Yunus (يُونُس)

Surah Yunus is the 10th surah or chapter of the blessed Quran. The surah is named after Prophet Yunus عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. The surah is positioned in the 11th Juz or Parah in Hizb numbers 21 and 22. It has a total of 109 verses and is a Makki/Meccan Surah as it was revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) whmen he was in Makkah. It is one of the six surahs in the Quran, which start with the tri-letters – alif, lam, and ra.'

Although the tie of the revelation is unknown, the subject matter of the surah provides insight into what must have been experienced during the Prophet's last stages of residency in Makkah. The theme of the surah suggests that matters had come to the point where the disbelievers and their antagonism had reached their peak. They could not tolerate Muslims among themselves, and the Muslims had started to lose hope for them ever to start believing in the Prophet's (ﷺ) message of Islam and peace. Therefore, the final warning given in the surah indicates that it was revealed during the final stage of the Prophet's (ﷺ) residence in Makkah.

١٠ - يُونُس

10 - Yunus

الۗرٰ۝۰ۣ تِلْكَ اٰيٰتُ الْكِتٰبِ الْحَكِيْمِ۝۱
Aliflamra tilka ayatu alkitabi alhakeemi

English

Ahmed Ali

ALIF LAM RA. These are the verses of the authoritative Book.

1

المنزل الثالث

اَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَــبًا اَنْ اَوْحَيْنَاۗ اِلٰى رَجُلٍ مِّنْھُمْ اَنْ اَنْذِرِ النَّاسَ وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْۗا اَنَّ لَھُمْ قَدَمَ صِدْقٍ عِنْدَ رَبِّہِمْ۝۰ۭؔ قَالَ الْكٰفِرُوْنَ اِنَّ ھٰذَا لَسٰحِرٌ مُّبِيْنٌ۝۲
Akana lilnnasi AAajaban an awhayna ila rajulin minhum an anthiri alnnasa wabashshiri allatheena amanoo anna lahum qadama sidqin AAinda rabbihim qala alkafiroona inna hatha lasahirun mubeenun

English

Ahmed Ali

Are the people astonished that a man who is one of them was commanded by Us to warn them and to bring glad tidings to those who believe that they have a true precedence with their Lord? (Yet) the unbelievers say: "He is a clear sorcerer."

2

اِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللہُ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضَ فِيْ سِتَّۃِ اَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوٰى عَلَي الْعَرْشِ يُدَبِّرُ الْاَمْرَ۝۰ۭ مَا مِنْ شَفِيْعٍ اِلَّا مِنْۢ بَعْدِ اِذْنِہٖ۝۰ۭ ذٰلِكُمُ اللہُ رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوْہُ۝۰ۭ اَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُوْنَ۝۳
Inna rabbakumu Allahu allathee khalaqa alssamawati waalarda fee sittati ayyamin thumma istawa AAala alAAarshi yudabbiru alamra ma min shafeeAAin illa min baAAdi ithnihi thalikumu Allahu rabbukum faoAAbudoohu afala tathakkaroona

English

Ahmed Ali

Your Lord is God who created the heavens and the earth in six spans, then assumed His power, dispensing all affairs. None can intercede with Him except by His leave. He is God, your Lord, so worship Him. Will you not be warned?

3

اِلَيْہِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيْعًا۝۰ۭ وَعْدَ اللہِ حَقًّا۝۰ۭ اِنَّہٗ يَبْدَؤُا الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيْدُہٗ لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ بِالْقِسْطِ۝۰ۭ وَالَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا لَھُمْ شَرَابٌ مِّنْ حَمِيْمٍ وَّعَذَابٌ اَلِيْمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوْا يَكْفُرُوْنَ۝۴
Ilayhi marjiAAukum jameeAAan waAAda Allahi haqqan innahu yabdao alkhalqa thumma yuAAeeduhu liyajziya allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati bialqisti waallatheena kafaroo lahum sharabun min hameemin waAAathabun aleemun bima kanoo yakfuroona

English

Ahmed Ali

To Him will you all return: God's promise is true. It is He who originates creation, then will revert it, so that He may reward those who believe and do good things in all justice. But those who deny the truth will receive boiling water to drink and grievous punishment, for they disbelieved.

4

ھُوَالَّذِيْ جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَاۗءً وَّالْقَمَرَ نُوْرًا وَّقَدَّرَہٗ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُوْا عَدَدَ السِّـنِيْنَ وَالْحِسَابَ۝۰ۭ مَا خَلَقَ اللہُ ذٰلِكَ اِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ۝۰ۚ يُفَصِّلُ الْاٰيٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَّعْلَمُوْنَ۝۵
Huwa allathee jaAAala alshshamsa diyaan waalqamara nooran waqaddarahu manazila litaAAlamoo AAadada alssineena waalhisaba ma khalaqa Allahu thalika illa bialhaqqi yufassilu alayati liqawmin yaAAlamoona

English

Ahmed Ali

It is He who gave the sun its radiance, the moon its lustre, and appointed its stations so that you may compute years and numbers. God did not create them but with deliberation. He distinctly explains His signs for those who can understand.

5

اِنَّ فِي اخْتِلَافِ الَّيْلِ وَالنَّہَارِ وَمَا خَلَقَ اللہُ فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَّتَّقُوْنَ۝۶
Inna fee ikhtilafi allayli waalnnahari wama khalaqa Allahu fee alssamawati waalardi laayatin liqawmin yattaqoona

English

Ahmed Ali

In the alternation of night and day, and all that He has created in the heavens and the earth, are certainly signs for people who fear God.

6

اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ لَا يَرْجُوْنَ لِقَاۗءَنَا وَرَضُوْا بِالْحَيٰوۃِ الدُّنْيَا وَاطْمَاَنُّوْا بِہَا وَالَّذِيْنَ ھُمْ عَنْ اٰيٰتِنَا غٰفِلُوْنَ۝۷ۙ
Inna allatheena la yarjoona liqaana waradoo bialhayati alddunya waitmaannoo biha waallatheena hum AAan ayatina ghafiloona

English

Ahmed Ali

As for those who do not hope to meet Us (after death), and are content with the life of this world, who are oblivious of Our signs,

7

اُولٰۗىِٕكَ مَاْوٰىھُمُ النَّارُ بِمَا كَانُوْا يَكْسِبُوْنَ۝۸
Olaika mawahumu alnnaru bima kanoo yaksiboona

English

Ahmed Ali

Will have Hell as their abode for what they have earned.

8

اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ يَہْدِيْہِمْ رَبُّھُمْ بِـاِيْمَانِہِمْ۝۰ۚ تَجْرِيْ مِنْ تَحْتِہِمُ الْاَنْہٰرُ فِيْ جَنّٰتِ النَّعِيْمِ۝۹
Inna allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati yahdeehim rabbuhum bieemanihim tajree min tahtihimu alanharu fee jannati alnnaAAeemi

English

Ahmed Ali

But those who believe and act for a beneficial end will be guided by their Lord for their good faith. At their feet shall flow streams of running water in gardens of delight.

9

دَعْوٰىھُمْ فِيْہَا سُبْحٰنَكَ اللّٰہُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُھُمْ فِيْہَا سَلٰمٌ۝۰ۚ وَاٰخِرُ دَعْوٰىھُمْ اَنِ الْحَمْدُ لِلہِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ۝۱۰ۧ
DaAAwahum feeha subhanaka allahumma watahiyyatuhum feeha salamun waakhiru daAAwahum ani alhamdu lillahi rabbi alAAalameena

English

Ahmed Ali

Their invocation will be: "All glory to you, O God," and "Peace" will be their salutation, and the end of their prayer (will be): "All praise be to God, the Lord of all the worlds."

10

Shaan e Nazool (Historical Background)

Surah Yunus was revealed during the last years of Prophet Muhammad’s صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ stay in Mecca. It was the time when the persecution by the Quraysh was increasing day by day. Despite repeated invitations to the Message of Islam, the disbelievers were not willing to accept the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. The content of this Surah suggests that it was revealed well before the Hijrat-e-Medina, as there is no hint of this event in this Surah. However, it was the phase of the Prophet's life in Mecca when the hostility of Quraysh was reaching its peak. They were also demanding miracles as proof of his Prophethood. However, no specific event or occasion is associated with the revelation of this Surah.

Like some other Surahs of the same period, this Surah mainly addresses the themes of faith, Oneness and Authority of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, the reality of Prophethood and revelation, the concept of resurrection, and final accountability on the Day of Judgement. While addressing the disbelievers, this Surah is a sort of warning for them, reminding them of how Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ punished the previous nations, who disobeyed the Prophets sent to them.

The importance of repentance is also emphasized in this Surah by narrating the example of the people of the Prophet Yunus عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. Their punishment was averted as the nation collectively repented. This was a sort of lesson for the disbelievers of Mecca that if they repent, Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ mercy will embrace them. The purpose of the revelation of this Surah was also to provide consolation to the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ that his duty was only to invite the people to the Message of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ and not force them to believe. It strengthened him and assured him that ultimately, the truth is going to prevail.

Makki or Madni Surah

Surah Yunus is a Makki Surah, revealed during the last years of the Prophet's stay in Mecca, well before the migration.

Place in the Quran

It is the 10th Surah of the Quran and appears in Juzz (para) 11. It is placed after Surah At-Tawbah and before Surah Hud. It is the 51st Surah in the order of revelation, whereas it is placed at number 10 in the sequence of recitation.

  • Number of Verses: Surah Yunus has 109 verses.
  • Number of Ruku (Sections): Surah Yunus is grouped into 11 Rukus (sections).

Significance of Surah Yunus

Surah Yunus is one of those 29 Surahs of the Quran that start with mysterious letters (Harrof-e-Muqattaat, حُرُوف مُقَطَّعَات), the meanings of which are only known to Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. However, unlike the other such Surahs, the mysterious letters الۗرٰ (ALIF LAM RA) do not form a complete verse; rather, these are a part of the first verse. This surah is also signified by its specific placement in the Quran. It is placed at the start of the third Manzil of the Quran.

It holds a very special significance in the Quran, as it addresses the basic and core aspects of faith, guidance, and the Mercy of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. It clarifies that the Quran is a Divine Book that comprises wisdom and guidance. It also emphasizes that Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ is the Ultimate Authority Who created this Universe and that Only He is worth worship. 

By mentioning the people of the Prophet Yunus عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, this Surah reflects the importance of repentance. It was the only previous nation that collectively repented, seeking Allah's سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ Mercy. Resultantly, their punishment was prevented.

Surah Yunus also highlights the difference between truth and falsehood, mentioning that falsehood may sometimes prevail for a time, but victory ultimately belongs to truth. This provided strength to the believers by giving them patience and hope, who were facing persecution by the disbelievers of Mecca.

Theme and Subject Matter of Surah Yunus (يُونُس)

Beginning with ḥurūf muqaṭṭaʿāt and establishing the divinity of the blessed Quran and Prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ), surah Yunus discusses how Allah deals with His creation by sending Messengers to them when they go astray and stray away from the path of righteousness to the path of evil. Similarly, as a seal to the Prophets, he sent Muhammad (ﷺ) – the last messenger of Allah, which is why no one should doubt or be surprised by his Prophethood and instead should listen to his message of Islam.

The surah also emphasizes the concept of Tawhid – the oneness of Allah. The accountability on the day of judgment, a fate no one can avoid, and the resurrection on the final day are also discussed to warn the disbelievers and advise them to mend their ways. Stories of the nations before them are also discussed to warn the disbelievers.

Through Surah Yunus, Allah has described this world as a temporary moment of glamour that acts as a trial and test for the believers, whereas the hereafter has been described as peaceful, highlighting it to be the final destination. Therefore, those provided with an opportunity to turn to the right path should listen to the message of the Prophet (ﷺ). It is through this Surah that Allah refutes all doubts of the disbelievers towards the Prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ) and the miracles of the blessed Quran. The disbelievers are challenged to bring forward anything that is like the Quran, even if it is one single verse.

The surah then also briefly discusses the stories of the previous Prophets. The story of Prophet Noah عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, Prophet Moses عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, and Pharaoh is mentioned to teach the people a lesson about the importance of turning to the right path timely manner. Moreover, towards the end, the story of Prophet Yunus عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ and his nation has also been discussed to discuss how if the disbelievers repent and turn to Islam, their sins will be forgiven, similar to that of the previous people who were drowning in sins but were granted forgiveness by Allah once they accepted the message of Islam and repented.

Benefits & Virtues of Surah Yunus (يُونُس)

Reciting the Quran is rewarded with good deeds. For every word a Muslim reads, 10 good deeds are added to their naam-e-Aamal. Specifically, reciting Surah Yunus ensures that one will be close to Allah on the day of judgment. Abu Abdullah Ja'far ibn Muhammad said: "Whoever recites Surah Yunus once every two or three months, he will rest assured that he will not be among the ignorant and unaware, and on the Day of Judgment, he will be among those who are near to Allah." - Majma'al-Bayān, vol. 3, the beginning of the commentary on Surah Yunus.

Surah Yunus also greatly emphasizes the concept of Tawhid (oneness of Allah). It explicitly states that Allah is one, and there are no partners that can or should be associated with Him. This is the foundation of the Islamic belief. Moreover, the stories that have been mentioned from the Prophethoods of the previous Prophets encourage believers to learn from the historical accounts of the past. For instance, the story of Prophet Noah عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ teaches us a lesson about patience, the story of Prophet Moses عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ highlights how faith always takes precedence over tyranny, whereas the story of Jonah teaches us about the significance of repentance and faith in Allah.

Listen to the Recitation of Surah Yunus by Renowned Qaris

Listening to the recitation of the Quran by a renowned and authentic reciter (Qari) is a good source of learning the correct recitation of the Quran, including Surah Yunus. It is a sensitive matter, as correct recitation of the Quranic words is critical. Even a slight mistake in correctly reading a Quranic word may change its meaning. Proper pronunciation can be a challenging task for non-Arabic speakers, as they may struggle to articulate words correctly. Hence, listening to the recitation of the Quran by an authentic Qari is highly beneficial for someone who might be facing difficulty in reading it correctly.

On the other hand, sometimes one may just like to listen to the Quran. At MuslimandQuran, we have uploaded recitations of the Quran by different renowned reciters (Qaris). You can find and select a Qari per your preference to listen to and learn the correct recitation of the Quran. You just need to download the MuslimandQuran mobile application to listen to any Surah of the Quran, including Surah Yunus.

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Surah Yunus PDF

While reading the Quran directly on the MuslimandQuran website and mobile application is quite easy, you may also like to read it offline at times. MuslimandQuran provide this facility. You can just download Surah Yunus in PDF for reading later.

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FAQs:

Yunus is the name of the Prophet. Surah Yunus is given the title “Yunus” just in reference to its 98th verse.

Surah Yunus has 109 verses.

No specific benefits are associated with the recitation of this Surah. However, like any other Surah of the Quran, reciting Surah Yunus brings huge rewards and benefits not only in this world but also on the Day of Resurrection. Generally, the recitation of Surah Yunus is beneficial in reminding us of the Oneness, Authority, and Mercy of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. It also reminds us that truth always prevails. It also reminds the Muslims that repentance prevents punishment.

It can be recited anytime during the day or night. No specific time is associated with its recitation. No specific time is associated with or recommended for its recitation.

Yes, it is available online on the Mobile Application of MuslimandQuran. Anyone can listen to it on their mobile devices or laptops.