associated with the whale) and Sahib al-Hut (the companion of the whale). The tenth chapter of the Qur'an is named after him.

The story of Jonah is shared across Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. The Book of Jonah in the Bible and the Qur'anic account share a similar structure: a prophet is sent to his people, flees, is cast into the sea, is swallowed by a whale, and is eventually rescued.

The Qur'anic Account

According to the Qur'an and Islamic exegesis, Jonah called his people to worship God alone, but most of them rejected him. He left the city without waiting for God's permission. When he boarded a ship, a storm struck. He was cast into the sea, and a great whale swallowed him. In the whale's belly, he prayed with words recorded in the Qur'an: "There is no god but You. Glory be to You! Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers." God accepted his prayer, and the whale cast him onto the shore.

The People of Nineveh

The Qur'an notes that Jonah's people were among the only communities to believe before punishment befell them, and so the punishment was averted from them. Islamic exegetes see this as an example showing that collective repentance can influence God's decision regarding punishment.

Religious Meaning and Lessons

Islamic scholars call the prayer of Jonah du'a al-Nun (the prayer of Jonah), which is invoked in times of hardship. Two lessons are drawn from the story: one concerning the avoidance of impatience, and another concerning the acceptance of repentance. The Qur'an instructs the Prophet Muhammad not to be like "the companion of the whale" in his haste.

Sites of Remembrance

A hill in the city of Mosul in Iraq is known as the site of the Prophet Jonah. It formerly had a renowned mosque and shrine that people visited. The site was destroyed by ISIS in 2014; it was subsequently restored and archaeologically excavated.