Sura Yunus (Jonah)
Sura Yunus is the tenth Sura of the Holy Qur'an which was revealed during the early days of the Prophet's appointment in Mecca. This Sura contains 901 verses, and its main topics are about monotheism, the authenticity of the Qur'an, answers to those who deny revelation, inspiring fear in the unbelievers, exposing the glory and magnitude of the act of creation and of the Creator, the lack of permanence of the world as well as calling the attentions of all peoples to the world after death.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful.
The Contents of Sura Yunus
No. 10 (109 Verses)
Sura Yunus is the tenth Sura of the Holy Qur'an which was revealed during the early days of the Prophet's appointment in Mecca. This Sura contains 901 verses, and its main topics are about monotheism, the authenticity of the Qur'an, answers to those who deny revelation, inspiring fear in the unbelievers, exposing the glory and magnitude of the act of creation and of the Creator, the lack of permanence of the world as well as calling the attentions of all peoples to the world after death.
The former Sura, that is "Repentance", dealt with the acts of the hypocrites as well as their punishment, while this Sura refers to the acts of polytheists.
As to the rewards accounted for reciting and reading this Sura, there have been cited some traditions among which is the tradition narrated by Imam Sadiq( a. s.)who said: He who recites Sura Yunus every two or three months may not be of the ignorant and will be of the near- stationed on the Day of Resurrection.(1)
(1) Tafsir- us- S afi, and Tafsi- i- Burhan
Sura Yunus(Jonah)
No. 10(Revealed in Mecca)
109 verses in 11 sections
Section 1
The Qur'an contains Signs from the All- Wise
The object of the revelation of the Qur'an to the Apostle(Muhammad)The believers and the disbelievers in the Turah and the reward and the punishment.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ
(1) الر تِلْكَ آياتُ الْكِتابِ الْحَكيمِ
In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful
1. " Alif 'A', Lam 'L', Ra 'R'. These are the verses of the Book of Wisdom. "
Commentary :
It is noteworthy that six consecutive suras of the Qur'an begin with abbreviated letters which are recited: Alif, Lam, Ra. These Suras are: Yunus, Hud, Yousuf, Ar- Ra'd(with an exception, of course), 'Ibrahim, and Al- Hijr. Each of these letters is an indication to the Names of Allah or to some other
things which have been explained at the beginning of Sura Al- Baqarah.
The Arabic word/ tilka/ refers to the verses that are found in this Sura.
The objective meaning of the Qur'anic phrase/ al kitab il h akim/ is the "Protected Tablet" or the Qur'an. Since it contains wisdom and teaches by means of wisdom, it is therefore Wise.
In other words; the Qur'an has a high rank, because the Holy Book itself is Wise. Simultaneously, while it contains both teachings of wisdom and is wise in content, it is a judge and an arbitrator as well. It remains intact from hostile elements and history and the passage of time can leave no impact upon it. It is "the Book of Wisdom".
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(2) أَ كانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَباً أَنْ أَوْحَيْنا إِلى رَجُلٍ مِنْهُمْ أَنْ أَنْذِرِ النَّاسَ وَ بَشِّرِ الَّذينَ آمَنُوا أَنَّ لَهُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ قالَ الْكافِرُونَ إِنَّ هذا لَساحِرٌ مُبينٌ
2. "Was it a wonder to the people that We revealed to a man from among themselves that he should warn mankind and give good tidings to those who believe that they have before their Lord the rank of Truth(While)the unbelievers say: 'This is indeed an evident sorcerer! '"
Commentary :
The verses of wisdom of the Qur'an are composed of the same letters and sounds that are just like Alif, Lam, and Ra. Their differences with other statements lie in the fact that they are intermingled with divine wisdom, the sort of which is so encompassing that it exposes the truth, and drags mankind to guidance, but the people do not believe this fact that a man, selected from among themselves, can receive revelations from Allah. This matter is not surprising, since the aim of revelation is to warn the people and give glad tidings to the believers notifying them of the high esteem in which they are being held with their Creator. If they believe firmly in Him, He guides them and rewards them accordingly (1)! The verse says:
"Was it a wonder to the people that We revealed to a man from among themselves that he should warn
(1) In Islamic quotations, whether those of the Sunnis or those of the Shia'h, the Prophet of Islam(p.b.u.h.) has been known as the Propagator of Truth.(See the Commentary of Qurtubi and Al- Borhan).
mankind and give good tidings to those who believe that they have before their Lord the rank of Truth "
The idolaters, however, said that "this man"(meaning the Prophet(p.b.u.h.) , must have obviously been a sorcerer and a magician since he brought something that could not be brought by others. The verse continues saying:
"... (While)the unbelievers say: 'This is indeed an evident sorcerer! '"
The disbelievers considered prophecy as sorcery and, because of their short sightedness, dark heartedness, and lack of understanding, they could mostly not grasp the truth and distinguish the difference between miracles and the work of magicians.
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(3) إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذي خَلَقَ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ في سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ ما مِنْ شَفيعٍ إِلاَّ مِنْ بَعْدِ إِذْنِهِ ذلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ أَ فَلا تَذَكَّرُونَ
3. Verily, your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the Earth in six Days. Then He established Himself on 'Arsh(the Throne), directing the affair. No intercessor can there be except after(obtaining)His leave. This is Allah your Lord; Him therefore worship you: will you not remember "
Commentary :
The objective meaning of 'Six Days' is six periods of time in the course of creation.
The 'throne'('arsh)alludes to power and omnipotence. When one says someone was enthroned or overthrown, he implies that he was elevated in power or stripped of his power. Allah's comprehensive authority extends all over existence both before the creation of the earth and the heavens and after their creation. The Qur'an says: "And His 'Arsh(throne)was over the water. " (1)
Even next to the end of the world and during the Resurrection, Allah's omnipotence over all existence will remain intact, too. The Qur'an says: " and above them eight shall bear on that Day your Lord's 'Arsh(throne). " (2)
(1) Sura Hud, No. 11, verse 7
(2) Sura Al- H aqqah, No. 69, verse 17
Messages:
1. Acquiring knowledge about Allah(s. w. t.)should precede worshipping Him.
2. Worship must be kept exclusively for Him Who has the power to create and administer all the affairs of creation and to no one else.
3. The creation of the world has been accomplished according to a plan and an arranged program,(in six days). When there are pre- ordaining plans for all beings in the system of creation, how can one think of human beings, who are the outstanding achievements of the creative process, to be without any planned destiny The verse says:
"Verily, your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the Earth in six Days. Then He established Himself on 'Arsh(the Throne), directing the affair. ..."
4. Allah has created the entire existence and is in full command, administering it with wisdom while leaving no one in charge of any part without His prior approval.
5. Any effort at mediation by any being must meet with His approval. Thus one, such as idols, cannot be unduly appointed as an intercessor. The verse says:
" No intercessor can there be except after(obtaining)His leave. ..."
6. Extremists might try to introduce the Creator as Allah, nevertheless they consider themselves as competent policy- makers and able to separate religion from politics. It says:
"... This is Allah your Lord; Him therefore worship you: ..."
Man believes in his Creator. He only needs to be reminded. The verse concludes:
"... will you not remember ..."
7. Deity is not separate from Lordship.
(4) إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَميعاً وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقًّا إِنَّهُ يَبْدَؤُا الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعيدُهُ لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذينَ آمَنُوا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ بِالْقِسْطِ وَ الَّذينَ كَفَرُوا لَهُمْ شَرابٌ مِنْ حَميمٍ وَ عَذابٌ أَليمٌ بِما كانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ
4. "To Him will be your return, all together. The promise of Allah is true. Verily He originates the(process of)creation, then He causes it to return, that He may reward with justice those who believe and do righteous deeds; but those who disbelieve, for them shall be a drink from the boiling fluids and a painful chastisement for what they used to reject. "
Commentary :
This verse puts forth both the principle of Resurrection(to Him will be your return), and its probability,(He originates the(process of)creation, then He causes it to return,). This meaning is just like verse 91 of Sura Al- 'A'raf, No. 7 which states: " As He brought you forth in the beginning, so shall you return. " And it also refers to the aim of Resurrection which involves punishment and reward. The verse continues saying:
"... that He may reward with justice those who believe and do righteous deeds; but those who disbelieve, for them shall be a drink from the boiling fluids and a painful chastisement for what they used to reject. "
Therefore, those who are believers and have done good deeds will be rewarded in a just manner, leading them to Paradise. The share of the unbelievers will be a burning liquid made of boiling water that will torture them painfully and they will be kept in Hell forever.
(5) هُوَ الَّذي جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِياءً وَ الْقَمَرَ نُوراً وَ قَدَّرَهُ مَنازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُوا عَدَدَ السِّنينَ وَ الْحِسابَ ما خَلَقَ اللَّهُ ذلِكَ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ يُفَصِّلُ الْآياتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
5. "He it is Who made the sun a radiation and the moon a light, and determined it by stations, that you might know the number of years and the reckoning(of time). Allah did not create that save in truth.(Thus)does He explain the Signs in detail, for a people who know. "
Commentary :
There are words used in the Qur'an for the sun, such as/ siraj/ and/ d iya'/, which signify a strong and intensive light. As for the moon, the words used are/ nour/ and/ munir/ which signify even dim light as well.
From among the tokens of Allah's designs in the world of existence and His absolute command over the universe, one can name the wise order spread throughout the entire cosmos. Do you not behold what a heat and what a light He has given to the sun They change with the changes of the sun in the morning and during the day, and manifest themselves in the variety of the seasons of the year. It varies at dawn and midday, not exceeding the limits at any extreme. If the sun's heat exceeds what it already is, all the earth would be incinerated, and if it decreases from its present temperature, the earth and what ever is in it will freeze, and in both cases, life will terminate in its totality. If the light of the sun was extinguished you would no longer be able to see the moon for it borrows its light from the sun. It spreads its
light at nighttime over the earth, residing temporarily in its different stages: as the full moon, as a crescent and occasionally disappearing altogether. Through observing the regularity of these changes mankind can keep track of their days, months and years, organize their work and make plans with a schedule. That is, it is an accurate natural calendar that can benefit both the sage and the illiterate for keeping track of the rhythm of their work in their daily- lives. This privilege of the moon is besides the light that it gives us. The verse says:
"He it is Who made the sun a radiation and the moon a light, and determined it by stations, that you might know the number of years and the reckoning(of time). ..."
