وَأَنۢبَتْنَا عَلَيْهِ شَجَرَةً مِّن يَقْطِينٍ 146
Translations
And We caused to grow over him a gourd vine.
Transliteration
Wa-anbatnā ʿalayhi shajaratan min yaqṭīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah caused a gourd plant (yaqṭīn) to grow over Prophet Yunus (Jonah) as he lay beneath a tree, providing him shade and comfort during his recovery after being cast ashore. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this plant was a mercy from Allah, demonstrating divine care and provision for His prophets in times of distress, and some traditions note it grew to full maturity in a single night as a sign of Allah's power.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the narrative of Prophet Yunus in Surah As-Saffat, which recounts how he was swallowed by a whale after fleeing his people, then miraculously delivered to shore. The provision of the gourd plant follows his deliverance and represents Allah's continued mercy during his period of weakness and recovery on the barren shore.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly references this verse, the theme of divine provision is reinforced in various hadiths about trust in Allah (tawakkul), such as the hadith in Sahih Bukhari about Allah's care for His creation. Additionally, Surah Al-Qalam (68:48) mentions this same incident, emphasizing the Quranic importance of this event.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that Allah's mercy extends to all His creatures, especially during moments of vulnerability and despair, reminding believers to trust in divine providence and recognize that comfort often comes from the most unexpected sources when we surrender to Allah's will.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ يَغْفِرُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ
He said, "No blame will there be upon you today. May Allāh forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merciful.
فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنْ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلرَّوْعُ وَجَآءَتْهُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ يُجَـٰدِلُنَا فِى قَوْمِ لُوطٍ
And when the fright had left Abraham and the good tidings had reached him, he began to argue [i.e., plead] with Us concerning the people of Lot.
جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ ءَابَآئِهِمْ وَأَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِهِمْ ۖ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍ
Gardens of perpetual residence; they will enter them with whoever were righteous among their forefathers, their spouses and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying],
رَّبُّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى يُزْجِى لَكُمُ ٱلْفُلْكَ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ لِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا
It is your Lord who drives the ship for you through the sea that you may seek of His bounty. Indeed, He is ever, to you, Merciful.