While he lay in the fish’s belly, shrouded in layers of darkness, he cried out, “There is no god but You; glory be to You! I have indeed been among the wrongdoers” (Al-Anbiya 87). Allah then ordered the fish to cast him onto the bare shore. He emerged from its stomach like a featherless hatchling just out of the egg—utterly weak and exhausted. Allah gently cared for him and caused a gourd vine (1) to spring up over him, whose ample shade protected him until his strength returned.

Allah next commanded him to go back to his people, instruct and invite them. The inhabitants of his town—one hundred thousand or more—accepted his call: “So they believed, and We allowed them to enjoy life for a time (148)” (As-Saffat 148).

• In this account we see Allah’s gracious reproach of Jonah ﷺ and His keeping him in the fish as an expiation, a tremendous sign, and a mark of honor for him. Among the divine favors shown to him is that such a great multitude from his people responded, for the abundance of a prophet’s followers counts among his virtues.

• The story also illustrates the legitimacy of drawing lots when rights or deprivations are in doubt and no other means of preference exists.

• The action taken by the ship’s crew confirms the well-known legal maxim: “The lesser of two harms may be committed to ward off the greater.” Casting some men overboard was injurious, yet the loss of everyone had none been cast overboard would have been far worse.

• Finally, it teaches that when a servant has established a record of devotion to his Lord and has drawn close to Him in times of ease, Allah will acknowledge that record in times of hardship—by removing the trial altogether or at least lightening it. Concerning Jonah, Allah said: “Had he not been one of those who glorify Allah (143), he would have remained in its belly until the Day they are resurrected (144)” (As-Saffat 143-144).