وَأَرْسَلْنَـٰهُ إِلَىٰ مِا۟ئَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ 147
Translations
And We sent him to [his people of] a hundred thousand or more.
Transliteration
Wa arsalnahu ila mi'ati alf aw yaziduun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Prophet Yunus (Jonah) being sent to the people of Nineveh, numbering one hundred thousand or more. According to the classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, this large population illustrates the magnitude of Yunus's mission and the divine mercy shown when the entire city repented after witnessing the punishment of Allah. The phrase 'or more' (aw yaziduun) indicates that the exact number is with Allah alone, emphasizing the vastness of this believing community.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah As-Saffat's narrative about various prophets and their missions. The surah highlights how Allah sent messengers to guide their peoples, and the story of Yunus demonstrates a unique case where an entire city of believers responded to the message after initial rejection, making it a powerful testament to divine guidance and human repentance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned in a hadith related by Ibn Hibban that Yunus's people believed and were granted respite from punishment. Additionally, Surah Yunus (Chapter 10) elaborates extensively on this incident, providing complementary details about the people's belief and its consequences.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that no community is too large or too lost for divine guidance, and that sincere collective repentance can avert even the most severe punishment—a reminder for believers today that tawbah (repentance) is always available and that faith can transform entire societies.