فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَنَجَّيْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُـۨجِى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 88
Translations
So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.
Transliteration
Fastajabna lahu wa najjaynahoo mina al-ghamm wa kadhalika nujji al-mu'mineen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Prophet Yunus (Jonah) who called upon Allah from within the whale's belly in distress, and Allah answered his supplication and delivered him from his grief and despair. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that Allah's rescue of Yunus exemplifies His mercy toward those who sincerely turn to Him in their darkest moments. The ayah then generalizes this promise to all believers: just as Allah rescued Yunus, so too does He deliver the faithful from their afflictions and sorrows.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Anbiya (Meccan period), which catalogs stories of various prophets. It appears in the context of Yunus's narrative (21:87-88), where the surah recounts how Yunus despaired and fled his people, was swallowed by the whale, and repented in the darkness, after which Allah saved him. The thematic context emphasizes divine mercy and the power of sincere supplication.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The supplication of Dhun-Nun (Yunus) when he called out from the belly of the whale: "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers." - no Muslim supplicates with it except that Allah responds to him.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3505, graded Hasan)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no distress or despair is beyond Allah's mercy—sincere repentance and heartfelt supplication are the means through which Allah delivers His servants from their tribulations. For modern believers, it provides comfort and hope that turning to Allah in moments of darkness and difficulty is the path to relief and salvation.
Related Ayahs
لَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you [i.e., your guidance] and to the believers is kind and merciful.
جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ ءَابَآئِهِمْ وَأَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِهِمْ ۖ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍ
Gardens of perpetual residence; they will enter them with whoever were righteous among their forefathers, their spouses and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying],
وَأَنۢبَتْنَا عَلَيْهِ شَجَرَةً مِّن يَقْطِينٍ
And We caused to grow over him a gourd vine.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَـٰبِيبِهِنَّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.