سُوْرَةُ يُوْنُسَ
Surah Yunus (10) — Ayah 98
فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ ءَامَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَآ إِيمَـٰنُهَآ إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّآ ءَامَنُوا۟ كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْخِزْىِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَـٰهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ ﴿98﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Was there any town (community) that believed (after seeing the punishment), and its Faith (at that moment) saved it (from the punishment)? (The answer is none) - except the people of Yûnus (Jonah); when they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the (present) world, and permitted them to enjoy for a while.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَلَوْلَا
falawlā
So why not
كَانَتْ
kānat
was
قَرْيَةٌ
qaryatun
any town
ءَامَنَتْ
āmanat
that believed
فَنَفَعَهَآ
fanafaʿahā
and benefited it
إِيمَـٰنُهَآ
īmānuhā
its faith
إِلَّا
illā
except
قَوْمَ
qawma
the people
يُونُسَ
yūnusa
(of) Yunus
لَمَّآ
lammā
When
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
they believed
كَشَفْنَا
kashafnā
We removed
عَنْهُمْ
ʿanhum
from them
عَذَابَ
ʿadhāba
(the) punishment
ٱلْخِزْىِ
l-khiz'yi
(of) the disgrace
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ
l-ḥayati
the life
ٱلدُّنْيَا
l-dun'yā
of the world
وَمَتَّعْنَـٰهُمْ
wamattaʿnāhum
and We granted them enjoyment
إِلَىٰ
ilā
for
حِينٍۢ
ḥīnin
a time
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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 98) ➊ {فَلَوْ لَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ اٰمَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَاۤ اِيْمَانُهَاۤ … :} That is, why was there not a single town which, upon being warned of the punishment by a messenger, became fearful and believed before the punishment came, so that its faith would benefit it? But there was no such town; all of them only believed when Allah’s punishment came upon them. Except for the people of Yunus (peace be upon him): despite Yunus (peace be upon him) inviting them for many years, when they did not believe, Yunus (peace be upon him) supplicated for punishment against them and informed them that punishment was about to come upon them, and he himself left the place in anger. See Surah Al-Anbiya (87) and As-Saffat (140). The people knew that Yunus had never lied; his departure made them even more fearful, so before the punishment came, the entire town repented from disbelief with great humility and believed in Yunus (peace be upon him). Now, since this faith was timely, before witnessing the punishment, this faith benefited them in that the punishment was removed from them, and Allah gave them the opportunity to benefit from worldly life until their natural lifespan. In the last verses of Surah As-Saffat, their belief and its benefit are also mentioned.
➋ This is a warning to the disbelievers of Quraysh and the People of the Book that they should take a lesson from the people of Yunus (peace be upon him) and believe before the punishment comes, and not follow in the footsteps of Pharaoh’s people and other destroyed nations.
➌ In Tafsir Qasimi, it is stated that the claim that the clouds of punishment had arrived, darkness had spread, and then they repented, is not mentioned anywhere in the Qur’an or Hadith, nor is punishment ever averted after it has arrived.
➋ This is a warning to the disbelievers of Quraysh and the People of the Book that they should take a lesson from the people of Yunus (peace be upon him) and believe before the punishment comes, and not follow in the footsteps of Pharaoh’s people and other destroyed nations.
➌ In Tafsir Qasimi, it is stated that the claim that the clouds of punishment had arrived, darkness had spread, and then they repented, is not mentioned anywhere in the Qur’an or Hadith, nor is punishment ever averted after it has arrived.
