فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ 48
Translations
Then be patient for the decision of your Lord, [O Muḥammad], and be not like the companion of the fish [i.e., Jonah] when he called out while he was distressed.
Transliteration
Fa-sbir li-hukmi rabbika wa-la takun ka-sahibi al-huti idh nada wa-huwa makzum
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad to be patient with His decree and judgment, and warns him not to be like the companion of the whale (Prophet Yunus/Jonah) who called out to Allah while in distress and anguish. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah reproves impatience and despair during trials; Yunus's example serves as a cautionary tale of how grievance and haste can lead one astray, though he was ultimately forgiven when he repented.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Qalam's Meccan period, where the Prophet faced intense persecution and mockery from the Quraysh. The reference to Yunus (Jonah) provides historical precedent—just as Yunus was tested with the whale, the Prophet is reminded that patience in the face of opposition is divinely ordained, and despair is not an option for the believers.
Related Hadiths
The story of Yunus is referenced in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet said that no one should say he is better than Yunus ibn Matta. Additionally, Tirmidhi reports hadiths emphasizing the virtue of patience (sabr) during trials as a means of drawing closer to Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that believers must maintain unwavering patience during hardships and trials, rejecting despair and anger as responses to divine tests. The lesson is that true submission to Allah's will means trusting in His wisdom even when circumstances seem overwhelming, as exemplified by the patience required of His messengers.