Some duas in the Qur’an are long. The one associated with the Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) is very short, and many Muslims know it by heart. It is a sentence of praise and honest admission, spoken from the deepest kind of darkness.
This post reads the verses where it appears, two related passages, and two hadith with their gradings as listed on Sunnah.com. It is a reflection on meaning and practice, not a ruling.
Quick answer
Short answer: In Qur’an 21:87, Yunus, called “the man of the fish”, calls out within the darknesses: “There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.” The next verse says Allah responded to him and saved him from distress, “and thus do We save the believers” (Saheeh International translation).
What the verses say
Surah al-Anbiya mentions Yunus as Dhun-Nun, “the man of the fish”. Verse 21:87 says he “went off in anger” and then “called out within the darknesses”.
The words of his call, as given in the Arabic text on Quran.com, are:
لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Lā ilāha illā anta subḥānaka innī kuntu mina ẓ-ẓālimīn: “There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.”
Verse 21:88 follows: “So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.”
Key takeaways
- Where: Surah al-Anbiya 21:87-88, with the story also in Surah as-Saffat 37:139-148.
- Three parts: a declaration of tawhid, a glorification of Allah, and an admission of one’s own wrong.
- A reminder of patience: Qur’an 68:48 tells the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to be patient and not be like “the companion of the fish”.
- Graded hadith: Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3505 is graded Sahih (Darussalam).
The wider story in Surah as-Saffat
Surah as-Saffat gives more detail. Verse 37:142 says the fish swallowed him “while he was blameworthy”. Verses 37:143-144 then say that had he not been “of those who exalt Allah”, he would have remained inside it “until the Day they are resurrected”.
The verses go on to describe his release and his return to his people. Read together, the passages place remembrance and glorification of Allah at the centre of the story.
Three parts of one sentence
Read slowly, this short dua turns out to be remarkably complete. You do not need a long speech to turn back to Allah.
| Part | Words | What it teaches |
|---|---|---|
| Tawhid | “There is no deity except You” | Turning to Allah alone in difficulty |
| Glorification | “Exalted are You” | Praise comes before any request |
| Admission | “I have been of the wrongdoers” | Honesty about oneself, the heart of tawba |
Notice that the dua does not list demands. It praises Allah and admits fault. Many readers find that this simple order, praise first and honesty next, is itself a lesson in adab with Allah.
What the hadith add
In Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3505, Sa’d reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ described this as “the supplication of Dhun-Nun” in the belly of the whale, and said that no Muslim supplicates with it for anything except that Allah responds to him. The grade listed for it is Sahih (Darussalam) (Tirmidhi 3505).
How and when a response comes is with Allah. This post makes no promise of particular worldly results; it simply shares the narration and its grading.
In Sahih al-Bukhari 3395, Ibn ‘Abbas reports the Prophet ﷺ saying that one should not say “I am better than Yunus bin Matta” (Bukhari 3395). The story of a moment of weakness does not lower Yunus; the Prophet ﷺ himself guarded his honour.
A note on respect
Yunus is one of the prophets of Allah. Reflection on his story is about our own lessons, never about judging him. This is why sufitraveler does not illustrate prophets or the scenes of their lives.
Bringing it into daily dhikr
You do not need special conditions to remember this dua. A few gentle ways people keep it close:
Simple ways to keep the dua close
1
Learn the meaning first: read 21:87-88 slowly in a translation you trust, so the words carry their sense.
2
Pair it with a daily moment: after a prayer, before sleep, or when you feel overwhelmed.
3
Say it with presence: a few times said with attention is better than many said in a rush.
4
Let it lead to tawba: the third phrase is an invitation to honest self-accounting, as in our post on muhasaba.
Tip
If you are new to regular dhikr, our guide to the etiquette of remembrance has simple, mainstream adab that pairs well with this dua.
A reflection for hard days
The Qur’an says Yunus called out “within the darknesses”. Many readers see in this a picture of the times when every door seems closed. The verses do not ask for eloquence in those moments. They show a servant who praises, admits and turns.
That is something anyone can do, in any language, at any hour. The words are short enough to say in one breath.
FAQ
Where is the dua of Yunus in the Qur’an?
In Surah al-Anbiya, verse 21:87.
What does “Dhun-Nun” mean?
It means “the one of the fish”, a name for Yunus used in the Qur’an. Saheeh International renders it “the man of the fish”.
Is the hadith about this dua authentic?
Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3505 is graded Sahih (Darussalam). For questions of practice, ask a qualified scholar you trust.
Last checked: 20 October 2026 (Asia/Riyadh) against Qur’an 21:87-88, 37:142-144 and 68:48 (Saheeh International translation and Arabic text), Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3505 and Sahih al-Bukhari 3395, as listed in Sources. Educational reflection only, not a religious ruling.
