Prophet Yunus(Alaih Assalaam)

Prophet Yunus(Alaih Assalaam) was sent by Allah to a big town where the people had forgotten Allah’s orders and did many things which Allah had forbidden. You should believe only in Allah and obey only Him, Yunus told them. You should worship Him alone and do good, otherwise a severe punishment will come upon you!

But Yunus(Alaih Assalaam) soon discovered that the people did not want to listen to him. He lost patience with them and left the town in anger. Afterwards, Yunus decided to go across the sea, and boarded a ship for the voyage. But when the ship was in the middle of the ocean, Yunus (Alaih Assalaam)suffered a great misfortune. He was thrown overboard and swallowed up by an enormous fish. Fortunately, though, the fish had swallowed Yunus(Alaih Assalaam) in one big gulp, so he landed in its stomach unhurt.

It was very dark inside the fish’s stomach, and Yunus(Alaih Assalaam) grew very fearful. In his loneliness, he started to think over what had happened in the town, and came to realize that he should not have acted so hastily and in such a quick-tempered manner. Instead, he should have stayed and kept on speaking to the people and ask them to return to Allah.

In this despair, Yunus (Alaih Assalaam)started to pray with all his heart to Allah. He said "O Allah, there is no God apart from You. You alone do I praise and honour. I have done wrong; if You do not help me, I shall be lost for ever."

Allah hears the prayers of those who pray to Him and those who believe in Him. Allah heard yunus’s prayer, and he caused Yunus(Alaih Assalaam) to come out of the fish’s stomach, and to be swept by the waves of the sea onto the shore. Poor Yunus (Alaih Assalaam)was in a terrible state and lay on the shore, weak, ill and helpless. He felt dreadfully miserable, but Allah caused a tree to grow and this tree provided Yunus(Alaih Assalaam) with shade and nourishing fruits. Before long, Yunus(Alaih Assalaam) had recovered his health and strength.

When he was better, Allah sent Yunus(Alaih Assalaam) back to the town. This time, though, the people there listened to Yunus(Alaih Assalaam) when he told them: You should believe in Allah and worship Him alone. You must do good.

Prophet Dawud(Alaih Assalaam)

When Dawud (Alaih Assalaam)was young, he was a shepherd boy. He was also very strong and courageous. Once, a troop of fierce warriors came to attack his people. Among them was Jalut. Everybody had a great fear of Jalut, and no-one was willing to fight against him except for Dawud(Alaih Assalaam). Dawud(Alaih Assalaam) challenged Jalut to a combat and killed him. This so frightened the enemies of Dawud(Alaih Assalaam)’s people that they fled as fast as they could. Dawud was very brave, of course, but Allah had helped him triumph over the mighty Jalut. Allah also gave Dawud(Alaih Assalaam) wisdom, power and skills. Dawud (Alaih Assalaam)was a very clever smith and made wonderful things out of iron, like weapons and armour.

Dawud (Alaih Assalaam)could also sing very well. He sang to praise and honour Allah. These songs, which Dawud(Alaih Assalaam) had learned from the angels, were written down in a book called Zabur. Allah had revealed this book, Zabur, to Dawud(Alaih Assalaam), just as He had revealed to Musa(Alaih Assalaam) the book which is called Taurat.

Allah made Dawud(Alaih Assalaam) His prophet and the ruler over his people. He was a very just ruler and his people always came to him when they had quarrels with each other. Once, some sheep had wandered off during the night into somebody else’s field and ate up all the crops. Dawud(Alaih Assalaam) decided that as punishment, the sheep must be given to the owner of the field who had lost all his crops.

When Sulaiman, the son of Dawud(Alaih Assalaam), heard that, he protested: But the field is still there. It is only this year’s harvest that is gone. So surely the sheep should not be completely taken away from their owner. The owner should have them back as soon as the loss of harvest is recovered.

Dawud (Alaih Assalaam)agreed with the good advice of his son Sulaiman(Alaih Assalaam), and decided to settle the problem as Sulaiman(Alaih Assalaam) had suggested.

In the next story, you will hear about Sulaiman(Alaih Assalaam), who was also chosen by Allah to be His prophet. Dawud(Alaih Assalaam), who was Allah’s prophet, always said to his people: You should believe in Allah and worship Him alone and do good.