Regarding the Story of Jonah (pbuh) in the Qur'an I am working on a story on the prophet Jonas and it occurred to me that he has an important role in Qur'an. But when I started reading the Sura's on Jonas it occurred to me that the story of Jonas is not really told. It seems like the Quran considers the story as known by the reader. If this is correct, how do the Muslims know the story because they probably would not be reading the Christian Bible (that is how I know the story) or the Jewish Tenach. My second question would be: What is the role of Jonas in Islam? I would appreciate it very much if you could answer my questions because my aim with writing the story is to enhance the understanding between the Christians and the Muslims. With all my respect, Tom Schoemaker, the Netherlands Reply Before answering your specific question, I would first like to clarify two points: The names of the chapters of the Qur'an, according to the style of the Arabs, do not necessarily depict the subject matter of these chapters. The title of the chapter may simply be due to a passing reference to something in the chapter. For instance, the second Surah , named 'Al-Baqarah' (i.e. the Cow), does not relate to the subject matter of the Surah , but is only due to a reference to the incident of 'the cow' (in the history of the Israelites) entailed in the Surah . The Qur'an has generally not related any stories or given information about any incidents of the past for the sake of relating stories or of giving information. On the contrary, the Qur'an has referred to the lives of any one or more of the prophets and messengers of God or to any incidents of the past to provide historical evidence for any one or more of its claims. Keeping the first clarification in perspective, we can easily determine why the Surah titled Yunus (Jonah) does not entail the complete story of the prophet. The Surah has been given its name not on the basis of its major contents, but on the basis of its reference to the people of Jonah (pbuh) as an exceptional people, in believing and submitting to the message delivered through God's prophet [1] . No other prophet, mentioned in the Qur'an met this acceptance from his people. The important aspects of the life and times of Jonah (pbuh), which were pertinent to the message of the Qur'an, in one way or the other, and have therefore, been mentioned in the Qur'an are: The direct addressees of Jonas (pbuh), like those of all other messengers (Rasu'l) of God, were subject to the potential punishment of God, had they persisted in their rejection of their messenger [2] . However, unlike all other messengers of God mentioned in the Qur'an, the people of Jonah (pbuh) believed in their messenger and were, thus, saved from the severe punishment that they would have suffered in case of persistence in their rejection. The Qur'an says: Why was there not a single township, which believed - so its Faith should have profited it - except for the People of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the humiliating penalty in the life of this world, and permitted them to enjoy (their lives) for a while. ( Yunus 10: 98) [3] . When swallowed by the fish, Jonah (pbuh) turned toward God and asked for His forgiveness, He helped him and relieved him from his suffering. The Qur'an says: And the companion of the fish, when he departed in anger: he imagined that We shall not hold him responsible. But [when We reprimanded him,] he cried from the depths of the darkness that There is no god except You: You are absolutely clear of all fault: it was, indeed, I, who was wrong. So We answered his call: and delivered him from his distress: and thus do We deliver those such faithful. ( Al-Anbiyaa 21: 87 - 88) [4] . Although Jonah (pbuh), disheartened by his people's response to the message of God, gave up on them and left them, yet God brought him back to them and, subsequently, all of them - though consisting of a great number - believed in him and submitted to his message. The Qur'an says: And, indeed, Jonah was also a messenger. And [He left his people, on his own accord] when he ran to the ship (fully) laden. Then he cast lots, and he was thrown [into the sea]. Then the big Fish swallowed him; while he was blamed. Had it not been that he (repented and) glorified God, He would certainly have remained inside the Fish till the Day of Resurrection. But We cast him forth on the naked shore in a state of weakness. And We caused to grow, over him, a spreading plant of the Gourd kind. And We sent him [back] to a hundred thousand (men) or more. And they believed; so We permitted them to enjoy (their life) for a while. ( Al-Saffaat 37: 139 - 147) [5] It was not correct on Jonah's (pbuh) part to leave his people, without a clear directive of God to the effect. All messengers of God are commanded by the Almighty to hold their ground steadfastly, and to continue delivering God's message to them, till God decides that they deserve no further chances and should now be punished for their rejection. It is at this time that God directs his messengers to leave their nation. Jonah (pbuh), however, did not wait for God's decision and made the decision of leaving his people on his own. It was, in fact, an admonition for this mistake that Jonah (pbuh) was made to suffer by being swallowed by the fish. The Qur'an says: So [O Prophet,] wait steadfastly for the decision of your Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish: When he [left his people before God commanded him to do so, and then] cried out in agony. Had His Lord's blessings not reached him, he would, indeed, have been abandoned on the naked shore, in disgrace. ( Al-Qalam 68: 48 - 50) [6] These are the major references to Jonah (pbuh) in the Qur'an. It is quite clear that only those parts of Jonah's (pbuh) life are narrated by the Qur'an, which had any relevance with the point that the Qur'an wanted to teach its addressees, at each of the cited instances. Although it is quite difficult to derive from these references to Jonah's (pbuh) life, whether or not the first addressees of the Qur'an were aware of Jonah's story, yet I am inclined to believing that they were. My inclination is based on two reasons: Firstly, the Qur'an has generally used such historical references either to support any of its claims or to teach its direct addressees any practical aspect of its message, as it had manifested during the life of an earlier messenger of God. Secondly, the style of these sparse and somewhat vague references to the messenger's life inclines one to believe that the Arabs were, somewhat, aware of the story of Jonah (pbuh), due to which the Qur'an did not give an exhaustive account of his life, times and teachings. As far as the source of this information of the Arabs is concerned, it seems quite difficult to pin point it, with any degree of certainty. It could be the result of their social interaction with the Jews and the Christians (people of the Book) or it could simply be the result of a verbal tradition of the Assyrian people that had reached the Arabs overtime. The story, as is apparent, is one, which can easily have gained legendry importance among the Assyrians/Mesopotamians. I am personally inclined toward the latter source, due primarily to the fact that the various reasons for which the Qur'an has referred to the incidents of Jonah's life are not found in the story of the Bible. As far as your second question is concerned, according to Islam, Jonah (pbuh), like all the other prophets and messengers of God, was a messenger of Islam. His position in the eyes of Islam is the same as any other messenger of God. I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad , Otherwise you may simply Close this Window [1] This reference has been made in verse 98 of the Surah . [2] For details regarding this point, please refer to one of my previous responses to the question titled "Prophets and Messengers' ( http://www.understanding-islam.com/rpr/pr-003.htm ), and 'Is Mohammed (pbuh) the Last Messenger?' ( http://www.understanding-islam.com/rpr/pr-015.htm ). [3] The reference to this incident in the life of Jonah (pbuh) is to stress to the addressees of Mohammed (pbuh) that they too shall be faced with the same consequences of the rejection of Mohammed (pbuh) as were faced by the direct addressees of all the previous messengers, who persisted in rejecting their messenger. [4] The reference to this incident in the life of Jonah (pbuh) is to encourage the direct addressees of Mohammed (pbuh) to remain steadfast in the way of God, even in the dire circumstances that they were made to face at the hands of the rejecters, during the times (preceding their migration to Medina). [5] Through this reference the Prophet (pbuh) and the other Muslims are taught to not be disappointed and disheartened by the rejection of the addressees and to continue delivering God's message to them. It is for no one but God to decide when these people should be written off and left to wander in the dark. [6] The Prophet (pbuh) is directed to steadfastly wait for God's decision and not make a decision of leaving his people in haste. Jonah's (pbuh) incident is cited to teach the consequences of such a mistake.