Hidden Message Behind The Shocking Event! | Why Did the Whale Swallow Jonah (pbuh)?
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Imagine a sky, to reveal the greatness of Allah, clouds have covered it. The weather has started to worsen, and the wind has started to howl. A ship in the middle of the sea, the crew putting all its efforts into reaching the shore as soon as possible. Everybody is working on the ship, shouting at each other since a storm is coming. Someone in this mess is sitting calmly in the corner and looking at the sky. The slowly dropping raindrops wash his face. He is thinking about what he went through until he got on this ship. He looks at the people darting around. He thinks of his people. The capital of Assyria. It is a rich trading city. The city, he walked on its roads a thousand times.
He walked away from it in sadness. He remembered the great duty Allah SWT assigned him. He tried so hard to accomplish it. While he was lost in his thoughts, suddenly, a lightning bolt struck the sea with a loud crack. The ship almost capsized because of the giant waves. The people aboard did not know what to make of this sudden storm. They begin to discuss the reasons for this storm. They think that maybe throwing him into the sea might subside the storm, even end it. While they are talking about this, that man sitting in the corner calmly stands up. He walks towards the captain with all his grandness.
He is a beloved servant of Allah with attributes so high that there is a chapter in his name in the Qur'an, There! This is the meritious story of the prophet, who was swallowed by a fish. This is how it is described in the Holy Qur'an, that prophet Jonah was sent to the people of Nineveh city with a population of over one hundred thousand, as a warner and a prophet who invited people to accept Allah's oneness, tawhid. At least, that is what's said. This is a life story told in verses and hadiths in this manner. This is a story that shows us our Lord's mercy, and that even a prophet can make a mistake It also teaches us about seeking refuge in Allah in every situation.
It is said that prophet Jonah was born in the 8th century B.C. in the capital and an important commercial centre of the Assyrian state of Nineveh. Back then, the people of Nineveh worshipped idols and statues. Like all nations that perished, they were amongst the most cruel of their era. The father of Jonah was a decent man named Amittai. Prophet Jonah was known as a trustworthy, honest, and helpful person among his people. At the age of 30, he was given the duty of prophethood, and he invited his people to tawhid; in other words, to believe in the oneness of Allah, for 33 years. Only a few believed him.
Others said: Moreover, they did not stop with at this and insulted Jonah in every other way. They threatened to kill him, and chased him away. Let us consider the situation of Jonah. He was trying to save a great society, He was trying to open their eyes so that they could see the truth. Not only did they not accept, but they also responded with hostility and insults. This is one of the most challenging aspects of the duty of prophethood. In this case, Jonah, despite all this, while enduring and being patient. He reminded them of Allah's severe retribution. But they laughed at his warnings. They said, Jonah was heartbroken about the persistent denials of his people.
After Allah's command: He informed them of Allah's commands and His punishment. They didn't come to their senses. When 37 days had passed, his people had still not believed. Jonah said: "Then wait for your punishment in three days, as a sign of this, you will see your seas turn yellow first." He left them in a state of grief, not waiting for the command of Allah. This abandonment was neither an escape from the divine duty nor in rebellion against the one who gave it. It was only a retreat from a rebellious society that did not answer the divine invitation. But the command was 40 days, and he left three days early.
There is a Turkish proverb: After Jonah left them, and at the end of 40 days, his people came to their senses when the sky darkened, and the city was covered with black smoke. Everyone was filled with fear and panic. When the faces of the people turned yellow and they started to grow weak and fall as a sign of punishment, they came to their senses. Then they believed and repented. They broke all the idols. They all went up a hill and repented. A city of a hundred thousand who realised that they would be punished, believed altogether. This is a fine example that there is a time for everything. Isn't it?
While his people started to believe, Jonah, unaware of the development, boarded a ship and got stranded in the middle of a storm. Those on board believed that a runaway slave was the reason for the storm, and if they cast him to the sea, the storm will calm. Jonah realised that he had made a huge mistake by leaving his people without Allah's permission. For this reason, he asked the people on board to throw him into the sea. Since Jonah didn't look like a slave, the people on the ship decided to draw lots. Jonah came out in the draw. They wanted to do it again, but the result was the same. Again, Jonah came out. Feeling guilty he jumped into the cold waters of the sea.
However, his duty was not over yet. Allah didn't want him to die in the middle of the sea. He made a big fish swallow him. Lord of the heaven, the earth, and all living creatures, the Almighty Allah didn't let Jonah die in the belly of the fish and kept him alive. When he was in the fish's belly, Jonah saw only one solution to his situation, tawhid and praying. I mean, he prayed to his Lord to save him from the belly of the fish, which was in a dark and stormy ocean. He said: "Only Allah, who is Omnipotent can save me from here." By fully understanding his situation and helplessness, he submitted to Allah. He regretted his mistake so much that Allah forgave him with His infinite mercy.
The fish was like a submarine. It saved him from the storm and spat him out on a beach. As commanded in the Holy Qur'an: He was weak and tired. But he still didn't stop repeating his prayer. On the shore, another miracle happened at Jonah's head by Allah's grace. A tree grew and protected him from the scorching sun. He ate its fruits and gained strength. After Jonah recovered under the tree, he wondered about his people. He travelled a long way to reach Nineveh. When he arrived, his people welcomed him with love and respect. That's when he realised, the people of Nineveh had repented and evaded the punishment. There was no idol nor any rebellious people around.
Jonah was very happy about this and thanked Allah. Mufassir and scholar Bediuzzaaman looked at this story from a different perspective. He said, we are also in such a dangerous situation and the only solution is to seek refuge in Allah. Jonah was in such a state that no one could help him except Allah. The sea was rough, the night was dark, and he was helplessly waiting in the belly of a fish. If all the people had tried to help him, he wouldn't have been able to get out of this storm. Only Allah, who controls everything could save him. He surrendered to Him. This is what it looks like for us. Like the darkness of the night, our futures are dark. Our sea is this world we live in.
Our souls and forbidden desires are like the fish swallowing us. So we are like Jonah: we should say. By saying, "We have made mistakes, we sinned." We must seek refuge in the Lord of the universe. So the story of Jonah (AS) teaches us a lot. Doesn't it? We all have our faults. But no fault or sin is greater than the mercy of Allah. If we cannot raise our hands and repent to our Lord, we must think with our conscience. We will live another 20-30 years and then leave this world. Then the door of repentance will be closed. Right now, it is wide open.
He walked away from it in sadness. He remembered the great duty Allah SWT assigned him. He tried so hard to accomplish it. While he was lost in his thoughts, suddenly, a lightning bolt struck the sea with a loud crack. The ship almost capsized because of the giant waves. The people aboard did not know what to make of this sudden storm. They begin to discuss the reasons for this storm. They think that maybe throwing him into the sea might subside the storm, even end it. While they are talking about this, that man sitting in the corner calmly stands up. He walks towards the captain with all his grandness.
He is a beloved servant of Allah with attributes so high that there is a chapter in his name in the Qur'an, There! This is the meritious story of the prophet, who was swallowed by a fish. This is how it is described in the Holy Qur'an, that prophet Jonah was sent to the people of Nineveh city with a population of over one hundred thousand, as a warner and a prophet who invited people to accept Allah's oneness, tawhid. At least, that is what's said. This is a life story told in verses and hadiths in this manner. This is a story that shows us our Lord's mercy, and that even a prophet can make a mistake It also teaches us about seeking refuge in Allah in every situation.
It is said that prophet Jonah was born in the 8th century B.C. in the capital and an important commercial centre of the Assyrian state of Nineveh. Back then, the people of Nineveh worshipped idols and statues. Like all nations that perished, they were amongst the most cruel of their era. The father of Jonah was a decent man named Amittai. Prophet Jonah was known as a trustworthy, honest, and helpful person among his people. At the age of 30, he was given the duty of prophethood, and he invited his people to tawhid; in other words, to believe in the oneness of Allah, for 33 years. Only a few believed him.
Others said: Moreover, they did not stop with at this and insulted Jonah in every other way. They threatened to kill him, and chased him away. Let us consider the situation of Jonah. He was trying to save a great society, He was trying to open their eyes so that they could see the truth. Not only did they not accept, but they also responded with hostility and insults. This is one of the most challenging aspects of the duty of prophethood. In this case, Jonah, despite all this, while enduring and being patient. He reminded them of Allah's severe retribution. But they laughed at his warnings. They said, Jonah was heartbroken about the persistent denials of his people.
After Allah's command: He informed them of Allah's commands and His punishment. They didn't come to their senses. When 37 days had passed, his people had still not believed. Jonah said: "Then wait for your punishment in three days, as a sign of this, you will see your seas turn yellow first." He left them in a state of grief, not waiting for the command of Allah. This abandonment was neither an escape from the divine duty nor in rebellion against the one who gave it. It was only a retreat from a rebellious society that did not answer the divine invitation. But the command was 40 days, and he left three days early.
There is a Turkish proverb: After Jonah left them, and at the end of 40 days, his people came to their senses when the sky darkened, and the city was covered with black smoke. Everyone was filled with fear and panic. When the faces of the people turned yellow and they started to grow weak and fall as a sign of punishment, they came to their senses. Then they believed and repented. They broke all the idols. They all went up a hill and repented. A city of a hundred thousand who realised that they would be punished, believed altogether. This is a fine example that there is a time for everything. Isn't it?
While his people started to believe, Jonah, unaware of the development, boarded a ship and got stranded in the middle of a storm. Those on board believed that a runaway slave was the reason for the storm, and if they cast him to the sea, the storm will calm. Jonah realised that he had made a huge mistake by leaving his people without Allah's permission. For this reason, he asked the people on board to throw him into the sea. Since Jonah didn't look like a slave, the people on the ship decided to draw lots. Jonah came out in the draw. They wanted to do it again, but the result was the same. Again, Jonah came out. Feeling guilty he jumped into the cold waters of the sea.
However, his duty was not over yet. Allah didn't want him to die in the middle of the sea. He made a big fish swallow him. Lord of the heaven, the earth, and all living creatures, the Almighty Allah didn't let Jonah die in the belly of the fish and kept him alive. When he was in the fish's belly, Jonah saw only one solution to his situation, tawhid and praying. I mean, he prayed to his Lord to save him from the belly of the fish, which was in a dark and stormy ocean. He said: "Only Allah, who is Omnipotent can save me from here." By fully understanding his situation and helplessness, he submitted to Allah. He regretted his mistake so much that Allah forgave him with His infinite mercy.
The fish was like a submarine. It saved him from the storm and spat him out on a beach. As commanded in the Holy Qur'an: He was weak and tired. But he still didn't stop repeating his prayer. On the shore, another miracle happened at Jonah's head by Allah's grace. A tree grew and protected him from the scorching sun. He ate its fruits and gained strength. After Jonah recovered under the tree, he wondered about his people. He travelled a long way to reach Nineveh. When he arrived, his people welcomed him with love and respect. That's when he realised, the people of Nineveh had repented and evaded the punishment. There was no idol nor any rebellious people around.
Jonah was very happy about this and thanked Allah. Mufassir and scholar Bediuzzaaman looked at this story from a different perspective. He said, we are also in such a dangerous situation and the only solution is to seek refuge in Allah. Jonah was in such a state that no one could help him except Allah. The sea was rough, the night was dark, and he was helplessly waiting in the belly of a fish. If all the people had tried to help him, he wouldn't have been able to get out of this storm. Only Allah, who controls everything could save him. He surrendered to Him. This is what it looks like for us. Like the darkness of the night, our futures are dark. Our sea is this world we live in.
Our souls and forbidden desires are like the fish swallowing us. So we are like Jonah: we should say. By saying, "We have made mistakes, we sinned." We must seek refuge in the Lord of the universe. So the story of Jonah (AS) teaches us a lot. Doesn't it? We all have our faults. But no fault or sin is greater than the mercy of Allah. If we cannot raise our hands and repent to our Lord, we must think with our conscience. We will live another 20-30 years and then leave this world. Then the door of repentance will be closed. Right now, it is wide open.