۞ 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
وَأَنۢبَتْنَا عَلَيْهِ شَجَرَةً مِّن يَقْطِينٍ
And We caused to grow over him a gourd vine.
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],
ثُمَّ أَفِيضُوا۟ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَفَاضَ ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Then depart from the place from where [all] the people depart and ask forgiveness of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَنَجَّيْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُـۨجِى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.