سُوْرَةُ الْقَلَمِ

Surah Al-Qalam (68) — Ayah 48

The Pen · Meccan · Juz 29 · Page 566

فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ ﴿48﴾
So wait with patience for the Decision of your Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish - when he cried out (to Us) while he was in deep sorrow. (See the Qur’ân, Verse 21:87).
فَٱصْبِرْ fa-iṣ'bir So be patient
لِحُكْمِ liḥuk'mi for (the) decision
رَبِّكَ rabbika (of) your Lord
وَلَا walā and (do) not
تَكُن takun be
كَصَاحِبِ kaṣāḥibi like (the) companion
ٱلْحُوتِ l-ḥūti (of) the fish
إِذْ idh when
نَادَىٰ nādā he called out
وَهُوَ wahuwa while he
مَكْظُومٌۭ makẓūmun (was) distressed

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 48){ فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ … :} By "the man of the fish" is meant Yunus (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is being instructed to wait patiently for Allah's decision regarding them, not to be distressed by the delay in the coming of punishment, and not to, out of impatience or weariness, do anything like what the man of the fish (Yunus, peace be upon him) did, that he left his people without permission. For the story of Yunus (peace be upon him), see Surah Yunus (98), Al-Anbiya (88, 87), and As-Saffat (139 to 148). The supplication of Yunus (peace be upon him) was: « اَنْ لَّاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ سُبْحٰنَكَ اِنِّيْ كُنْتُ مِنَ الظّٰلِمِيْنَ » [ الأنبیاء : ۸۷ ] "There is no true deity except You; You are pure; indeed, I was among the wrongdoers." {’’ وَ هُوَ مَكْظُوْمٌ ‘‘} (being full of grief) means that on that day, many sorrows and shocks gathered in his heart: one, the grief that his people did not believe; second, leaving without explicit permission; third, being thrown into the sea; and fourth, being imprisoned in the belly of the fish. He treated all these sorrows and shocks by supplication, glorification, and seeking forgiveness in the court of Allah, and Allah Almighty delivered him from every grief.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

48. 1. Those who, upon witnessing the denial of their people, acted hastily and, without the decision of their Lord, left their people on their own accord. As a result, they had to call upon their Lord for help while filled with grief and sorrow, in the belly of the fish. As has been detailed earlier,

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

48. So be patient for the command of your Lord, and do not be like the companion of the fish [24] (Jonah), when he called out while he was full of grief [25].

[24] That is, just as Sayyiduna Yunus ؑ, being distressed by the opposition of his people, displayed impatience. Without waiting for divine revelation, he himself threatened them with punishment and then departed from there. You should not do so; rather, bear the harm, mockery, ridicule, and opposition of the people with patience. And remain patient until you are commanded to migrate from here.

[25]
What Distresses Did Sayyiduna Yunus Face That Filled Him to the Throat:

﴿مَكْظُوْمٍ﴾ ﴿كظم﴾ refers to the windpipe, and ﴿كظم السقاء﴾ means to fill a waterskin to the brim and then seal its mouth. And ﴿كظيم﴾ and ﴿مكظوم﴾ refer to a person who is filled up to the windpipe with grief or anger but does not express it and suppresses it.

The Litany in the Belly of the Fish:

In this verse, the state of Sayyiduna Yunus ؑ is described when he went into the belly of the fish. At that time, he was a collection of various sorrows. For example, the sorrow that his people did not believe; the sorrow that the promised punishment he had announced did not come; the sorrow of leaving his people without a clear command from Allah; then the sorrow of ending up in the belly of the fish. In all these distresses and sorrows, the only way out he saw was to glorify Allah and declare His oneness and seek forgiveness for his sins from Allah. Thus, as long as he remained in the belly of the fish, he kept reciting ﴿لَّآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّآ اَنْتَ سُبْحٰــنَكَ اِنِّيْ كُنْتُ مِنَ الظّٰلِمِيْنَ﴾. Until Allah delivered him from that affliction.