۞ فَنَبَذْنَـٰهُ بِٱلْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌ 145
Translations
But We threw him onto the open shore while he was ill.
Transliteration
Fa-nabadhnahu bil-'ara'i wa huwa saqim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Allah cast Prophet Yunus (Jonah) onto the barren shore after he was ejected from the whale's belly, and he was in a state of illness and weakness. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the 'ara' (bare ground) refers to an open, desolate land, and his saqim (sickness) encompassed both physical ailment from his ordeal and spiritual distress from his separation from Allah's mercy. This casting ashore was an act of divine mercy, as it prepared him for recovery and return to obedience.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Yunus in Surah As-Saffat, which recounts his story of preaching to his people, his anger when they rejected him, his flight, being swallowed by the whale, and his miraculous deliverance. The surah emphasizes themes of divine power, prophethood, and redemption through repentance—Yunus serves as an example of a prophet tested by Allah and restored through faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said regarding the du'a of Yunus in the whale's belly: 'There is no one who calls upon Allah with this du'a except that Allah answers him' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Quran itself (21:87-88) documents Yunus's supplication and Allah's response to him.
Themes
Key Lesson
The story of Yunus teaches us that even in our darkest moments of despair and physical weakness, Allah's mercy is near, and recovery comes through sincere repentance and trust in Him; our trials are often gateways to spiritual transformation and renewed closeness to our Creator.
Related Ayahs
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],
وَوَضَعْنَا عَنكَ وِزْرَكَ
And We removed from you your burden
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦ يَـٰقَوْمِ إِنَّكُمْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنفُسَكُم بِٱتِّخَاذِكُمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ فَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ بَارِئِكُمْ فَٱقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ عِندَ بَارِئِكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "O my people, indeed you have wronged yourselves by your taking of the calf [for worship]. So repent to your Creator and kill yourselves [i.e., the guilty among you]. That is best for [all of] you in the sight of your Creator." Then He accepted your repentance; indeed, He is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.
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.