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Yunus, Ayyub, Yaqub and Zakariya

Prophets who never gave up hope

Sometimes things go wrong and it feels like nothing will change. The Qur'an gives us prophets in exactly that place, and records the words they used to call on Allah. These lessons stay inside the Qur'an's own account, and no prophet is pictured in any illustration.

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Large sage clay fish shape on cream clay waves with gold clay bubbles rising

Lesson 1 · Yunus and the fish · ages 5-7

Inside the darkness

Yunus left his people, ended up in the sea, and was swallowed by a big fish. In the dark he called out to Allah.

  1. He left angrily

    The Qur'an says he went off in anger, thinking Allah would not decree anything upon him.

  2. He was in layers of dark

    Allah says he called out within the darknesses, after the fish had swallowed him.

  3. He did not stop praying

    In the darkest place in his life he still spoke to Allah, which is the whole lesson.

  4. Allah answered

    Allah says: so We answered him and saved him from the distress. That is how He saves the believers.

  5. No place is out of reach

    Under the sea, inside a fish, at night, alone — Allah hears.

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:87

وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَٰضِبًۭا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Wa Zan Nooni iz zahaba mughaadiban fazaanna al lan naqdira 'alaihi fanaanna al lan naqdira 'alaihi fanaadaa fiz zulumaati al laaa ilaaha illaaa Anta Subhaanaka innee kuntu minaz zaalimeen

“And [mention] the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."”

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:88

فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَنَجَّيْنَٰهُ مِنَ ٱلْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُۨجِى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Fastajabnaa lahoo wa najjainaahu minal ghamm; wa kazaalika nunjil mu'mineen

“So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.”

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:139

وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

Wa inna Yoonusa laminal mursaleen

“And indeed, Jonah was among the messengers.”

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:140

إِذْ أَبَقَ إِلَى ٱلْفُلْكِ ٱلْمَشْحُونِ

Iz abaqa ilal fulkil mash hoon

“[Mention] when he ran away to the laden ship.”

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:142

فَٱلْتَقَمَهُ ٱلْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌۭ

Faltaqamahul hootu wa huwa muleem

“Then the fish swallowed him, while he was blameworthy.”

Do this before next time

Tonight, in the dark before you sleep, say one dua out loud in your own words.

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Lesson 2 · Three things in one sentence · ages 8-11

The dua of Yunus

His dua had three parts: there is no god but You, You are perfect, and I was the one who was wrong.

  1. Start with tawhid

    He began: there is no deity except You — the truth about Allah comes before the request.

  2. Then praise

    He said: exalted are You — Allah is perfect, so the mistake must be mine, not His.

  3. Then own the mistake

    He said: indeed I have been of the wrongdoers. He blamed himself, not Allah.

  4. Allah's promise

    Allah says: thus do We save the believers — meaning this way of calling on Him is for us too.

  5. Then he was thrown out safely

    The Qur'an says if he had not been of those who glorify Allah, he would have remained inside it until the Day they are resurrected.

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:87

وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَٰضِبًۭا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Wa Zan Nooni iz zahaba mughaadiban fazaanna al lan naqdira 'alaihi fanaanna al lan naqdira 'alaihi fanaadaa fiz zulumaati al laaa ilaaha illaaa Anta Subhaanaka innee kuntu minaz zaalimeen

“And [mention] the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."”

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:88

فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَنَجَّيْنَٰهُ مِنَ ٱلْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُۨجِى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Fastajabnaa lahoo wa najjainaahu minal ghamm; wa kazaalika nunjil mu'mineen

“So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.”

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:143

فَلَوْلَآ أَنَّهُۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُسَبِّحِينَ

Falaw laaa annahoo kaana minal musabbiheen

“And had he not been of those who exalt Allah,”

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:144

لَلَبِثَ فِى بَطْنِهِۦٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

Lalabisa fee batniheee ilaa Yawmi yub'asoon

“He would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected.”

Do this before next time

Learn the meaning of Yunus's dua by heart in English, then say it whenever something goes wrong.

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Lesson 3 · It is never too late to turn back · ages 12-15

The city that believed

The people of Yunus had rejected him, then they believed together — and Allah lifted the punishment from them.

  1. They believed as one

    The Qur'an says the people of Yunus believed, so Allah removed from them the punishment of disgrace and gave them enjoyment for a time.

  2. The Qur'an notes how rare that is

    It is mentioned as an exception: no other town in that passage believed after the warning came.

  3. Yunus was sent back to them

    Allah sent him back after he had left, and they were more than a hundred thousand.

  4. Turning back works

    A whole city changed direction and Allah accepted them — one child changing a habit is not too much for Him.

  5. Don't give up on people

    Yunus's people looked hopeless and were not. Keep making dua for the people you have given up on.

Surah Yunus · 10:98

فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ ءَامَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَآ إِيمَٰنُهَآ إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّآ ءَامَنُوا۟ كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْخِزْىِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَٰهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍۢ

Falaw laa kaanat qaryatun aamanat fanafa'ahaaa eemaanuhaaa illaa qawma Yoonusa lammaaa aamanoo kashafnaa 'anhum 'azaabal khizyi fil hayaatid dunyaa wa matta'naahum ilaa heen

“Then has there not been a [single] city that believed so its faith benefited it except the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in worldly life and gave them enjoyment for a time.”

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:147

وَأَرْسَلْنَٰهُ إِلَىٰ مِا۟ئَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ

Wa arsalnaahu ilaa mi'ati alfin aw yazeedoon

“And We sent him to [his people of] a hundred thousand or more.”

Surah As-Saaffaat · 37:148

فَـَٔامَنُوا۟ فَمَتَّعْنَٰهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍۢ

Fa aamanoo famatta' naahum ilaa heen

“And they believed, so We gave them enjoyment [of life] for a time.”

Do this before next time

Name one person you had stopped hoping for, and make dua for them by name tonight.

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Lesson 4 · Asking without complaining about Allah · ages 8-11

Ayyub and long pain

Ayyub was tested for a long time. His dua was gentle: harm has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful.

  1. His words

    He called out: indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.

  2. He did not accuse Allah

    He described his situation and then described Allah's mercy — that is the whole dua.

  3. Allah answered

    Allah says He removed his affliction and gave him back his family, as mercy and a reminder for worshippers.

  4. Allah called him patient

    In Surah Sad Allah says: indeed, We found him patient — an excellent servant, one who constantly turned back.

  5. Sickness is not punishment

    A prophet was ill for years. Being tested does not mean Allah is angry with you.

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:83

۞ وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَسَّنِىَ ٱلضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ

Wa Ayyooba iz naadaa Rabbahooo annee massaniyad durru wa Anta arhamur raahimeen

“And [mention] Job, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful."”

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:84

فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ فَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِۦ مِن ضُرٍّۢ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ أَهْلَهُۥ وَمِثْلَهُم مَّعَهُمْ رَحْمَةًۭ مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْعَٰبِدِينَ

Fastajabnaa lahoo fakashaf naa maa bihee min durrinw wa aatainaahu ahlahoo wa mislahum ma'ahum rahmatam min 'indinaa wa zikraa lil'aabideen

“So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers [of Allah].”

Surah Saad · 38:41

وَٱذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَآ أَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَسَّنِىَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ بِنُصْبٍۢ وَعَذَابٍ

Wazkur 'abdanaaa Ayyoob; iz naada Rabbahooo annee massaniyash Shaitaanu binus binw wa 'azaab

“And remember Our servant Job, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, Satan has touched me with hardship and torment."”

Surah Saad · 38:44

وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًۭا فَٱضْرِب بِّهِۦ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ ۗ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَٰهُ صَابِرًۭا ۚ نِّعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌۭ

Wa khuz biyadika dighsan fadrib bihee wa laa tahnas, innaa wajadnaahu saabiraa; ni'mal 'abd; innahooo awwaab

“[We said], "And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] and strike with it and do not break your oath." Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah].”

Do this before next time

Visit or message someone who is unwell, and make the dua for them that you would want said for you.

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Lesson 5 · 'I complain only to Allah' · ages 12-15

Yaqub: never despair

Yaqub lost his son for years. He kept his sadness between himself and Allah, and told his family never to lose hope.

  1. Where he took his grief

    He said: I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah.

  2. He still trusted Allah's knowledge

    In the same ayah he said: and I know from Allah what you do not know.

  3. His instruction to his sons

    He told them: go and find out about Yusuf and his brother, and despair not of relief from Allah.

  4. Only one group despairs

    He added: indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.

  5. Sadness is allowed

    Yaqub cried and grieved for years — feeling sad is not weak faith. Giving up on Allah is the problem.

Surah Yusuf · 12:86

قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَشْكُوا۟ بَثِّى وَحُزْنِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Qaala innamaaa ashkoo bassee wa huzneee ilal laahi wa a'lamu minal laahi maa laa ta'lamoon

“He said, "I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you do not know.”

Surah Yusuf · 12:87

يَٰبَنِىَّ ٱذْهَبُوا۟ فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟ مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَا۟يْـَٔسُوا۟ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يَا۟يْـَٔسُ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ

Yaa baniyyaz haboo fatahassasoo miny Yoosufa wa akheehi wa laa tai'asoo mir rawhil laahi innahoo laa yai'asu mir rawhil laahi illal qawmul kaafiroon

“O my sons, go and find out about Joseph and his brother and despair not of relief from Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people."”

Surah Yusuf · 12:83

قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًۭا ۖ فَصَبْرٌۭ جَمِيلٌ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِى بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

Qaala bal sawwalat lakum anfusukum amran fasabrun jameelun 'asal laahu any yaa tiyanee bihim jamee'aa; innahoo Huwal 'Aleemul Hakeem

“[Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. Perhaps Allah will bring them to me all together. Indeed it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise."”

Do this before next time

Tell Allah one thing you are sad about before you tell anyone else today.

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Lesson 6 · Ask for the thing that looks impossible · ages 8-11

Zakariya's quiet dua

Zakariya was old and had no child. He called on Allah quietly, for years, and Allah gave him Yahya.

  1. He called out secretly

    The Qur'an says he called to his Lord a private supplication.

  2. He knew Allah always answers

    He said: my Lord, I have never been disappointed in my prayer to You.

  3. He asked for the impossible

    He was old and his wife could not have children — and he still asked.

  4. Allah gave him Yahya

    Allah says: We answered him and gave him Yahya, and made his wife fit to bear a child.

  5. Say it quietly and often

    Dua does not need volume. It needs Allah, and it needs you to keep asking.

Surah Maryam · 19:3

إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ نِدَآءً خَفِيًّۭا

Iz naadaa Rabbahoo nidaaa'an khafiyyaa

“When he called to his Lord a private supplication.”

Surah Maryam · 19:4

قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَهَنَ ٱلْعَظْمُ مِنِّى وَٱشْتَعَلَ ٱلرَّأْسُ شَيْبًۭا وَلَمْ أَكُنۢ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّۭا

Qaala Rabbi innee wahanal'azmu minnee washta'alar raasu shaibanw wa lam akum bidu'aaa'ika Rabbi shaqiyyaa

“He said, "My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy.”

Surah Maryam · 19:7

يَٰزَكَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَٰمٍ ٱسْمُهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّۭا

Yaa Zakariyyaaa innaa nubashshiruka bighulaami nismuhoo Yahyaa lam naj'al lahoo min qablu samiyyaa

“[He was told], "O Zechariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be John. We have not assigned to any before [this] name."”

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:89

وَزَكَرِيَّآ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِى فَرْدًۭا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ

Wa Zakariyyaaa iz naadaa Rabbahoo Rabbi laa tazarnee fardanw wa Anta khairul waariseen

“And [mention] Zechariah, when he called to his Lord, "My Lord, do not leave me alone [with no heir], while you are the best of inheritors."”

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:90

فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُۥ زَوْجَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يُسَٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًۭا وَرَهَبًۭا ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ لَنَا خَٰشِعِينَ

Fastajabnaa lahoo wa wahabnaa lahoo Yahyaa Wa aslahnaa lahoo zawjah; innahum kaanoo yusaari'oona fil khairaati wa yad'oonanaa raghabanw wa rahabaa; wa kaanoo lanaa khaashi'een

“So We responded to him, and We gave to him John, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive.”

Do this before next time

Choose one big dua and whisper it every night this week without telling anyone what it is.

Every ayah on this page comes from the Tanzil Uthmani text of the Qur'an with the Sahih International translation, and every hadith carries its collection and number so you can check it yourself. Back to the learning path

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