سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 87
وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَـٰضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿87﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And (remember) Dhun-Nûn (Jonah), when he went off in anger, and imagined that We shall not punish him (i.e. the calamities which had befallen him)! But he cried through the darkness (saying): Lâ ilâha illâ Anta [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O, Allâh)], Glorified (and Exalted) be You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]! Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَذَا
wadhā
And Dhun-Nun
ٱلنُّونِ
l-nūni
And Dhun-Nun
إِذ
idh
when
ذَّهَبَ
dhahaba
he went
مُغَـٰضِبًۭا
mughāḍiban
(while) angry
فَظَنَّ
faẓanna
and thought
أَن
an
that
لَّن
lan
never
نَّقْدِرَ
naqdira
We would decree
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
upon him
فَنَادَىٰ
fanādā
Then he called
فِى
fī
in
ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ
l-ẓulumāti
the darkness(es)
أَن
an
that
لَّآ
lā
(There is) no
إِلَـٰهَ
ilāha
god
إِلَّآ
illā
except
أَنتَ
anta
You
سُبْحَـٰنَكَ
sub'ḥānaka
Glory be to You
إِنِّى
innī
Indeed, [I]
كُنتُ
kuntu
I am
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
l-ẓālimīna
the wrongdoers
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
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.
And (remember) the man of the fish [77] (Jonah), whom We also admitted to Our mercy, when he went off in anger, thinking We would not restrain him. Then he cried out in the darkness: "There is no god but You; glory be to You! Indeed, I was among the wrongdoers."
[77]
The Literal Meaning of Noon:
At this place in the Quran, Prophet Yunusؑ is called "Dhul-Noon," and in Surah Al-Qalam, "Sahib al-Hut." "Hut" is a generic noun that can refer to any kind of fish, big or small. Whereas "Noon" refers to the largest (whale fish). (Mufradat al-Quran) And this title was given to him because he remained in the belly of the fish for a period of time. You remained alive and safe, and during this time, you continued to recite the praises of Allah.
Sayyiduna Yunus in the Belly of the Fish and His Supplication:
You were sent to the people of Nineveh. Your time of prophethood is the ninth century BCE. As usual, the people denied your invitation. Upon the persistent denial of your people, you warned them of Allah's punishment. And when the people said, "Why do you not bring the punishment you threaten us with?" you, on your own, gave them a warning that the punishment would come after forty days. Although Allah Almighty had not made any promise of forty days. Then, when this period was about to end and no sign of punishment was seen, out of grief and anger, you chose to leave so that the people would not call you a liar. You boarded a ship, which began to rock. The people of the ship cast lots, and as a result of the lot, Prophet Yunusؑ was thrown into the sea. You remained in the belly of a very large fish. During this time, you were constantly engaged in the praise of Allah and in confessing your sins. Eventually, Allah Almighty delivered you from this difficulty. And the fish cast you out upon the shore. When you regained some strength, Allah Almighty sent you again to the same people, i.e., the people of Nineveh. Now, on the other hand, when Prophet Yunusؑ had fled, Allah Almighty fulfilled the word of Yunusؑ, and at the appointed time, the signs of punishment began to appear to the people of Nineveh. Then all the people—children, old, young, women, and men—came out into the open field and pleaded before Allah and repented, because of which Allah Almighty averted this punishment. In the ongoing practice of Allah Almighty, this is the only exception where a coming punishment was averted. Now, when Yunusؑ came to this people, they had already softened. Therefore, your preaching had considerable effect.
[77]
The Literal Meaning of Noon:
At this place in the Quran, Prophet Yunusؑ is called "Dhul-Noon," and in Surah Al-Qalam, "Sahib al-Hut." "Hut" is a generic noun that can refer to any kind of fish, big or small. Whereas "Noon" refers to the largest (whale fish). (Mufradat al-Quran) And this title was given to him because he remained in the belly of the fish for a period of time. You remained alive and safe, and during this time, you continued to recite the praises of Allah.
Sayyiduna Yunus in the Belly of the Fish and His Supplication:
You were sent to the people of Nineveh. Your time of prophethood is the ninth century BCE. As usual, the people denied your invitation. Upon the persistent denial of your people, you warned them of Allah's punishment. And when the people said, "Why do you not bring the punishment you threaten us with?" you, on your own, gave them a warning that the punishment would come after forty days. Although Allah Almighty had not made any promise of forty days. Then, when this period was about to end and no sign of punishment was seen, out of grief and anger, you chose to leave so that the people would not call you a liar. You boarded a ship, which began to rock. The people of the ship cast lots, and as a result of the lot, Prophet Yunusؑ was thrown into the sea. You remained in the belly of a very large fish. During this time, you were constantly engaged in the praise of Allah and in confessing your sins. Eventually, Allah Almighty delivered you from this difficulty. And the fish cast you out upon the shore. When you regained some strength, Allah Almighty sent you again to the same people, i.e., the people of Nineveh. Now, on the other hand, when Prophet Yunusؑ had fled, Allah Almighty fulfilled the word of Yunusؑ, and at the appointed time, the signs of punishment began to appear to the people of Nineveh. Then all the people—children, old, young, women, and men—came out into the open field and pleaded before Allah and repented, because of which Allah Almighty averted this punishment. In the ongoing practice of Allah Almighty, this is the only exception where a coming punishment was averted. Now, when Yunusؑ came to this people, they had already softened. Therefore, your preaching had considerable effect.
