Jonah and the Great Fish!!!

unknownuser

Peace everyone,

I would like to know other people's understandings of Jonah and his ordeal with The Great Fish (or whale in the Biblical Accounts).

Chapter 37 verses 139 - 148 goes into more than other verses of the Quran.

"And Jonah was one of the Messengers.

When he escaped to the charged ship.

And he was guilty, so he became among the losers.

Thus a whale swallowed him, and he was the one to blame.

And had it not been that he was one of those who implored,

He would have stayed in it's belly until the Day of Resurrection.

So we threw him on the shore while he was sick.

And We caused seaweed to grow on him.

And We sent him to a hundred thousand, or more.

And they believed, so We gave them enjoyment for a time."

I gather that we can come to some mutual conclusions from these verses.

Jonah was a messenger of GOD.
He believed that he could escape from GOD.
Jonah was Guilty of something in the eyes of GOD.
He was swallowed by a whale and had only himself to blame.
Jonah was released from his condition after he implored his Lord.

And finally,

He was sent to hundred thousand or more.

I lean more towards this story being metaphorical/Allegory. I am very clear on Jonah Disobeying GOD and believing that he can escape GOD's chastisement,(for lack of a better term). And I'm also clear that because of his Disobedience to GOD, he had entered a state or condition in which he realized his wrong and had Remembered GOD and Implored Him for His Forgiveness and Mercy. I am also clear that because he went to his Lord heart and soul, he was finally Released from the state in which he had been suffering.

I pretty much believe the "Whale" to be symbolic and that the Darkness in which Jonah had been in was actually Spiritual Darkness and not necessarily from physically sitting in the Belly of a Whale.

Have any of you ever pondered on this at all? What are your views on these verses of the Quran?

Peace,
Damon.

janet

Peace everyone,

I would like to know other people's understandings of Jonah and his ordeal with The Great Fish (or whale in the Biblical Accounts).

Chapter 37 verses 139 - 148 goes into more than other verses of the Quran.

"And Jonah was one of the Messengers.

When he escaped to the charged ship.

And he was guilty, so he became among the losers.

Thus a whale swallowed him, and he was the one to blame.

And had it not been that he was one of those who implored,

He would have stayed in it's belly until the Day of Resurrection.

So we threw him on the shore while he was sick.

And We caused seaweed to grow on him.

And We sent him to a hundred thousand, or more.

And they believed, so We gave them enjoyment for a time."

I gather that we can come to some mutual conclusions from these verses.

Jonah was a messenger of GOD.
He believed that he could escape from GOD.
Jonah was Guilty of something in the eyes of GOD.
He was swallowed by a whale and had only himself to blame.
Jonah was released from his condition after he implored his Lord.

And finally,

He was sent to hundred thousand or more.

I lean more towards this story being metaphorical/Allegory. I am very clear on Jonah Disobeying GOD and believing that he can escape GOD's chastisement,(for lack of a better term). And I'm also clear that because of his Disobedience to GOD, he had entered a state or condition in which he realized his wrong and had Remembered GOD and Implored Him for His Forgiveness and Mercy. I am also clear that because he went to his Lord heart and soul, he was finally Released from the state in which he had been suffering.

I pretty much believe the "Whale" to be symbolic and that the Darkness in which Jonah had been in was actually Spiritual Darkness and not necessarily from physically sitting in the Belly of a Whale.

Have any of you ever pondered on this at all? What are your views on these verses of the Quran?

Peace,
Damon.

Salaam Damon,

I know it's been many years since this topic was started but I've recently joined the forum and I thought I should stick to the appropriate topic versus start a new one.

(37142) Then a fish swallowed him, and he was blameworthy

(37143) Had he not been one of those who glorify Allah

(37144) he would certainly have remained in its belly till the Day of Resurrection.

The word 'faltaqamahu' in 37142 comes from the root 'l-q-m' which means to feed bit by bit/gobble/obstruct/bite/morsel/swallow/tit bit/mouthful....(please refer to Hans Wehr dictionary and Lane's lexicon)

The word 'al musabbiheena' in 37143 comes from the root 's-b-h' which also means strong swimmer/glide/a horse which runs quickly...(please refer to the above mentioned or any other dictionary)

When one puts it together the picture that emerges is that Jonah went overboard into the water where he was bitten/attacked by a large fish but he managed to swim away to safety because he was a strong swimmer and had he not been able to, he would certainly have remained inside its belly.

Regards,
Janet.