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
إِن تَجْتَنِبُوا۟ كَبَآئِرَ مَا تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ نُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَنُدْخِلْكُم مُّدْخَلًا كَرِيمًا
If you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser sins and admit you to a noble entrance [into Paradise].
وَلَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا مَآ أَتَوْكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ قُلْتَ لَآ أَجِدُ مَآ أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ تَوَلَّوا۟ وَّأَعْيُنُهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ ٱلدَّمْعِ حَزَنًا أَلَّا يَجِدُوا۟ مَا يُنفِقُونَ
Nor [is there blame] upon those who, when they came to you for you to take them along, you said, "I can find nothing upon which to carry you." They turned back while their eyes overflowed with tears out of grief that they could not find something to spend [for the cause of Allāh].
إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ شَيْـًٔا
Except those who repent, believe and do righteousness; for those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged at all.
وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَطْمَعُ أَن يَغْفِرَ لِى خَطِيٓـَٔتِى يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ
And who I aspire that He will forgive me my sin on the Day of Recompense."