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Surah 10 · Makkah · 109 āyāt

Phase 04 · Ṭāʾif, al-Isrāʾ and the final Makkan years(c. 5–1 BH) — view in timeline

YūnusJonah

يونس

Revealed 51st, after al-Isrāʾ. Quraysh had called the Prophet ﷺ a sorcerer and demanded a different Qurʾān. The surah answers by pointing to the ordered universe as evidence, telling the stories of Nūḥ, Mūsā and finally the people of Yūnus — the one nation that believed before punishment struck and had it lifted — and it closes by establishing that faith cannot be forced: had your Lord willed, everyone on earth would have believed.

Why it was revealed

Revealed during the Makkan period when the Prophet ﷺ and his early followers faced intense opposition, mockery of the revelation, and hardship from Quraysh. The Muslim community was in need of both proof of the truth and encouragement to remain patient.

Drawn fromal-Qurṭubī on 10:15; Al-Qurṭubī on 10:15; Ibn Kathīr on 10:2; Ibn Kathīr on 10:71–92; Ibn Kathīr, introduction to Sūrat Yūnus

No authentic occasion of revelation is transmitted for the surah as a whole. Individual āyāt are explained by the general Makkan situation: Quraysh's demand for a different Qurʾān (10:15) and their charge of sorcery (10:2).

Cited toIbn Kathīr, introduction to Sūrat Yūnus; al-Qurṭubī on 10:15

In the Prophet's ﷺ life

LossLate Makkan period · Age About 50 · Makkah

Quraysh call the revelation plain sorcery

When a man from among them was sent with warning and glad tidings, the disbelievers said: this is clearly a sorcerer — the charge the surah opens by answering.

Cited toIbn Kathīr on 10:2

  • Madd — 2 vowels
  • Madd — 2, 4 or 6 vowels
  • Madd — 6 vowels (lāzim)
  • Madd — 4 or 5 vowels (wājib)
  • Ghunnah — 2 vowels
  • Qalqalah
  • Ikhfāʾ
  • Ikhfāʾ shafawī
  • Idghām shafawī
  • Idghām with ghunnah
  • Idghām without ghunnah
  • Idghām mutajānisayn
  • Idghām mutaqāribayn
  • Iqlāb
  • Hamzat al-waṣl
  • Lām shamsiyyah
  • Silent letter

Tajwīd markup and colour convention: Quran.com API (v4) — text_uthmani_tajweed. Recitation audio: Quran.com / Quran Foundation Audio API (v4).

THEME 01Āyāt 3–6

The ordered universe as the standing evidence

Before any argument about prophethood, the surah establishes the Creator through what everyone can see: six days of creation, the throne, the sun a shining light and the moon a measured light, so that you may know the number of years and the reckoning. Allah did not create this except in truth.

Drawn fromAl-Saʿdī on 10:6; Ibn Kathīr on 10:5

5

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ ٱلشَّمْسَ ضِيَآءً وَٱلْقَمَرَ نُورًا وَقَدَّرَهُۥ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُوا۟ عَدَدَ ٱلسِّنِينَ وَٱلْحِسَابَ ۚ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ذَٰلِكَ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ يُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ

Tajwīd markup unavailable for this āyah — text shown uncoloured

It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light and determined for it phases - that you may know the number of years and account [of time]. Allāh has not created this except in truth. He details the signs for a people who know.

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From the tafsīr

The sun is called ḍiyāʾ (radiant light) and the moon nūr (a distinct, cool light) — a clear distinction between the two luminaries, with the moon's phases given as the basis of the calendar.

Cited toIbn Kathīr on 10:5

The alternation of night and day is presented as evidence for a people who have taqwā, because signs only benefit those who are willing to be moved by them.

Cited toAl-Saʿdī on 10:6

Key takeaways

Reflect

Name one natural regularity you depend on daily but have never thanked Allah for.

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Check yourself

0 / 2 correct

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Question 1 of 2

How does 10:5 distinguish the sun from the moon?

Question 2 of 2

Who does al-Saʿdī say the signs of night and day benefit?

THEME 02Āyāt 15–20

'Bring a Qurʾān other than this'

The demand was not for proof but for a revelation that would leave their idols alone. The answer is that the Messenger ﷺ cannot change it of his own accord — he has lived a lifetime among them before it, and they know his character. The idols they worship neither harm nor benefit, and they call them intercessors with Allah without any authority.

Drawn fromAl-Qurṭubī on 10:15–16; Ibn Kathīr on 10:18

15

وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَاتُنَا بَيِّنَـٰتٍ ۙ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا ٱئْتِ بِقُرْءَانٍ غَيْرِ هَـٰذَآ أَوْ بَدِّلْهُ ۚ قُلْ مَا يَكُونُ لِىٓ أَنْ أُبَدِّلَهُۥ مِن تِلْقَآئِ نَفْسِىٓ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّى عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

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And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who do not expect the meeting with Us say, "Bring us a Qur’ān other than this or change it." Say, [O Muḥammad], "It is not for me to change it on my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. Indeed I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day."

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From the tafsīr

The argument from his ﷺ forty years among them is decisive: a man cannot suddenly produce such speech, and they had never known him to lie.

Cited toAl-Qurṭubī on 10:15–16

The polytheists did not deny Allah's lordship; their shirk was in worship, taking intermediaries they claimed would intercede.

Cited toIbn Kathīr on 10:18

Key takeaways

Reflect

Is there a part of the revelation you quietly wish were different? Name it honestly and study it.

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Check yourself

0 / 2 correct

Answer from memory before scrolling back — retrieval is what makes it stick.

Questions and options are reshuffled and reworded each attempt

Question 1 of 2

How does Ibn Kathīr define the shirk of Quraysh in 10:18?

Question 2 of 2

What evidence does al-Qurṭubī draw from the Prophet's ﷺ years before revelation?

THEME 03Āyāt 90–92

Fir'awn's faith at the wrong moment

As the sea closes over him, Fir'awn says: I believe there is no god but the One the Children of Israel believe in. The answer comes: now? when you disobeyed before and were of the corrupters. Today We will preserve your body so that you may be a sign for those after you. The tyrant who claimed lordship becomes a museum exhibit.

Drawn fromAl-Qurṭubī on 10:92; Ibn Kathīr on 10:90–92

90

۞ وَجَـٰوَزْنَا بِبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ وَجُنُودُهُۥ بَغْيًا وَعَدْوًا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَدْرَكَهُ ٱلْغَرَقُ قَالَ ءَامَنتُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَامَنَتْ بِهِۦ بَنُوٓا۟ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَأَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ

Tajwīd markup unavailable for this āyah — text shown uncoloured

And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity until, when drowning overtook him, he said, "I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims."

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From the tafsīr

Faith at the moment of certain death is not accepted, because the veil is lifted and belief is then compulsion rather than choice.

Cited toIbn Kathīr on 10:90–92

'We will save you in your body' means his corpse would be cast up so that the people who doubted his death — and those after them — would see the end of the one who said 'I am your highest lord'.

Cited toAl-Qurṭubī on 10:92

Key takeaways

Reflect

What repentance are you postponing on the assumption that you will have time?

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Check yourself

0 / 2 correct

Answer from memory before scrolling back — retrieval is what makes it stick.

Questions and options are reshuffled and reworded each attempt

Question 1 of 2

Why was Fir'awn's declaration of faith rejected?

Question 2 of 2

What does 'We will save you in your body' mean per al-Qurṭubī?

THEME 04Āyāt 98–99

The people of Yūnus, and faith that cannot be forced

Was there any town that believed and its faith benefited it — except the people of Yūnus? When they believed, the punishment of disgrace was lifted from them. Then the principle: had your Lord willed, everyone on earth would have believed — will you then compel people until they become believers? The surah that lists rejection ends by forbidding coercion.

Drawn fromAl-Ṭabarī on 10:99; Ibn Kathīr on 10:98

99

وَلَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لَـَٔامَنَ مَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ أَفَأَنتَ تُكْرِهُ ٱلنَّاسَ حَتَّىٰ يَكُونُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ

Tajwīd markup unavailable for this āyah — text shown uncoloured

And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed - all of them entirely. Then, [O Muḥammad], would you compel the people in order that they become believers?

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From the tafsīr

The people of Yūnus are the exception among the destroyed nations: they repented collectively before the punishment descended, and it was lifted.

Cited toIbn Kathīr on 10:98

The question is a rebuke of the wish to force belief: guidance belongs to Allah, and the Messenger's ﷺ duty is conveyance.

Cited toAl-Ṭabarī on 10:99

Key takeaways

Reflect

Where have you confused giving advice with controlling the outcome?

Saved on this device · included in your printable study sheet

Check yourself

0 / 2 correct

Answer from memory before scrolling back — retrieval is what makes it stick.

Questions and options are reshuffled and reworded each attempt

Question 1 of 2

Why are the people of Yūnus singled out in 10:98?

Question 2 of 2

What does al-Ṭabarī say 10:99 rebukes?

FROM CLASS

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VOCABULARY

Roots from this surah

Learn the three-letter root and you unlock every word built from it — across the whole Qur'an, not just this surah.

ش ف ي

āyāt 57

to heal, to cure

  • شِفَاءhealing
  • يَشْفِىHe heals
  • ٱسْتَشْفَىٰhe sought a cure

و ل ي

āyāt 62

nearness, allegiance, protective friendship

  • وَلِىّan ally, protector
  • أَوْلِيَاءallies
  • مَوْلَىٰpatron, master

ك ر ه

āyāt 99

to dislike; to force against the will

  • تُكْرِهُyou compel
  • كَارِهone who dislikes
  • إِكْرَاهcompulsion

ب د ل

āyāt 15

to exchange one thing for another

  • أُبَدِّلَI change
  • تَبْدِيلalteration
  • بَدَلa substitute

و ع ظ

āyāt 57

admonition that softens the heart

  • مَوْعِظَةan admonition
  • يَعِظُكُمHe admonishes you
  • وَاعِظan admonisher

ن و ر

āyāt 5

light, especially borrowed or reflected light

  • نُورlight
  • مُنِيرilluminating
  • أَنَارَhe lit up

Carry this with you

  • The Qurʾān argues first from the sky and the sea — evidence anyone can check.
  • People often reject a message because of what it would cost them, not because it is unclear.
  • A lifetime of honesty is an argument no opponent can answer.
  • Repentance is accepted until the moment certainty arrives — then the door shuts.
  • Allah can preserve a tyrant's body as a lesson for every century after him.
  • One nation was saved by turning back together: collective repentance still works.
  • You may long for everyone to believe, but you may never force anyone.
  • Your duty is the clarity of the message; the hearts belong to Allah.

Where this surah connects

Cross-surah threads

Parts of the Qurʾān explain other parts. Each thread below opens the same subject as it is argued across every other surah you have studied, in revelation order.

One Lord, one dominion3 movementsThe signs you already walk on3 movementsThe Hour and the accounting1 movementRefuge, protection and the unseen harm1 movement
All threads →

Sources behind Sūrah Yūnus

Every line of context, tafsīr and takeaway on this page traces back to one of these references. Ḥadīth numbers open on sunnah.com and āyah references open on quran.com, so you can check the claim rather than take it on trust. The Arabic text itself is fetched live from a verified public corpus.

FINAL ASSESSMENT

Full exam — the whole surah, from memory

Every question from every theme, interleaved and reworded. Interleaving is what turns recognition into recall. Each answer updates your review schedule, your mistakes list and your mastery score for that theme.

Yūnus — full exam

1 / 8 · 0 correct

8 questions across 4 themes.

Yūnus · The ordered universe as the standing evidence

Who does al-Saʿdī say the signs of night and day benefit?

Arabic (Uthmānī script) and the Ṣaḥīḥ International translation are fetched live from the Quran.com API (v4), sourced from the King Fahd Complex muṣḥaf — api.quran.com API docs · Translation: Ṣaḥīḥ International · Integrity & testing protocol