فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ ءَامَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَآ إِيمَـٰنُهَآ إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّآ ءَامَنُوا۟ كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْخِزْىِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَـٰهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ 98
Translations
Then has there not been a [single] city that believed so its faith benefited it except the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in worldly life and gave them enjoyment [i.e., provision] for a time.
Transliteration
Falawla kanat qaryatun aamanat fanafa'aha imanuhaa illa qawma Yunus lamma aamanoo kashafna anhum adhaba al-khizyi fil-hayati ad-dunya wa matta'nahum ila heen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah highlights the unique case of the people of Jonah (Yunus), who were the only nation to collectively believe after receiving the warning of punishment, thereby causing Allah to remove the torment from them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that while typically a nation's belief does not benefit them once the punishment approaches (as was the case with other nations like Pharaoh's people), Allah made an exception for Yunus's people, postponing their punishment and granting them respite in worldly life. The ayah emphasizes Allah's mercy and the power of sincere collective repentance, while also illustrating the consequence of delayed belief—they were spared the disgrace of punishment but still received a fixed term of life rather than permanent abode.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Yunus (a Meccan chapter) and comes within the context of discussing various prophets and their nations' responses to divine messages. It specifically addresses the story of Prophet Yunus and his people of Nineveh, serving as a consolation and example to the Meccan believers that genuine repentance and faith can avert punishment, contrasting with nations who rejected their prophets and faced destruction.
Related Hadiths
The story of the people of Yunus is mentioned in Sunan Ibn Majah and other hadith collections, emphasizing that they were the only nation among the nations of the prophets to believe collectively before experiencing the punishment. A thematically related hadith from Sahih Muslim discusses how sincere repentance and turning to Allah can avert divine punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that sincere collective repentance and faith, even when delayed, can invoke Allah's mercy and avert severe punishment; however, it should inspire us not to delay our return to Allah, as delaying belief means missing the full blessings and rewards of earlier obedience. The example of Yunus's people demonstrates that transformation is possible when a community unites in faith, offering hope to believers while reminding us of the importance of timely response to divine guidance.
Related Ayahs
۞ لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ وَزِيَادَةٌ ۖ وَلَا يَرْهَقُ وُجُوهَهُمْ قَتَرٌ وَلَا ذِلَّةٌ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
For them who have done good is the best [reward] - and extra. No darkness will cover their faces, nor humiliation. Those are companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.
فَقَالُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
So they said, "Upon Allāh do we rely. Our Lord, make us not [objects of] trial for the wrongdoing people
وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا ٱلْقُرُونَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا۟ ۙ وَجَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ لِيُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
And We had already destroyed generations before you when they wronged, and their messengers had come to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe. Thus do We recompense the criminal people.
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ ءَاتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَأَهُۥ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَٰلًا فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِكَ ۖ رَبَّنَا ٱطْمِسْ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَٱشْدُدْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ
And Moses said, "Our Lord, indeed You have given Pharaoh and his establishment splendor and wealth in the worldly life, our Lord, that they may lead [men] astray from Your way. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment."