Jonah
Yûnus
یُونس
Surah Yûnus for kids content
ALLAH HAS NO CHILDREN
68They say, "Allah has children.
" Glory be to Him!
He is the One not in need.
Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth belongs to Him.
You have no proof of this!
Do you say about Allah what you do not know?
69Say, 'O Prophet, "Indeed, those who make up lies against Allah will never succeed.
"
70'They only have' a brief enjoyment in this world, then to Us is their return and then We will make them taste the severe punishment for their disbelief.
قَالُواْ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدٗاۗ سُبۡحَٰنَهُۥۖ هُوَ ٱلۡغَنِيُّۖ لَهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ إِنۡ عِندَكُم مِّن سُلۡطَٰنِۢ بِهَٰذَآۚ أَتَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ68
٦٨ قُلۡ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفۡتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ لَا يُفۡلِحُونَ69
مَتَٰعٞ فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا ثُمَّ إِلَيۡنَا مَرۡجِعُهُمۡ ثُمَّ نُذِيقُهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ٱلشَّدِيدَ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡفُرُونَ70
NUH AND HIS PEOPLE
71Tell them 'O Prophet' the story of Nuh when he said to his people, "O my people!
If my presence and my reminders of Allah's signs are too much for you, then 'know that' I have put my trust in Allah.
So make an evil plan with your false gods, and you do not have to plan in secret.
Then take action against me without delay!
"
72And if you turn away, 'remember' I have never asked you for any fees 'for delivering the message'.
My reward is only from Allah.
And I have been commanded to be one of those who submit to Him.
73But they still rejected him, so We saved him and those with him in the Ark, putting them in charge of the land, and drowned those who rejected
Our signs.
See then what was the end of those who had been warned!
۞ وَٱتۡلُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ نَبَأَ نُوحٍ إِذۡ قَالَ لِقَوۡمِهِۦ يَٰقَوۡمِ إِن كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيۡكُم مَّقَامِي وَتَذۡكِيرِي بَِٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوَكَّلۡتُ فَأَجۡمِعُوٓاْ أَمۡرَكُمۡ وَشُرَكَآءَكُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُنۡ أَمۡرُكُمۡ عَلَيۡكُمۡ غُمَّةٗ ثُمَّ ٱقۡضُوٓاْ إِلَيَّ وَلَا تُنظِرُونِ71
فَإِن تَوَلَّيۡتُمۡ فَمَا سَأَلۡتُكُم مِّنۡ أَجۡرٍۖ إِنۡ أَجۡرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِۖ وَأُمِرۡتُ أَنۡ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ72
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَنَجَّيۡنَٰهُ وَمَن مَّعَهُۥ فِي ٱلۡفُلۡكِ وَجَعَلۡنَٰهُمۡ خَلَٰٓئِفَ وَأَغۡرَقۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بَِٔايَٰتِنَاۖ فَٱنظُرۡ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُنذَرِينَ73
MESSENGERS AFTER NUH
74Then after him We sent other messengers to their own people and they came to them with clear proofs.
But they would not believe in what others had rejected in the past.
This is how We seal the hearts of the troublemakers.
ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنَا مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ رُسُلًا إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِمۡ فَجَآءُوهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ فَمَا كَانُواْ لِيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِمَا كَذَّبُواْ بِهِۦ مِن قَبۡلُۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَطۡبَعُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِ ٱلۡمُعۡتَدِينَ74
MUSA & HARUN VS. PHARAOH
75Then after these messengers' We sent Musa and Harun to Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our signs.
But they acted arrogantly and were a wicked people.
76When the truth came to them from Us, they said, "This is certainly pure magic!
"
77Musa replied, "Is this what you say about the truth when it has come to you?
Is this magic?
Magicians never succeed.
"
78They argued, "Have you come to turn us away from the faith of our fathers so that both of you will become supreme in the land?
We will never believe in you!
"
79Pharaoh demanded, "Bring me every skilled magician.
"
80When the magician: came, Musa said to them, "Throw whatever you want to throw!
"
81When they did, Musa warned, "What you have done is just magic, Allah will definitely make it useless.
Surely Allah does not bless the work of corruptors.
82And Allah confirms the truth by His Words-no matter how much the wicked are against it:
ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنَا مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِم مُّوسَىٰ وَهَٰرُونَ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَإِيْهِۦ بَِٔايَٰتِنَا فَٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ وَكَانُواْ قَوۡمٗا مُّجۡرِمِينَ75
فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِنۡ عِندِنَا قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسِحۡرٞ مُّبِينٞ76
قَالَ مُوسَىٰٓ أَتَقُولُونَ لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَكُمۡۖ أَسِحۡرٌ هَٰذَا وَلَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلسَّٰحِرُونَ77
قَالُوٓاْ أَجِئۡتَنَا لِتَلۡفِتَنَا عَمَّا وَجَدۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ءَابَآءَنَا وَتَكُونَ لَكُمَا ٱلۡكِبۡرِيَآءُ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا نَحۡنُ لَكُمَا بِمُؤۡمِنِينَ78
وَقَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ ٱئۡتُونِي بِكُلِّ سَٰحِرٍ عَلِيم79
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰٓ أَلۡقُواْ مَآ أَنتُم مُّلۡقُونَ80
فَلَمَّآ أَلۡقَوۡاْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ مَا جِئۡتُم بِهِ ٱلسِّحۡرُۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَيُبۡطِلُهُۥٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُصۡلِحُ عَمَلَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ81
وَيُحِقُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡحَقَّ بِكَلِمَٰتِهِۦ وَلَوۡ كَرِهَ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ82
A FEW BELIEVERS
83But no one believed in Musa except a few youths of his people, while fearing that Pharaoh and their own chiefs might abuse them.
Pharaoh was really an abuser in the land, and he truly went too far in evil.
84Musa said, "O my people!
If you believe in Allah and submit to Him, then put your trust in Him.
"
85They replied, "In Allah we trust.
Our Lord!
Do not let the evil people abuse us,
86and save us by Your mercy from the disbelieving people.
"
فَمَآ ءَامَنَ لِمُوسَىٰٓ إِلَّا ذُرِّيَّةٞ مِّن قَوۡمِهِۦ عَلَىٰ خَوۡفٖ مِّن فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَإِيْهِمۡ أَن يَفۡتِنَهُمۡۚ وَإِنَّ فِرۡعَوۡنَ لَعَالٖ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ83
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ يَٰقَوۡمِ إِن كُنتُمۡ ءَامَنتُم بِٱللَّهِ فَعَلَيۡهِ تَوَكَّلُوٓاْ إِن كُنتُم مُّسۡلِمِينَ84
فَقَالُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوَكَّلۡنَا رَبَّنَا لَا تَجۡعَلۡنَا فِتۡنَةٗ لِّلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ85
وَنَجِّنَا بِرَحۡمَتِكَ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ86
WORDS OF WISDOM
- •
Verses 87-89 talk about the power of salah.
When Pharaoh gave Musa and his people a hard time, they were asked to turn their homes into places of worship and pray.
Other prophets were told to seek Allah's help through prayers.
For example, the Prophet is told in 15:97-99 that Allah knows how much the lies of the idol-worshippers bother him, and so he should continue to pray and
worship his Lord.
We are also told in 37:143-144 that Yunus was saved from the belly of the whale because of his prayers.
POWER OF PRAYER
87We revealed to Musa and his brother, "Let your people have houses in Egypt.
Turn these houses into places of worship, pray salah, and give good news to the believers!
"
88Musa prayed, "Our Lord!
You have given Pharaoh and his chiefs luxury and wealth in this life.
And here they are, our Lord, distracting others from Your Way!
Our Lord, destroy their wealth and make their hearts hard so they do not believe until they see the painful punishment.
"
89Allah responded 'to Musa and Harun'13 "Your prayer is answered!
So stay upright in faith, and do not follow the way of those who do not know the truth"
وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ وَأَخِيهِ أَن تَبَوَّءَا لِقَوۡمِكُمَا بِمِصۡرَ بُيُوتٗا وَٱجۡعَلُواْ بُيُوتَكُمۡ قِبۡلَةٗ وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ87
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ ءَاتَيۡتَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَأَهُۥ زِينَةٗ وَأَمۡوَٰلٗا فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِكَۖ رَبَّنَا ٱطۡمِسۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ وَٱشۡدُدۡ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ فَلَا يُؤۡمِنُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُاْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ٱلۡأَلِيمَ88
قَالَ قَدۡ أُجِيبَت دَّعۡوَتُكُمَا فَٱسۡتَقِيمَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعَآنِّ سَبِيلَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ89
WORDS OF WISDOM
- •
Someone may ask, "According to verses 90-92, Pharaoh declared his faith in Allah, so why was he punished?
" Technically, if someone accepts Islam before their death, they will go to Paradise, as long as they are sincere.
This is why the Prophet (ﷺ) tried to convince people to become Muslim on their deathbed.
- •
However, in verses 90-92, Pharaoh declared that he believed in Allah while drowning.
His sudden faith was not accepted, because he was just afraid of dying, not because he really had faith in Allah.
The verses say that his dead body was going to be found and preserved as an example to all future generations.
- •
Some scholars say that Ramses II or his son Merneptah (whose mummies are displayed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo) could be the Pharaoh who drowned in the
story of Musa (عليه السلام).
And Allah knows best.
- •
In the same way, in 5:27-31, when one of the 2 sons of Adam killed the other, he regretted it later.
But his regret was not accepted, simply because he was mad that the crow was smarter than him, not because he killed his own brother.
SIDE STORY
- •
This reminds me of the story of some thieves who robbed a bank then escaped with the money to a cave outside the city.
In the cave, one of the thieves looked at the massive piles of cash and started to cry.
Another thief asked him, "What's wrong with you?
Do you regret stealing?
" He replied, "Of course not!
I'm just crying because it will take us forever to count all this money, and I can't wait to take my share.
" The other thief responded, "You fool!
We don't have to count anything.
If we watch the news tonight, they will tell us exactly how much was stolen from the bank!
"
END OF PHARAOH
90We to ok the Children of Isra'il across the sea.
Then Pharaoh and his soldiers chased them unjustly and violently.
But as Pharaoh was drowning, he cried out, "I 'now' believe that there is no god except the One the Children of Isra'il believe in.
and I am one of those who submit.
"
91"He was told,' "What!
Now?
But you always disobeyed and were one of the corrup- tors.
"
92Today We will save your dead body so you will become an example to those who come after you.
And surely most people are careless about Our examples!
"
۞ وَجَٰوَزۡنَا بِبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَ فَأَتۡبَعَهُمۡ فِرۡعَوۡنُ وَجُنُودُهُۥ بَغۡيٗا وَعَدۡوًاۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَدۡرَكَهُ ٱلۡغَرَقُ قَالَ ءَامَنتُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِيٓ ءَامَنَتۡ بِهِۦ بَنُوٓاْ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ وَأَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ90
ءَآلۡـَٰٔنَ وَقَدۡ عَصَيۡتَ قَبۡلُ وَكُنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ91
فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنۡ خَلۡفَكَ ءَايَةٗۚ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرٗا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ عَنۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا لَغَٰفِلُونَ92
ALLAH'S KINDNESS
93Surely, We settled the Children of Isra'il in a blessed land, and gave them good, pure resources.
They did not differ until knowledge came to them.
Your Lord will certainly judge between them on Judgment Day about their differences.
وَلَقَدۡ بَوَّأۡنَا بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ مُبَوَّأَ صِدۡقٖ وَرَزَقۡنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ فَمَا ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡعِلۡمُۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقۡضِي بَيۡنَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُونَ93
CONFIRMING THE TRUTH
94If you 'O Prophet' are in doubt about 'these stories' that We have revealed to you, then ask those who read the Book before you.
The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so do not be one of those who doubt,
95And do not be of those who deny Allah's signs or you will be among the losers.
فَإِن كُنتَ فِي شَكّٖ مِّمَّآ أَنزَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ فَسَۡٔلِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقۡرَءُونَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ مِن قَبۡلِكَۚ لَقَدۡ جَآءَكَ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡمُمۡتَرِينَ94
وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بَِٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡخَٰسِرِينَ95
BACKGROUND STORY
- •
As we mentioned in Surah 37, Prophet Yunus invited his people to Islam for many years, but they rejected his message.
When he became very frustrated, he warned them of the coming punishment.
Then he rushed to leave the city without Allah's permission.
- •
When his people realized their mistake before the punishment came, they cried to Allah for forgiveness, and He accepted their repentance.
Yunus ended up in the belly of the whale for his impatience.
He was so stressed inside the whale that he kept praying for days.
- •
Allah accepted his prayers, and the whale left him on an open shore.
Then Allah caused a pumpkin plant to grow to give him shelter from the sun and from insects.
- •
Eventually, he went back to his people and they believed in his message.
It's important to note that the people of Yunus are the only ones mentioned in the Quran who were saved from the punishment after rejecting their prophet.
{Imam Ibn Kathir & Imam Al-Qurtubi}
THE PEOPLE OF YUNUS
96Surely, those who deserve your Lord's punishment will not believe-
97even if every sign came to them-until they see the painful punishment.
98If only there had been another society which believed 'before seeing the punishment' and therefore benefited from its belief, like the people of Yunus.
When they believed, We lifted their punishment of disgrace in this world and let them enjoy life till their set time.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّتۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ96
وَلَوۡ جَآءَتۡهُمۡ كُلُّ ءَايَةٍ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُاْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ٱلۡأَلِيمَ97
فَلَوۡلَا كَانَتۡ قَرۡيَةٌ ءَامَنَتۡ فَنَفَعَهَآ إِيمَٰنُهَآ إِلَّا قَوۡمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّآ ءَامَنُواْ كَشَفۡنَا عَنۡهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلۡخِزۡيِ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَمَتَّعۡنَٰهُمۡ إِلَىٰ حِين98
FREE CHOICE
99If your Lord wanted 'O Prophet', all people' on earth would have been turned into believers-every single one of them!
Would you then force people to believe?
100It is not possible for any soul to believe without Allah's permission.
And He will make those who do not come back to their senses suffer the horrible consequences.
وَلَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لَأٓمَنَ مَن فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ كُلُّهُمۡ جَمِيعًاۚ أَفَأَنتَ تُكۡرِهُ ٱلنَّاسَ حَتَّىٰ يَكُونُواْ مُؤۡمِنِينَ99
وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفۡسٍ أَن تُؤۡمِنَ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَيَجۡعَلُ ٱلرِّجۡسَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡقِلُونَ100
INVITATION TO THINK
101Say, 'O Prophet,' 'Think about all 'those wonders' in the heavens and the earth!
' Yet signs and warners do not benefit those who refuse to believe.
102Are they waiting for 'anything' except the same punishments that hit those before them?
Say, 'Keep waiting then!
I too am waiting with you.
'
103Then We saved Our messengers and those who believed.
It is Our duty to save the believers.
قُلِ ٱنظُرُواْ مَاذَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ وَمَا تُغۡنِي ٱلۡأٓيَٰتُ وَٱلنُّذُرُ عَن قَوۡمٖ لَّا يُؤۡمِنُونَ101
فَهَلۡ يَنتَظِرُونَ إِلَّا مِثۡلَ أَيَّامِ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوۡاْ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۚ قُلۡ فَٱنتَظِرُوٓاْ إِنِّي مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡمُنتَظِرِينَ102
ثُمَّ نُنَجِّي رُسُلَنَا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْۚ كَذَٰلِكَ حَقًّا عَلَيۡنَا نُنجِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ103
TRUE FAITH
104Say, 'O Prophet,' 'O humanity!
If you are in doubt of my faith, then know that I do not worship those 'powerless idols' you worship instead of Allah.
But I worship Allah, Who has the power to take your life away.
And I have been commanded, 'Be one of the believers;'
105and, 'Always keep up your faith, being totally upright, and do not be one of the idol-worshippers,'
106and 'Do not call, instead of Allah, things that cannot benefit or harm you--because if you do, you will definitely be among those doing wrong'
107and 'If Allah puts you through a difficulty, none can remove it except Him.
And if He wants to bless you with something good, none can hold back His blessing, He gives it to whoever He wants of His servants.
And He is the Forgiving and Merciful.
'
قُلۡ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمۡ فِي شَكّٖ مِّن دِينِي فَلَآ أَعۡبُدُ ٱلَّذِينَ تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَٰكِنۡ أَعۡبُدُ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِي يَتَوَفَّىٰكُمۡۖ وَأُمِرۡتُ أَنۡ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ104
وَأَنۡ أَقِمۡ وَجۡهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفٗا وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ105
وَلَا تَدۡعُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُكَ وَلَا يَضُرُّكَۖ فَإِن فَعَلۡتَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذٗا مِّنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ106
وَإِن يَمۡسَسۡكَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرّٖ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُۥٓ إِلَّا هُوَۖ وَإِن يُرِدۡكَ بِخَيۡرٖ فَلَا رَآدَّ لِفَضۡلِهِۦۚ يُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ107
CALL TO HUMANITY
108Say, 'O Prophet,' 'O humanity!
The truth has surely come to you from your Lord.
So whoever chooses to be guided, it is only for their own good.
And whoever chooses to stray, it is only their own loss.
And I am not a keeper over you.
'
قُلۡ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدۡ جَآءَكُمُ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمۡۖ فَمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهۡتَدِي لِنَفۡسِهِۦۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيۡهَاۖ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ عَلَيۡكُم بِوَكِيل108
ADVICE TO THE PROPHET
109And follow what is revealed to you, and be patient until Allah passes His judgment.
He is the Best of Judges.
وَٱتَّبِعۡ مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيۡكَ وَٱصۡبِرۡ حَتَّىٰ يَحۡكُمَ ٱللَّهُۚ وَهُوَ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡحَٰكِمِينَ109
Part 3 study note
This is part 3 of the children's lesson for Surah Yûnus.
It continues from the previous section with new verses, examples, and short review points for young learners.
If this is your first time studying the lesson, start with part 1 and then return here so the story, meaning, and practice sequence stay clear.
How to study Surah Yûnus with children
Use this children's lesson as a guided path: read the short explanation, look at the Arabic verse, listen to related recitation, and return to the full surah when
your child is ready for more detail.
Parents can review one section at a time, ask the child to repeat the main idea, and then continue with the next part or a nearby surah.
This keeps the lesson connected with Quran reading, audio, and daily practice.