فَٱلْتَقَمَهُ ٱلْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ 142
Translations
Then the fish swallowed him, while he was blameworthy.
Transliteration
Fa-iltaqamahu al-hoot wa huwa muleem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the whale swallowed Yunus (Jonah) while he was blameworthy—having left his people without Allah's permission. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the word 'muleem' (blameworthy) emphasizes Yunus's state of disobedience and self-reproach at the moment of being swallowed. This event served as a means of purification and a test through which Allah demonstrated His power and mercy toward His servant.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Prophet Yunus in Surah As-Saffat (37:139-148), which recounts his story from his flight until his rescue. The surah was revealed in Mecca and presents examples of prophets who remained steadfast. The broader context emphasizes divine justice and mercy—Yunus's trial in the whale's belly was both a punishment for his transgression and a path to repentance and closeness to Allah.
Related Hadiths
The story of Yunus is referenced in Sahih Muslim (2218) where the Prophet Muhammad mentioned the supplication 'La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu min al-zalimeen' (There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers), which Yunus recited in the whale's belly and through which Allah saved him.
Themes
Key Lesson
Even when believers falter in obedience, Allah's mercy encompasses them through trials that lead to repentance and spiritual renewal. This ayah teaches that difficult circumstances are often divine tests designed to bring us closer to Allah and purify our hearts from heedlessness.
Related Ayahs
وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ فَصَعِقَ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا مَن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ ثُمَّ نُفِخَ فِيهِ أُخْرَىٰ فَإِذَا هُمْ قِيَامٌ يَنظُرُونَ
And the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead except whom Allāh wills. Then it will be blown again, and at once they will be standing, looking on.
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى يُرْسِلُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابًا فَيَبْسُطُهُۥ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيْفَ يَشَآءُ وَيَجْعَلُهُۥ كِسَفًا فَتَرَى ٱلْوَدْقَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ خِلَـٰلِهِۦ ۖ فَإِذَآ أَصَابَ بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦٓ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
It is Allāh who sends the winds, and they stir the clouds and spread them in the sky however He wills, and He makes them fragments so you see the rain emerge from within them. And when He causes it to fall upon whom He wills of His servants, immediately they rejoice
أَفَأَمِنتُمْ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمْ جَانِبَ ٱلْبَرِّ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُوا۟ لَكُمْ وَكِيلًا
Then do you feel secure that [instead] He will not cause a part of the land to swallow you or send against you a storm of stones? Then you would not find for yourselves an advocate.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُزْجِى سَحَابًا ثُمَّ يُؤَلِّفُ بَيْنَهُۥ ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُۥ رُكَامًا فَتَرَى ٱلْوَدْقَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ خِلَـٰلِهِۦ وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن جِبَالٍ فِيهَا مِنۢ بَرَدٍ فَيُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَصْرِفُهُۥ عَن مَّن يَشَآءُ ۖ يَكَادُ سَنَا بَرْقِهِۦ يَذْهَبُ بِٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ
Do you not see that Allāh drives clouds? Then He brings them together; then He makes them into a mass, and you see the rain emerge from within it. And He sends down from the sky, mountains [of clouds] within which is hail, and He strikes with it whom He wills and averts it from whom He wills. The flash of its lightning almost takes away the eyesight.