Prophet Yunus and the Whale

Prophet Yunus and the Whale is an Islamic picture book for children aged 4 to 9 that tells the story of Prophet Yunus (AS), who was swallowed by a whale and called on Allah from the darkness, told partly through the eyes of the whale, Noon.

Allah sent Yunus (AS) to the people of the city of Nineveh, who did not believe in Allah and did bad things: stealing, lying, cheating, bullying and praying to statues. For a long time he called them to do good and to pray to Allah, but only a few changed. Angry and sad at their refusal, he left before Allah had told him to, and sailed away on a ship.

Out at sea, Noon the whale sees the ship in a thunderstorm, and a man falls overboard. Allah tells Noon to swallow him. In the darkness of the whale's belly, Yunus (AS) knows he was wrong to run away, and he prays: there is no god but You, You are glorious, I have done wrong. The creatures of the sea join in praising Allah. Allah forgives him, and Noon carries him to dry land, where he wakes in the shade of a plant. When he returns to Nineveh, he finds the people praying to Allah.

The story shows young children that Allah hears a sincere dua, even from the darkest place, and forgives those who admit their mistakes. It takes about three minutes to read aloud and is music-free.

A long time ago, a king lived with his people in the city of Nineveh. They did not believe in Allah, and they did bad things: stealing, lying, cheating, bullying, and praying to statues. So Allah sent Prophet Yunus (AS) to teach them to do good and to pray to Allah.

For a long time, Yunus tried to get the people of Nineveh to believe in Allah, but only a few of them changed. He became angry and frustrated, and he was afraid that something bad would happen to the people. Without asking Allah, he gave up and ran off. He boarded a ship and sailed away.

Far away, Noon the whale was swimming happily in the deep blue sea when he spotted a ship in the distance. Soon it grew dark and stormy. Clap! Boom! Noon was a little scared when he heard the thunder. Then, suddenly, he saw a man fall overboard. Allah told Noon to swallow the man, who was Prophet Yunus. Noon jumped into the air, opened his great big mouth, and swallowed him.

Inside the whale's belly, Yunus found himself in darkness. He knew that he had done wrong by running away. Noon heard him pray to Allah: there is no god but You, You are glorious, I have done wrong. The creatures of the deep sea understood Allah's majesty and power, and they gathered around and joined in the praise of Allah.

Allah forgave Prophet Yunus, and told Noon the whale to take him to dry land. Noon spat him out onto the shore. Yunus woke up and found himself in the shade of a plant, protected from the scorching sun.

Then he returned to Nineveh, and he was surprised to find the people praying to Allah. During the great storm, the people of Nineveh had been frightened, and they had remembered his message. "Thank you, Allah, for saving this city and its people," said Yunus. Then he and the people of Nineveh prayed together, and thanked Allah for all their blessings.

• Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87-88: He went off in anger, then called out in the darkness, "There is no god but You, glory be to You, I have been one of the wrongdoers." Allah answered him and saved him from distress.
• Surah As-Saffat 37:139-148: Yunus boarded the laden ship and was swallowed by the fish; because he glorified Allah, he was cast onto the shore, where Allah made a plant grow over him, and he was sent to his people, who believed.
• Surah Yunus 10:98: The people of Yunus believed, and Allah lifted the punishment from them.