Friends, you may have heard about many dangerous and mysterious fish in the world. Some of them are so massive that they could swallow a human being. But today’s story is about a fish that once swallowed one of the greatest personalities in history — the chosen Prophet of Allah, Prophet Yunus (A.S.).
Now the question is — when Prophet Yunus (A.S.) was trapped inside the belly of this huge fish, what was the special supplication (dua) that he recited which saved his life by the mercy of Allah? This true incident is full of miracles and strengthens our faith.
The Mission of Prophet Yunus (A.S.)
Prophet Yunus (A.S.) was sent by Allah to guide the people of Nineveh, a large city near Mosul. The people there were deeply involved in idol worship and disbelief.
He invited them to abandon false gods and worship only Allah. But due to their arrogance and stubbornness, they rejected his message.
Prophet Yunus (A.S.) warned them:
“If you do not repent, Allah’s punishment will soon come upon you.”
The people began to whisper among themselves: If Yunus (A.S.) leaves the city, surely the punishment will descend.
And that is exactly what happened.
The People of Nineveh Repent
When Prophet Yunus (A.S.) departed from the city, dark clouds covered the skies, smoke filled the atmosphere, and a fearful silence spread everywhere.
The people realized that the punishment of Allah was truly approaching. Out of fear, they rushed into the open fields with their families and even their animals. They tore their clothes, cried, begged for forgiveness, and sincerely repented to Allah.
Mothers separated from their children, husbands parted from their wives — everyone wept for mercy and forgave each other. They wholeheartedly turned to Allah.
Seeing their sincerity, Allah forgave them. The dark clouds vanished, the sky cleared, and the punishment was lifted.
The Qur’an mentions:
“No community ever benefited from its faith after seeing the punishment, except the people of Yunus. When they believed, We removed from them the disgraceful punishment in this worldly life and allowed them to enjoy life for a while.”
Prophet Yunus (A.S.) at Sea
Meanwhile, Prophet Yunus (A.S.) returned near Nineveh and was surprised to see that no punishment had come. Saddened and worried that people might call him a liar, he left again and boarded a ship.
But when the ship reached the middle of the sea, it suddenly stopped. The sailors believed this only happened if a runaway slave was on board. So they drew lots, and each time the name of Yunus (A.S.) came up.
Finally, they were forced to cast him into the sea.
Immediately, by the command of Allah, a giant fish swallowed him alive.
Inside the Belly of the Fish
Now imagine — the deep, dark sea… and inside, the pitch-black belly of a fish. No air, no light, no escape. For any ordinary person, this would mean certain death.
But Prophet Yunus (A.S.) was no ordinary man — he was a Prophet of Allah.
Inside that darkness, he admitted his mistake and sincerely turned back to Allah. He prayed the famous dua:
“La ilaha illa Anta, Subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin.”
(There is no god but You, Glory be to You! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers.)
The Qur’an tells us: If he had not recited this tasbeeh, he would have remained in the belly of the fish until the Day of Resurrection.
Allah’s Mercy and Deliverance
By Allah’s mercy, the fish swam to the shore and released Yunus (A.S.) safe and alive. However, due to his time in the darkness, his body was extremely weak.
Allah caused a pumpkin plant (gourd vine) to grow near him, whose shade and fruits gave him strength until he recovered.
After regaining health, he returned to his people. This time, the people of Nineveh welcomed him with love and respect, for they had already repented and accepted the true faith.
The Lesson for Us
The story of Prophet Yunus (A.S.) teaches us a timeless lesson:
Never lose hope in the mercy of Allah.
Even in the darkest of times, sincere repentance and prayer can change destiny.
Allah forgives all sins if one truly turns back to Him.
So, if we humble ourselves, admit our mistakes, and sincerely call upon Allah, He can remove every difficulty and replace despair with peace.
✨ Dua of Yunus (A.S.):
“La ilaha illa Anta, Subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin.”
— A dua for all those trapped in hardship and seeking Allah’s mercy.
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