THE STORY OF THE PROPHET JONAH - Being in the Body of the Fish Nun

Prophet Jonah left the city of Nineveh in a state of anger, because the residents of the city did not want to accept his preaching to want to worship Allah SWT. Prophet Jonah had traveled far without any definite purpose. He did not know that during his departure, the residents of Nineveh had repented and had faith in Allah SWT because they were aware when they saw the disaster that almost hit their homes.

Surah Ash-Shaffat verse 139:

وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ  ١٣٩

139.  And indeed, Jonah was among the messengers.

The journey of Prophet Jonah arrived at the beach. At that time he was in the port and saw a ship that was about to sail. Many passengers go up and down in the port. He headed to the ship with other people. After getting permission, he boarded the ship. After everything was settled, the ship sailed on the sea to another land.

Surah Ash-Shaffat verse 140:

إِذۡ أَبَقَ إِلَى ٱلۡفُلۡكِ ٱلۡمَشۡحُونِ  ١٤٠

140.  [Mention] when he ran away to the laden ship.

In the voyage on the sea, there was a big storm that hit the ship carrying Jonah. Large waves make the ship difficult to control. At that time there was also a Nun (whale) fish that was around the ship which continued to follow. In order to keep the position of the ship stable, the ship captain was forced to decide to throw some items in the ship to the sea, there were even passenger who had to jump into the sea to reduce the burden on the ship. Then a draw was made to determine the name of who had to jump into the sea, including the name of the Prophet Jonah.

In the first draw, it turned out that Prophet Jonah was chosen to plunge into the sea. Because Prophet Jonah was a person who was respected and glorified, people did not want if he had to jump into the sea. Then the draw is done again. Prophet Jonah was elected again for the second time. Then the third draw was held and Prophet Jonah remained elected again. Prophet Jonah understood that this event was the will of Allah SWT. Prophet Jonah realized his mistake that he had left the city of Niniveh without the permission of Allah SWT. He thought that the draw results were a lesson for him. The atmosphere was very scary and dark. But without hesitation, Prophet Jonah walked to the edge of the ship and immediately plunged into the high-wavy sea.

Surah Ash-Shaffat verse 141:

فَسَاهَمَ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُدۡحَضِينَ  ١٤١

141.  And he drew lots and was among the losers.

When the Prophet Jonah was tossed around in the sea, a Nun fish moved towards him and opened it mouth. The fish swallowed Jonah alive and kept it in the stomach without any injuries, then the fish immediately headed into the sea. The condition in the belly of the fish is very dark. Prophet Jonah prayed to Allah SWT so that he would be forgiven because of a mistake he had made. He continued to pray earnestly and feeling sad. So Allah SWT answered the prayer of Prophet Jonah so as not to feel troubled. If the prophet Jonah was not pray, then he would remain in the belly of the fish Nun until the Day of Judgement.

Surah Al-Anbiya' verse 87:

وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَٰضِبٗا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقۡدِرَ عَلَيۡهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِي ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبۡحَٰنَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ  ٨٧

87.  And [mention] the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."

Surah Ash-Shaffat verses 142-144:

فَٱلۡتَقَمَهُ ٱلۡحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٞ  ١٤٢ فَلَوۡلَآ أَنَّهُۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُسَبِّحِينَ  ١٤٣ لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطۡنِهِۦٓ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ يُبۡعَثُونَ  ١٤٤

142.  Then the fish swallowed him, while he was blameworthy.

143.  And had he not been of those who exalt Allah,

144.  He would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected.

After a while the Prophet Jonah was in the belly of the fish Nun, then Allah SWT ordered the fish to take the Prophet Jonah ashore. Then the Prophet Jonah was on the beach in a condition of a tired and starving body. Allah SWT grew a pumpkin tree so that Prophet Jonah could take shelter beneath him and eat the pumpkins so that his body condition recovered. For information, pumpkin is very useful for building skin tissue and strengthening the body. Flies also do not want to approach the pumpkin tree, so that Prophet Jonah remained calm.

Surah Al-Anbiya' verse 88:

فَٱسۡتَجَبۡنَا لَهُۥ وَنَجَّيۡنَٰهُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَمِّۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُ‍ۨجِي ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ  ٨٨

88.  So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.

Surah Ash-Shaffat verses 145-146:

۞فَنَبَذۡنَٰهُ بِٱلۡعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٞ  ١٤٥ وَأَنۢبَتۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ شَجَرَةٗ مِّن يَقۡطِينٖ  ١٤٦

145.  But We threw him onto the open shore while he was ill.

146.  And We caused to grow over him a gourd pumpkin.

Then Prophet Jonah remembered the inhabitants of the city of Niniveh and returned to the city. It turned out that he had been awaited and welcomed by the people of Niniveh. They asked Prophet Jonah to teach them about faith. Prophet Jonah was pleased because the inhabitants of Niniveh had believed in Allah SWT.

Surah Ash-Shaffat verses 147-148:

وَأَرۡسَلۡنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ مِاْئَةِ أَلۡفٍ أَوۡ يَزِيدُونَ  ١٤٧ فَ‍َٔامَنُواْ فَمَتَّعۡنَٰهُمۡ إِلَىٰ حِينٖ  ١٤٨

147.  And We sent him to [his people of] a hundred thousand or more.

148.  And they believed, so We gave them enjoyment [of life] for a time.

Reference:

·    As Sayyid, Kamal and Anis, Selma (Translator). 2005. Kisah-kisah Terbaik Alquran. Jakarta: Pustaka Zahra.

·       mafiadoc.com_25-kisah-para-nabi_5a17d36a1723ddce5c8a2001 (PDF)