لَّوْلَآ أَن تَدَٰرَكَهُۥ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ لَنُبِذَ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ 49
Translations
If not that a favor [i.e., mercy] from his Lord overtook him, he would have been thrown onto the naked shore while he was censured.
Transliteration
Llaw laa an tadaarakahu ni'matun mir rabbih lanubiaza bil-'araa'i wa huwa madhmuum
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Prophet Yunus (Jonah) after he was cast into the sea and swallowed by the whale. The verse means that had it not been for Allah's mercy reaching him, he would have been cast upon the shore in a state of disgrace and blame. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this divine mercy was the inspiration to make dhikr and supplication in the belly of the whale, which led to his salvation and deliverance from his desperate situation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the discussion of Yunus's story in Surah Al-Qalam, contrasting his situation with the arrogant companions of the garden mentioned earlier in the surah. The context illustrates how divine mercy supersedes human accountability when one repents and turns to Allah in humility.
Related Hadiths
The story is referenced in Surah As-Saffat (37:139-148) and Surah Al-Anbiya (21:87-88). A thematically related hadith: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The supplication of Dhul-Nun (Yunus) when he called out in the belly of the whale: "There is no deity worthy of worship except You. Exalted are You. Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers." - Allah answered his supplication.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no matter how dire our circumstances become through our own mistakes, Allah's mercy is always available to those who sincerely turn to Him in repentance. It reminds us that disgrace and shame can be averted only through Allah's grace and our humble submission to Him.
Related Ayahs
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ جَآءُوكَ فَٱسْتَغْفَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا
And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allāh. And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muḥammad], and asked forgiveness of Allāh and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allāh Accepting of Repentance and Merciful.
وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَطْمَعُ أَن يَغْفِرَ لِى خَطِيٓـَٔتِى يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ
And who I aspire that He will forgive me my sin on the Day of Recompense."
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ وَأَصْلَحُوا۟ وَٱعْتَصَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَأَخْلَصُوا۟ دِينَهُمْ لِلَّهِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَسَوْفَ يُؤْتِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Except for those who repent, correct themselves, hold fast to Allāh, and are sincere in their religion for Allāh, for those will be with the believers. And Allāh is going to give the believers a great reward.
هَـٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظٍ
[It will be said], "This is what you were promised - for every returner [to Allāh] and keeper [of His covenant].