YUNUS (Jonah)
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
1 A. L. R. These are the ayats of Al-Kitab al-Hakim.
2 Is it a matter of wonderment to men that we have sent our inspiration to a man from among themselves? That he should warn mankind, and give the good news to the believers that they have before their Lord the lofty rank of truth. The unbelievers say: this is indeed an evident sorcerer.
3 Truly your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days,[1] and is firmly established on the throne, regulating and governing all things. There is no intercessor except by his leave.[2] This is Allah your Lord; him therefore serve: will you not receive a admonition?
4 To him will be your return of all of you. The promise of Allah is true and sour. It is he who begins the process of creation, and repeats it, that he may reward with justice those believe and work righteousness; but those who reject him will have draughts of boiling fluids, and a penalty grievous, because they rejected him.
5 It is he who made the sun to be a shining glory and the moon to be a light, and measured out stages for her; that you might know the number of years and how to calculate it. Allah did not create this but in truth and righteousness. He explain his signs in detail, for those who understand.
6 Truly in the alternation of the night and the day, and in all that Allah has created, in the heavens and the earth are signs for those who fear him.
7 Those who rest not their hope on their meeting with us, but are pleased and satisfied with the life of the present, and those who heed not our signs,
8 Their abode is the fire, because of what they earned.
9 Those who believe, and work righteousness, their Lord will guide them because of their faith: beneath them will flow rivers in gardens of bliss.
10 Their cry there will be: “Glory to you, O Allah!” And “Peace” will be their greeting there! And the close of their cry will be: “Praise be to Allah, Lord of the universe!”
11 If Allah were to hasten for men their retribution just as they would hasten on the good, then would their respite be settled at once. But we leave those who rest not their hope on their meeting with us, in their trespasses, wandering in distraction to and fro.
12 When trouble touches a man, he cries to us lying down on his side, or sitting, or standing. But when we have solved his trouble, he passes on his way as if he had never cried to us for a trouble that touched him thus do the deeds of transgressors seem fair in their eyes!
13 Generations before you we destroyed when they did wrong: their messengers came to them with clear signs, but they would not believe! Thus do we requite those who sin!
14 Then we made you heirs in the land after them, to see how you would behave!
15 But when our clear signs are rehearsed to them, those who rest not their hope on their meeting with us, say: bring us reading other than this, or change this, say: it is not for me, of my own accord, to change it: I follow nothing but what is revealed to me: if I were to disobey my Lord, I should myself fear the penalty of a great day.
16 Say: If Allah had to willed, I should not have rehearsed it to you, nor would he have made it known to you. A whole lifetime before this have I stayed among you: will you not then understand?
17 Who does more wrong than such as forge a lie against Allah, or deny his signs? But never will prosper those who sin.
18 They serve, besides Allah, things that hurt them not nor profit them, and they say: these are our intercessors with Allah. Say: Do you indeed inform Allah of something he knows not, in the heavens or on earth? Glory to him and far is he above the partners they ascribe to him.
19 Mankind was but one nation, but they disputed. Had it not been for a word that went forth before from your Lord, their differences would have been settled between them.
20 They say: Why is not a sign sent down to him from his Lord? Say: The unseen is only for Allah. Then wait: I too will wait with you.
21 When we make mankind taste of some mercy after adversity has touched them, behold, they take to plotting against our signs! Say: “Swifter to plan is Allah!” Truly, our messengers record all the plots that you make!
22 He is who enables you to traverse through land and sea; so that you even board ships; they sail with them with a favourable wind, and they rejoice thereat; then comes a stormy wind and the waves come to them from all sides, and they think they are being overwhelmed: they cry to Allah, sincerely offering duty to him, saying, if you deliver us from this, we shall truly show our gratitude.
23 But when he delivers them, behold they transgress insolently through the earth in defiance of right O mankind your insolence is against your own souls, an enjoyment of the life of the present: in the end, to us is your return, and we shall show you the truth of all that you did.
24 The likeness of the life of the present is as the rain which we send down from the skies: by its mingling arises the produce of the earth which provides food for men and animals: it grows until the earth is clad with its golden ornaments and is decked out in beauty: the people to whom it belongs think they have all powers of disposal over it: there reaches it our command by night or by day, and we make it like a harvest clean mown, as if it had not flourished only the day before thus do we explain the signs in detail for those who reflect.
25 But Allah calls to the home of peace: he guides whom he pleases to a way that is straight.
26 To those who do right is the best, and more. No darkness nor shame shall cover their faces! They are companions of the garden; they will abide there!
27 But those who have earned evil will have a reward of like evil: ignominy will cover them: no defender will they have from Allah: their faces will be covered, as it were, with pieces from the depth of the darkness of night: they are companions of the fire: they will abide there!
28 One Day shall we gather them all together. Then shall we say to those who joined gods with us: “To your place, you and those you joined as ‘partners’.” We shall separate them, and their “partners” shall say: “It was not us that you worshipped!”
29 Enough is Allah for a witness between us and you: we certainly knew nothing of your worship of us!
30 There will every soul prove the deeds sent before: they will be brought back to Allah their rightful Lord, and their invented falsehoods will leave them in the lurch.
31 Say: Who is it that sustains you from the sky and from the earth? Or who is it that has power over hearing and sight? And who is it that brings out the living from the dead and the dead from the living? And who is it that rules and regulates all affairs? They will soon say, Allah! Say: Will you not then show piety?
32 Such is Allah, your real Lord: apart from truth, what is there but error? How then are you turned away?
33 Thus is the word of your Lord proved true against those who rebel: truly they will not believe.
34 Say: Of your partners, can any originate creation and repeat it? Say: It is Allah who originates creation and repeats it. How then are you misled!
35 Say: Of your partners is there any that can give any guidance towards truth? Say: It is Allah who gives guidance towards truth. Is then he who gives guidance to truth more worthy to be followed, or he who finds not guidance unless he is guided? What then is the matter with you? How do you judge?
36 But most of them follow nothing but fancy: truly fancy can be of no avail against truth. Truly Allah is well aware of all that they do.
37 This Quran is not such as can be produced by other than Allah; on the contrary it is a confirmation of what came before it, and a fuller explanation of Al-Kitab wherein there is no doubt from the Lord of the universe.
38 Or do they say, he forged it? Say: Bring then a surah like it, and call anyone you can, besides Allah, if it be you speak the truth!
39 No, they charge with falsehood that whose knowledge they cannot compass, even before the elucidation of it has reached them: thus did those before them make charges of falsehood: But see what was the end of those who did wrong!
40 Of them there are some who believe in it and some who do not: and your Lord knows best those who are out for mischief.
41 If they charge you with falsehood, say: my work to me, and yours to you! You are free from responsibility for what I do, and I for what you do!
42 Among them are some who listen to you: but can you make the deaf to hear, even though they are without understanding?
43 And among them are some who look at you: but can you guide the blind, even though they will not see?
44 Truly Allah will not deal unjustly with man in anything: it is man that wrongs his own soul.
45 One day he will gather them together: it will seem as if they had waited but an hour of a day: they will recognize each other: assuredly those will be lost who denied the meeting with Allah and refused to receive true guidance.
46 Whether we show you some part of what we promise them, or we take your soul, in any case, to us is their return: ultimately Allah is witness to all that they do.
47 To every people is sent a messenger: when their messenger comes, the matter will be judged between them with justice, and they will not be wronged.
48 They say: when will this promise come to pass, if you speak the truth?
49 Say: I have no power over any harm or profit to myself except as Allah wills. To every people is a term appointed: when their term is reached, not an hour can they delay, nor can they advance.
50 Say: Do you see, if his punishment should come to you by day, what portion of it would the sinners wish to hasten?
51 Would you then believe in it at last, when it actually comes to pass? Ah now? And you wanted to hasten it on!
52 At length it will be said to the wrongdoers: Taste the enduring punishment! You get but the reward of what you earned!
53 They seek to be informed by you: is that true? Say: Yes, by my Lord it is the very truth and you cannot frustrate it!
54 Every soul that has sinned, if it possessed all that is on earth, would fain give it in ransom: they would declare repentance when they see the penalty: but the judgment between them will be with justice, and no wrong will be done to them.
55 Is it not that to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and on earth? Is it not that Allah’s promise is assuredly true? Yet most of them understand not.
56 It is he who gives life and who takes it, and to him shall you all be brought back.
57 O mankind there has come to you a direction from your Lord and a healing for your hearts, and for those who believe, a guidance and a mercy.
58 Say: In the bounty of Allah, and in his mercy, in that let them rejoice: that is better than what they hoard.
59 Say: Do you see what things Allah has sent down to you for sustenance? Yet you hold some things forbidden and some things lawful. Say: Has Allah indeed permitted you, or do you invent things to attribute to Allah?
60 And what think those who invent lie against Allah, of the day of judgment? Truly Allah is full of bounty to mankind, but most of them are ungrateful.
61 In whatever business you may be, and whatever portion you may be reciting from the Quran, and whatever deed you may be doing, we are witnesses of it when you are deeply engrossed in it. Nor is hidden from your Lord the weight of an atom on the earth or in heaven. And not the least and not the greatest of these things but are recorded in a clear book.
62 Behold truly on Allah is no fear, nor shall they grieve;
63 Those who believe and guard against evil;
64 For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present and in the hereafter. The word of Allah cannot be changed.[3] This is indeed the supreme triumph.
65 Let not their speech grieve you: for all power and honour belong to Allah: it is he who hears and knows.
66 Behold truly to Allah belong all creatures, in the heavens and on earth. What do they follow who worship as his partners other than Allah? They follow nothing but fancy, and they do nothing but lie.
67 He it is that has made you the night that you may rest in it, and the day to make things visible. Truly in this are signs for those who listen.
68 They say, Allah has sired a son. Glory be to him! He is self-sufficient. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. No warrant have you for this. Why do you say about Allah what you know not?
69 Say: Those who invent a lie against Allah will never prosper.
70 A little enjoyment in this world and then, to us will be their return. Then shall we make them taste the severest penalty for their blasphemies.
71 Relate to them the story of Nuh. Behold he said to his people: O my people, if it be hard on you that I should stay and commemorate the signs of Allah, yet I put my trust in Allah. Get an agreement about your plan and among your partners, so your plan is not dark and dubious. Then pass your sentence on me, and give me no respite.
72 But if you turn back, no reward have I asked of you: my reward is only due from Allah, and I have been commanded to be of those who submit to Allah’s will.
73 They rejected him, but we delivered him, and those with him, in the Ark and we made them inherit, while we overwhelmed in the flood those who rejected our signs. Then see what was the end of those who were warned.
74 Then after him we sent messengers to their peoples: they brought them clear signs, but they would not believe what they had already rejected beforehand. Thus do we seal the hearts of the transgressors.
75 Then after them sent we Musa and Harun to Firaun and his chiefs with our signs. But they were arrogant: they were a people in sin.
76 When the truth did come to them from us, they said: this is indeed evident sorcery.
77 Said Musa: you say this about the truth when it has reached you? Is this sorcery? But sorcerers will not prosper.
78 They said: have you come to us to turn us away from the ways we found our fathers following, in order that you and your brother may have greatness in the land? But not we shall believe in you!
79 Said Firaun: bring me every sorcerer well versed.
80 When the sorcerers came, Musa said to them: throw what you wish to throw!
81 When they had their throw, Musa said: what you have brought is sorcery: of no effect: for Allah prospers not the work of those who make mischief.
82 And Allah by his words proves and establishes his truth, however much the sinners may hate it!
83 But none believed in Musa except some children of his people, because of the fear of Firaun and his chiefs, lest they should persecute them; and certainly Firaun was mighty on the earth and one who transgressed all bounds.
84 Musa said: O my people if you believe in Allah, then in him put your trust if you submit.
85 They said: in Allah do we put our trust. Our Lord, make us not a trial for those who practise oppression;
86 And deliver us by your mercy from those who reject.
87 We inspired Musa and his brother with this message: provide dwellings for your people in Egypt, make your dwellings into places of worship, and establish regular prayers: and give glad tidings to those who believe!
88 Musa prayed: Our Lord, you have indeed bestowed on Firaun and his chiefs splendour and wealth in the life of the present, and so, our Lord, they mislead from your path. Deface, our Lord, the features of their wealth and send hardness to their hearts, so they will not believe until they see the grievous penalty.
89 Allah said: Accepted is your prayer, so stand straight, and follow not the path of those who know not.
90 We took Bani-Israel across the sea: Firaun and his hosts followed them in insolence and spite. At length, when overwhelmed with the flood, he said: I believe that there is no god except him whom Bani-Israel believe in: I am of those who submit.
91 Ah now but a little while before, you were in rebellion and you did mischief.
92 This day shall we save you in your body, that you may be a sign to those who come after you but truly, many among mankind are heedless of our signs!
93 We settled Bani-Israel in a beautiful dwelling place, and provided for them sustenance of the best: it was after knowledge had been granted to them, that them fell into schisms. Truly Allah will judge between them as to the schisms among them, on the day of judgment.
94 If you are in doubt about what we have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading Al-Kitab before you.[4] The truth has come to you from your Lord, so in no way should you waver.
95 Nor be of those who reject the signs of Allah, or you shall be of those who perish.
96 Those against whom the word of your Lord has been verified would not believe,
97 Even if very sign was brought to them, until they see the penalty grievous.
98 Why was there not a single township which believed, so its faith could have profited it, except the people of Yunus? When they believed, we removed from them the penalty of ignominy in the life of the present, and permitted them to enjoy for a while.
99 If it had been your Lord’s will, they would all have believed, all who are on earth. Will you then compel mankind, against their will, to believe?
100 No soul can believe, except by the will of Allah, and he will place doubt on those who will not understand.
101 Say: Behold all that is in the heavens and on earth; but neither signs nor warners profit those who believe not.
102 Do they then expect but the days of the men who passed away before them? Say: Wait then: for I, too, will wait with you.
103 In the end we deliver our messengers and those who believe: thus is it fitting on our part that we should deliver those who believe!
104 Say: “O you men! If you are in doubt as to my religion, I worship not what you worship, other than Allah! But I worship Allah, who will take your souls: I am commanded to be one of the believers,
105 “And further: Set your face towards religion with true piety, and never in anywise be of the unbelievers;
106 “Nor call on any god other than Allah — such will neither profit you nor hurt you. If you do, behold, you shall certainly be of those who do wrong. ”
107 If Allah do touch you with hurt, there is none can remove it but he: if he do design some benefit for you, there is none can keep back his favour: he causes it to reach whomever of his servants he wishes. And he is the oft-forgiving, most merciful.
108 Say: O you men now truth has reached you from your Lord those who receive guidance, do so for the good of their own souls; those who stray, do so to their own loss: and I am not over you to arrange your affairs.
109 Follow the inspiration sent to you, and be patient and constant, until Allah decides: for he is the best to decide.
[1] Similar wording is found in the Taurat: “in six days Allah made the heavens and earth, the sea, and all that is in them” (Exodus 20:11). The six days of creation are described in detail in the Taurat, Genesis, chapter one.
[2] Al-Kitab identifies only one person as having the power of intercession–Prophet ‘Isa al-Masih. The Taurat says prophetically that ‘Isa “bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Shaya 53:12). The Injil plainly teaches that ‘Isa “is also able to save completely those who draw near to Allah through him, seeing he lives forever to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
[3] Allah keeps Al-Kitab from being corrupted and changed. Nothing here limits this to the Quran only. It applies to the word of Allah in general, including the Taurat, Zabur, and Injil. The holy Zabur states, “Allah, your word is settled in heaven forever.” (Zabur chapter 119:89). And the Taurat and Injil both declare, “The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God shall stand forever.” (Taurat, Shaya 40:8; see also Injil, 1 Peter 1:24,25).
[4] The reader is told to consult with those who study the Taurat and the Injil if he has any questions about the Quran. There is a certain logic in this advice. It would be difficult for a student to understand the material of grade three, if he has not previously studied both grade one and grade two. Those who have studied the earlier grades will be have the most accurate understanding of class three.