Prophet Younis (Jonah) and Allah's Displeasure

Man has always been ungrateful and resistive to the Divine commandments and Allah has been sending prophets and messengers to guide the wronged to the righteous path. But sometimes it so happens that the stubbornness and resistance of nonbelievers makes even the prophets lose heart and abandon the mission assigned to them by Allah. And the story of Prophet Younis (peace be upon him), known and mentioned in earlier scriptures as Jonah is one such episode where a prophet abandoned his people in disgust and prayed for the wrath of Allah to befell on them.

The mention of the episode of Prophet Younis is made in Surah Yunus [10], Surah Al-Anbya [21] and Surah As-Saffat [37] of the Holy Qur'an and Hebrew Bible (Tanakh/Old Testament). Prophet Younis was a direct descendant of Prophet Yaqub (peace be upon him), also known as Jacob, has also referred to in the Qur’an by the name of Dhan-Nun (meaning The One of the Fish).

He was sent to people of Nineveh, a town in the area of Mosul in northern Iraq, for they have had turned down all earlier Divine messages and continued to be idolaters. According to the Qur’an, it had a population of around 100,000 people: And We sent him to [his people of] a hundred thousand or more [(Qur’an 37:147)]. It is said that despite his years long efforts to turn the shrouded hearts and minds of people of Nineveh in idolatry to the Divine path of righteousness, the people remained oblivious to his efforts and did not budge even a bit from their age old  beliefs and faith.

Despite his best efforts when the Prophet Younis found him failing to convince his people to leave idolatry and bring faith on monotheism and One true Allah. As all prophets and messengers are granted one supplication of their choice which Allah will fulfill, one day in deep despair prayed to Allah to bring Divine wrath on people of Nineveh. But before seeing the fulfillment of his prayer he left the city and boarded a ship out in the open seas.   

While a layman may understand Prophet Younis' departure in despair, it was not taken easily by Allah for he left a mission assigned to him half way and unfilled and leaving calling for the Divine wrath. This definitely drew extreme Divine displeasure and had severe consequences on him. The ship while sailing smoothly suddenly came under a heavy sea storm and it seemed difficult for the captain of the ship to save it from a disaster. As was then the practice in vogue of throwing someone off board to please the angry gods, everyone looked for a sinner on board. 

When they could not find any such person, Prophet Younis volunteered to be thrown off the ship for he had realized by then that he had committed a great sin by leaving the mission assigned to him half way.  Uncertain of his request, others agreed to draw lots to decide the matter. The first round resulted against Prophet Yunus, but seeing his rather elderly figure, they decided to draw the lot twice and even third time - but each time the lot drew against him. Being a prophet, he understood that this was the decree of Allah. “And indeed, Yunus was among the messengers. [Mention] when he ran away to the laden ship. And he drew lots and was among the losers.” [(Qur’an 37:139-141)].

Thus, Prophet Younis was thrown off board in the raging sea and he understood that he was to face the wrath of Allah himself for abandonment of the Divine mission. But prophet he still was and Allah would never hurt His prophets or revenge them for their humanly errors and decisions. So there came a big fish, whale as we know it today, which swallowed the prophet as a whole and he went inside its belly unhurt and alive. “Then the fish swallowed him, while he was blameworthy.” (Surah As-Saffat 37:142)

Miraculously, Prophet Younis was not pulverized, but remained whole, for the whale was not allowed by Allah to scratch his flesh or even break his bones. When he came to, he realized that he was still intact and alive. He fell in prostration and said “Oh my Lord! I have made a place of prayer where nobody else has even worshiped you.” [1]

There in the complete darkness, the Prophet of Allah begged for forgiveness and repented his actions. He repeated this humble supplication countless times over the course of the next three days and nights, and repented for his disobedience. In Holy Qur'an the prayer that Prophet Younis offered repeatedly is mentioned in Surah Al-Anbya (21:87): “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.” 

The lesson thus been taught to His prophet, Allah accepted his prayer and the fish came ashore and vomited him out alive and unhurt. “So We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress. And thus We do deliver the believers (who believe in the Oneness of Allah, abstain from evil and work righteousness.)” (Surah Al-Anbya 21:88)

In the meantime, a miracle had happened to the people of Nineveh who had repented their attitude to Prophet Younis who had left in despair and begged for Divine forgiveness and pledged to leave idolatry and accept the righteous path as was propagated by Prophet Younis. Allah accepted their pledge and took them under His fold as believers.

The entire episode is a unique one in which a prophet had left his assigned mission half way, abandoned his people and efforts to bring them to the righteous path and even prayed for the wrath of Allah to befell on them. But Allah clearly demonstrated that even if prophets do their utmost to mould the hearts of people sent upon, a prophet can only make an endeavorer and no more. It is up to Allah alone Who can mould the hearts of nonbelievers  and guide them to the truth and worship of one true Allah.

This episode also shows that prophet do faulter but their true repentance is acknowledged by Allah and they are forgiven. The same goes to all those who have firm faith and belief in monotheism, and live their lives as commanded by Allah, their earnest prayers too are answered and are saved from the wrongs been done to them. 

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

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The Miracle of Moon Split

One of the miracles attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the splitting of the moon. although the subject has been supported and criticized by both Muslims and Non Muslims,. but the fact remains that heavenly and prophetic miracles cannot be proved or supported by science or any logical explanation. The miracles happen through prophets as by these Allah sends messages to the non believers of his absolute power and ability to do wonders or miracles much beyond the comprehension or wisdom of man. 

Talking of miracles, no science or mathematical calculations prove the making of a giant boat by Prophet Noah that carried pair of each existing animals of the time beside his own people. Nor has science been ale to prove the magnitude of the flood that followed and drowned the entire world under its enormous amount of water. 

Likewise, the ability given to Prophet Eesa (Jesus, peace be upon him) to cure the lepers and blind and raising of the dead. No one has ever questioned these miracles ever as these suit some of the religions earlier than Islam. Since Islam is seen as a threat to their faith, many non Muslims authors, scholars and religious men have taken upon them to negate and mock the miracles attributed to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

However, the purpose of this post is not to open a debate forum to prove who and what is right. Instead this post is only to describe the miracle of splitting of the moon attributed to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). However, since the miracle has been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, we Muslims believe it to be absolute true as nothing in the Qur'an has ever been proven wrong. 

The incident is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an as under:

The Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two]. And if they see a miracle, they turn away and say, "Passing magic." And they denied and followed their inclinations. But for every matter is a [time of] settlement. (Al Qur'an 54: Surah Al Qamar Verses 1-3)

It so happened that one night when Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was out of the city of Makkah in an open area of Mina in the company of the non believers, the latter demanded of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to show that a miracle as a proof of his prophet-hood, like splitting of the moon. The moon shone above as bright and full as it was the 14th of the moon rise day.

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) silently prayed to Allah (subḥānahu wa ta'āla - glorified and exalted be He) and asked to bestow upon him the miracle demanded to split the moon. A short while later, Angel Jibraeel (Gabriel) informed the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) that Allah had accepted his prayer. Then the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) raised his index finger and made of gesture sideways and the moon was seen split into two and seen cleft asunder. On seeing the moon split, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)  said to his companions, 'Bear witness (to this). This how Allah saves His chosen ones, prophets and messengers from humiliation in front of pagans and the non believers.

Those who do not believe in the word of Qur'an or the commandment of Allah may know that it was foretold in the Qur'an about the victory of the Rome against the Persians which a prophet, what a to say even a false prophet, could not have predicted. And as predicted in the Qur'an, the Rome did rise and avenged their humiliating defeat. And if this is not all, there are many references and revelations that science later proved to be right and some still remain which someday will find answers.

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Mention of Prophets Zackariah and Yahya (John, the Baptist) in Qur'an

Prophets Zackariah and Yahya (John, peace be upon them both) are amongst the prominent  from the lineage of Prophets Ibraheem (Abraham), his son Ishaq (Isaac), Yaqoob (Jacob), Dawood (David) and Suleiman (Solomon). Their mention is found in the holy scriptures Torah and later in all following holy scriptures including the Bible and Holy Qur'an.

Like many unprecedented miracles and events, the birth of Prophet Yahya to Prophet Zackariah is unique as Prophet Zackariah was blessed with a son at a very later age, around 100 years to his barren wife. Prophet Zackariah was a God fearing man and always invited his people to follow the path shown by none other than one Allah (God) and be righteous in their dealings.

Reaching the old age, he feared that after his death, his people might go astray and no one would remember his teachings and forget praying to Allah. So he earnestly wanted a son to carry on with his prophet-hood and continue to enlighten the hearts of his people. His prayers were thus answered and a son whose name was to be Yahya as decide by Allah, for before his birth the name Yahya never existed, was born to him.

The mention of these two early prophets is mentioned in Al Qur'an Surah Al Maryam, 9:2-14 as under:

2:  [This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zackariah,
3:  When he called to his Lord a private supplication.
4:  He said, "My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy.
5:  And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir.
6:  Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Yaqoob (Jacob). And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You]."
7:  [He was told], "O Zackariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be Yahya (John). We have not assigned to any before [this] name."
8:  He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?"
9:  [An angel] said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.' "
10: [Zackariah] said, "My Lord, make for me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three nights, [being] sound."
11:  So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [ Allah ] in the morning and afternoon.
12: [ Allah ] said, "O Yahya, take the Scripture with determination." And We gave him judgment [while yet] a boy
13: And affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah
14: And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant.

This is all about both the prophets as mentioned in the Holy Qur'an. Prophet Yahya continued to preach just like his father for as long as he lived. 

Prophet Yahya is buried in the the Prophet Yahya Masjid, Jamia Nabi Yahya, is located in the village of Sebastia, near Nablus, Syria. It is located in the central square of the village. There are six burial niches here, among them are tombs traditionally identified as the burial places of Elisha, Obadiah, and Yahya. It is believed that the masjid stands at the place where Prophet Yahya's body was buried by his followers. 

A church was erected on the spot of the tomb during the Byzantine era and then superseded by a Crusader-built church in 1160. It was transformed into a masjid by Saladin in 1187, although some sources say it was converted by the Mamlooks in 1261, later restored and mostly rebuilt during the 19th century while Palestine was under Ottoman rule. Watch the video below showing the Prophet Yahya Masjid and his burial chamber inside the masjid:

In Torah and Bible, the mention of both the prophets is also found in the older scriptures of Torah and Bible in more details, wherein Prophet Yahya is mentioned as John, the baptist.

References: | 1 | 2 | Photo

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