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Explanatory Note
The last of these glimpses from the history of earlier messengers concerns Jonah.
The Qur’ān does not mention where Jonah’s people lived, but it is understood that they were not far from the sea. Reports tell us that Jonah was frustrated by his people’s continued denial of his message and the truth it made clear. He warned them against God’s impending punishment, and then abandoned them in anger. His anger led him to the sea-shore, where he boarded a laden ship. When the ship was in the middle of the sea, it was hit by a raging storm. It was widely believed at that time that such a disaster signalled that among the passengers there must be someone who had incurred God’s anger. For the ship to withstand the storm that person had to be thrown overboard. They, thus, drew lots and Jonah was the one who lost. Although they knew him to be a virtuous and God-fearing man, the drawing of his lot was confirmed. Therefore, they threw him into the sea, or he might have jumped himself. Nonetheless, he was swallowed by the whale, deserving of blame, because he had abandoned the assignment God had given him, leaving his people in anger before seeking God’s permission. When he felt acute distress inside the whale’s belly, he glorified God and prayed for His forgiveness, stating that he had wronged himself. He said in his prayer:
“There is no deity other than You! Limitless are You in Your glory! I have done wrong indeed!” (21: 87)
God answered his prayer, and the whale cast him out.