Dua of Yunus
Al-Anbiya 21:87. Also known as Dua Yunus, La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz zalimin, Ayat Karima
وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَٰضِبٗا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقۡدِرَ عَلَيۡهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِي ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبۡحَٰنَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿٨٧﴾
Watha alnnooni ith thahaba mughadiban fathanna an lan naqdira AAalayhi fanada fee alththulumati an la ilaha illa anta subhanaka innee kuntu mina alththalimeena
And Jonah, when he stormed out in fury, thinking We had no power over him. But then he cried out in the darkness, “There is no god but You! Glory to You! I was one of the wrongdoers!”
The dua of Yunus is the prayer that Jonah (Yunus) made in the darkness after he was swallowed by the fish. It appears in verse 87 of Surah Al-Anbiya, the 21st surah, whose name means The Prophets. In South Asia it is often called the Ayat Karima.
The prayer has three parts: a declaration that there is no god but Allah, a glorification of Allah, and a confession that the speaker has done wrong. Muslims recite it in times of distress, often many times over.
What it means
Jonah leaves in anger
The verse begins by recalling Jonah, called here the man of the fish, Dhun-Nun, who went away angry from his people. He assumed Allah would not restrict him. Surah As-Saffat, 37:139 to 37:148, tells more of the story: he boarded a laden ship, was cast off it, and was swallowed by the fish.
A call from the darkness
He then called out from within the darkness. Commentators describe layers of darkness: the night, the sea and the belly of the fish. It was a place where no person could hear or help him.
There is no god but You
The first words of his prayer affirm that there is no god except Allah. Before asking for anything, he returns to the core of faith.
Glory be to You
He then glorifies Allah, declaring Him free of any fault. He does not blame Allah for his situation.
I have been among the wrongdoers
Finally he admits that he had been among those who do wrong. He does not even state a request. The prayer is made of faith, praise and honesty, and that was enough.
Where it sits in Surah Al-Anbiya
Surah Al-Anbiya recounts one prophet after another who called on Allah and was answered. Just before this verse, Job (Ayyub) calls out in his suffering in 21:83 and is relieved in 21:84, and verses 85 and 86 mention Ishmael (Isma'il), Idris and Dhul-Kifl. Verse 88 says Allah answered Jonah and saved him from his distress, adding that this is how He saves the believers. That last line is why Muslims see the prayer as one for everyone, not only for Jonah. Verse 89 moves on to Zechariah (Zakariyya) asking not to be left without an heir.
How it is used
Sunan at-Tirmidhi reports, from Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that no Muslim calls on Allah with the prayer of Dhun-Nun in the belly of the fish for anything except that Allah answers him. Some scholars graded this narration authentic. Muslims recite the prayer alone or in gatherings when facing illness, debt, anxiety or a sense of having gone wrong. Specific counts, such as reciting it a fixed number of times, are popular customs and are not found in the authentic narration.
Questions
Where is the dua of Yunus in the Quran?
It is in Surah Al-Anbiya, the 21st surah, verse 87.
When should I recite the dua of Yunus?
It is especially recited in times of distress or when someone feels they have done wrong. A narration in Sunan at-Tirmidhi says that no Muslim makes this supplication for anything except that Allah answers him. It can be said at any time.
Is there a set number of times to recite it?
No number is given in the authentic narration. Fixed counts are local customs. Saying it sincerely is what matters.