The Most Beautiful Stories of the Prophets in the Quran
The Story of Yunus (Jonah) – Peace be upon him
The Quran narrates several stories about the Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him), and this article will focus on a portion of these tales rather than all. His story is highlighted in the verses that admonished the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Allah Almighty addressed him: “And be not like the Companion of the Fish when he called out while he was distressed,” indicating that Allah warned the Prophet against acquiring the same traits as Yunus when he became angry, impatient, and left his people without patience or waiting for their response.
Yunus (peace be upon him) left his people and headed towards the sea, where he found a ship filled with passengers and boarded it. As they sailed, high waves rose and threatened the ship’s stability, prompting the passengers to consult one another. They decided to cast lots to see who among them would be thrown into the sea to lighten the load. The name of Yunus (peace be upon him) came out, yet they initially hesitated to throw him overboard due to his righteousness.
They repeated the lottery multiple times, and each time, Yunus’s name was drawn again until they ultimately decided to cast him into the sea. This was part of Allah’s decree. Upon being thrown into the water, a great fish swallowed him. Allah commanded this fish to consume Yunus without breaking his bones or harming his flesh. Thus, he remained alive within its belly, which he transformed into a sanctuary where he began to remember and praise Allah, asking for His help to release him. He acknowledged his error after experiencing Allah’s constriction while entrapped in the fish’s belly, realizing he was encompassed by three layers of darkness: the dark of the night, the dark of the sea, and the dark of the fish’s belly, contrasting sharply with the expanse of the world outside.
Allah portrayed this in His words: “And Dhul-Nun when he went away enraged and thought that We would not punish him. And he called out in the darknesses, ‘There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.'” Allah responded to him after teaching him the lesson He intended. It’s noted in another verse: “So We responded to him and saved him from the distress.” Ultimately, Allah completed His favor upon Yunus, commanding the fish to expel him onto the shore weak and emaciated, as revealed in the verse: “So We threw him onto the open shore while he was ill. And We caused a tree of gourd to grow over him.”
Allah bestowed upon him further blessings as explained: “Had it not been that a favor from his Lord had overtaken him, he would have been thrown onto the shore while he was despised.” He was cast out on the beach, in need of nourishment, and Allah grew a gourd tree for his protection and sustenance. This plant can produce large leaves large enough for him to shelter under. The gourd is beneficial not only for food and treatment but can also be consumed throughout its ripening period without pest interference. Additionally, Allah provided him with livestock from which he could sustain himself until he regained his strength and health.
Once again, Allah favored Yunus with the Prophethood and sent him to a people who obeyed him and followed his message. All that happened to Yunus was meant for training and purification, as evidenced by the return to his primary duty of calling people to faith. It is important to remember that no one should assume that the Prophet Yunus possessed any negative traits. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) confirmed this by stating: “It is not appropriate for a servant to say that he is better than Yunus ibn Mattah.”
In summary, Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) repeatedly called his people to faith. When he lost hope for their acceptance, he left them, boarded a ship, and when it began to sink, he was thrown overboard, swallowed by a fish, and remained in its belly in supplication to Allah until he was saved and returned to find his people had repented.
The Story of Ibrahim’s (Abraham) Command to Sacrifice Ismail (Ishmael) – Peace be upon him
The Messenger of Allah, Ibrahim (peace be upon him), left his homeland and prayed to Allah for a righteous son. At the age of eighty-six, Allah granted him the good news of a patient boy, as mentioned: “And We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy.” Thus, Allah blessed him with his first-born, Ismail (peace be upon him). As Ismail grew and was able to accompany his father, Allah commanded Ibrahim in a vision to sacrifice him.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: “The visions of the Prophets are revelations,” which led Ibrahim (peace be upon him) to comply with Allah’s command and approach Ismail to inform him of his fate in order to ease his heart. Ismail responded affirmatively, saying: “O my father, do as you are commanded.” Consequently, both submitted to Allah’s will and prepared for the sacrifice, as Allah declared: “So when they had both submitted and he put him down on his forehead.” Allah intervened and provided a substitute, stating: “And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.”
In conclusion, Allah granted Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his wife a son after a lengthy wait. One day, Ibrahim dreamt that he was to sacrifice his son, a vision that he knew to be true. Both he and Ismail submitted to Allah’s command, and thereafter, Allah sent a ram as a substitute.
The Most Beautiful Stories Related to the Prophetic Biography in the Quran
The Exoneration of Lady Aisha During the Incident of Ifk
The hypocrites attempted to create discord in the Islamic community by slandering the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his pure household through false allegations against his wife, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), in what is known in historical texts as the Incident of Ifk. The essence of the story is that a number of hypocrites, led by Abdullah ibn Ubayy, along with Mistah ibn Athatha, Hassan ibn Thabit, and Hamna bint Jahsh, accused Lady Aisha of impropriety.
This occurred after she returned from the Battle of Banu Al-Mustaliq on the camel of companion Safwan ibn Al-Mu’attal (may Allah be pleased with him). They had stopped at a place to rest, and Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) lost her necklace, returning to search for it while the men assumed she was in her howdah and departed. When she realized they had left and sat waiting for their return, Safwan (may Allah be pleased with him) came across her and brought her back to Medina.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was greatly disturbed by the rumors circulating about him and had publicly declared in the mosque his immense trust in his wife Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) and in the companion Safwan (may Allah be pleased with him). This incident affected Aisha so deeply that she fell ill and requested to be cared for in her father’s home.
During this time, revelation ceased for an entire month, which was immensely challenging for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), who suffered greatly from the slanders against him and the distress of his wife. Eventually, divine revelation descended, clarifying and exonerating Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) through extensive verses in Surah An-Nur, including: “Indeed, those who came with falsehood are a group among you. Do not think it bad for you; rather, it is good for you. For every person among them is what he has earned of sin, and he who took upon himself the greater portion thereof for him is a great punishment.”
In conclusion, Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), upon returning from the Battle of Banu Al-Mustaliq with the companion Safwan, was delayed while searching for her lost necklace, leading to accusations of impropriety by a group of hypocrites, which caused distress for her and the Prophet until Allah revealed verses in her defense.
The Companions Who Missed the Battle of Tabuk
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) called upon the believers to engage in jihad during the Battle of Tabuk, which became obligatory unless one had a valid excuse. Some hypocrites also chose to avoid participation, but three companions abstained without a lawful excuse or hypocrisy: Ka’ab ibn Malik, Murarah ibn Rabi’, and Hilal ibn Umayya.
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) inquired about their absence, they told the truth, acknowledging their lack of a legitimate excuse for not joining the battle, unlike others who fabricated lies. Over eighty individuals missed the battle, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) accepted their appearances and prayed for them.
However, these three chose honesty, leading the Prophet (peace be upon him) to forbid others from speaking to them. As a result, they remained in their homes; however, Ka’ab continued to pray in the mosque and walk through the marketplace while no one would approach him, even his relatives. They remained in this state for forty days, at which point the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered their wives to also separate from them.
After fifty nights had passed, Allah decreed relief and repentance despite the severity of their sin; their truthfulness saved them. The following verse was revealed: “And [He punished] the three who were left behind until, when the earth closed in on them despite its vastness and their souls had narrowed for them, and they were certain that there is no refuge from Allah except in Him, then He accepted repentance from them that they might repent. Indeed, Allah is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful. O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with the truthful.”
In summary, the companions who missed the Battle of Tabuk without excuse were Ka’ab ibn Malik, Murarah ibn Rabi’, and Hilal ibn Umayya. They were honest in admitting their absence to the Prophet (peace be upon him), feeling remorse for their action. After some time, Allah revealed a verse regarding them, accepting their repentance.
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The Story of Qarun (Korah)
Qarun was one of the people to whom Musa (Moses) was sent (peace be upon him). He was disobedient to Allah and proud, boasting excessively about the wealth and treasures he possessed, which were so abundant that a group of strong men struggled to carry the keys to his vaults. His people advised him not to rejoice in worldly riches in a manner that would detract from his gratitude to Allah and cautioned him against being dazzled by this life at the expense of the Hereafter.
Allah mentioned this in the verse: “Indeed, Qarun was from the people of Musa, but he oppressed them. And We had given him treasures whose keys would burden a group of strong men.” His people advised him with numerous pieces of counsel, urging him to remain humble and to spend his wealth in ways that would lead to Paradise, while enjoying it without abandoning the righteous path. This admonition likely stemmed from Qarun’s preoccupation with hoarding wealth over savoring it, or to illustrate that spending wealth for the Hereafter did not equate to forsaking enjoyment in permissible worldly matters.
They further advised him to be gracious to others with his wealth, to treat people kindly and with a pleasant demeanor; for such acts of gratitude would increase his blessings. They warned him to refrain from corruption or rebellion in the earth; Allah stated, “And seek by that which Allah has granted you the home of the Hereafter, and do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you, and desire not corruption in the earth. Indeed, Allah does not like the corruptors.”
Despite all the wise counsel given to him, Qarun adamantly insisted that his wealth indicated Allah’s favor upon him due to his merit and that Allah loved him, a misconception since financial prosperity does not necessarily equate to divine favor; Allah’s response to that notion is found in the same verse: “He said, ‘I was given it only because of knowledge I have.’ Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him of generations those who were greater than him in strength and greater in accumulation? And the criminals will not be asked about their sins.”
Following the admonitions from his people, Qarun, adorned in his finest attire, rode on his grandest steeds and paraded before his people, earning the envy of those enamored with worldly life who wished to emulate him, while the scholars and ascetics did not covet his wealth, understanding that the reward from Allah in the Hereafter was far more significant than any material possession he held. Allah’s punishment for Qarun came when the earth swallowed him and his home, and he could not protect himself from this fate, nor could anyone come to his rescue. Those who once envied him in the recent past subsequently praised Allah for their own circumstances, realizing that they were not in his position.
In summary, Qarun was among the people of Musa (peace be upon him) and possessed immense wealth and treasure, which led to his arrogance and boastfulness. He failed to express gratitude to Allah and attributed his fortune to his own efforts, ultimately facing a severe punishment as the earth swallowed him, serving as a lesson for all.
The Story of Dhul-Qarnayn
According to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), Dhul-Qarnayn was a just king, while Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) described him as a pious servant. Ibn Kathir explained that Dhul-Qarnayn was a king, but not a prophet. Scholars have debated the reason for referring to him as Dhul-Qarnayn; some say it was due to the two horns he had made of copper, while others claim it was because his kingdom extended to the east and west.
Allah says: “And they ask you about Dhul-Qarnayn. Say, ‘I will recite to you a message of him.’ Indeed, We established him upon the earth and We gave him to every suitable thing a way.” Allah granted him all the means of establishing authority and dominance, which he utilized to spread the message of Allah.
Dhul-Qarnayn traveled far and wide. On his journey, he reached the westernmost point of land, close to the ocean, where he witnessed the sun setting into the water. Here, he found people who were ungrateful to Allah and chose not to kill them but rather urged them to believe instead. He indicated that those who disbelieve and rebel would face torment in the Hellfire in the Hereafter. Dhul-Qarnayn continued his travels until he reached the sunrise, where he encountered a people living in utter ignorance, devoid of any civilization or knowledge of dwellings or clothing.
He took a third route between the east and west, coming upon two vast mountains inhabited by people who spoke a strange language and suffered from a lack of wit and cunning. They complained to him about the mischief caused by Gog and Magog, who came out from a gap between the mountains causing destruction. They politely requested Dhul-Qarnayn to help them by closing this gap, offering to compensate him, but he built a barrier for them without taking any payment, content with the strength Allah had given him.
Dhul-Qarnayn had the people assist him in constructing the barrier in an effort to encourage their productivity. He organized them to gather pieces of iron, which were made molten with fire and then covered in copper, thus creating an immense wall that Gog and Magog could not penetrate. They would continue trying to breach it until Allah permits them to do so, serving as a sign of the Day of Judgment.
In summary, Dhul-Qarnayn was a righteous and just ruler who traveled the earth, calling people to worship Allah. For those who rejected and rebelled, he chose to punish them. Eventually, he arrived at a location where people sought his aid against Gog and Magog, for whom he constructed a mighty barrier to protect them from their corruption.
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The Story of the Hoopoe of Solomon (Sulaiman)
Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) was a king, and on one of his travels, he noticed the absence of the hoopoe. He inquired about its whereabouts, possibly to check on the welfare of his subjects or to locate water sources, as the hoopoe has a unique ability to sense water even at great depths. When Solomon (peace be upon him) could not find it, he expressed his intention to punish the bird unless it presented a legitimate excuse.
When the hoopoe returned, it explained its absence, stating that it had traveled to Sheba in Yemen, bringing news that Solomon (peace be upon him) and his entourage were unaware of. This kingdom was ruled by a queen, a woman rather than a man. The hoopoe described the wealth and treasures of this kingdom, embellishing the queen’s throne intricately with pearls and gold. He explained that the people of Sheba were denying Allah and worshiping the sun instead, asserting that the devil had led them astray from the truth.
Solomon (peace be upon him) resolved to verify this information, sending the hoopoe off with a letter for the Queen of Sheba. Upon receiving it, she was struck by its eloquence and wisdom. She convened all her advisors and key figures to discuss the matter, as noted in the Quran: “He examined the birds and said, ‘What is the matter that I do not see the hoopoe? Is he among the absent? I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me a clear excuse.’ But the hoopoe stayed not long and said, ‘I have encompassed in knowledge that which you have not encompassed and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news. Indeed, I found there a woman ruling over them, and she has been given all things, and she has a great throne. I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah, and the devil has made their deeds attractive to them and has diverted them from the path, so they are not guided.’
In conclusion, Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) was inquiring about the hoopoe when he found it missing. Upon its return, the hoopoe explained its absence due to a valid reason, recounting the situation of the Queen of Sheba and her people. Solomon then sent a powerful message to the queen, which she deliberated upon with her advisors before coming to accept faith.
The Story of the She-Camel of Salih
Allah sent His Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) to the Thamud tribe to invite them to worship Him. When his people demanded a sign validating his prophethood, they asked him to bring forth a she-camel from a solid rock. Salih (peace be upon him) agreed to do so under the condition that they believed in him. Allah answered his prayer, and the she-camel was born. Salih assigned a specific day for them to water the camel and its calf while giving the tribe another day for their own use.
On the day designated for the she-camel, the tribe would milk her and fill their containers with her milk, yet they desired to monopolize the well for themselves, refusing to share with the she-camel and her calf as commanded. Despite Salih’s repeated warnings against harming Allah’s she-camel, they tragically killed it, invoking Allah’s wrath. He sent upon them a devastating shout from above and a violent quake from below, as indicated by the verse: “Thamud denied their prophet when the most wretched of them was sent forth. And their messenger said to them, ‘The she-camel of Allah and its water is a right for them to drink.’ But they denied him and slaughtered her. So, their Lord punished them for their sin and leveled them with the ground.”
In conclusion, the she-camel of Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) served as a clear sign for his people. He instructed them to allocate days for watering the camel and allowed them to benefit from her milk, but they disobeyed his command and killed her, resulting in Allah’s punishment upon them.
Types of Quranic Stories
The Quran encompasses various categories of stories, including:
Stories of the Prophets and Their Peoples
Allah mentions twenty-five prophets in His holy book, including Muhammad (peace be upon him), Adam, Hud, Salih, Shu’ayb, Idris, Dhul-Kifl, and the other eighteen referenced in the verse: “And those were Our proofs which We gave to Ibrahim against his people. We raise in degrees whom We will. Indeed, your Lord is Wise and Knowing. And We gave him Ishaq and Yaqub, and each of them We guided. And Nuh We guided before; and among his descendants Dawud, Sulayman, Ayyub, Yusuf, Musa, and Harun. Thus, do We reward the good-doers. And Zakariya, Yahya, Isa, and Ilyas; each of them was of the righteous. And Ismail, Al-Yasa, Yunus, and Lut; and each of them We preferred over the worlds.”
Four of these prophets were of Arab descent: Muhammad (peace be upon him), Shu’ayb, Hud, and Salih (peace be upon them). The Quran encapsulates their stories, miracles, the evolution of their missions, the opposition they faced, and the ultimate fate of both the disbelievers and believers of their times, including the narratives of the resolute among the messengers and others.
Stories Related to Events in the Life of the Messenger
Numerous events occurred during the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him), including the Incident of Ifk, the Hijrah (migration), the Isra and Mi’raj (night journey and ascension), and various battles such as Badr, Uhud, Al-Khandaq, and Tabuk.
Quranic Stories Related to Historical Events and Non-Prophet Individuals
The Quran includes several stories such as that of Maryam (Mary), the People of the Cave, Dhul-Qarnayn, the love of wealth illustrated by Qarun, the Sabbath people, the companions of the ditch, the companions of the elephant, Talut and Jalut, and the story of the two sons of Adam, as well as those who fled their homes fearing death.
Animal Stories
A variety of animals are mentioned in the Quran, such as the ant, the hoopoe, and the creatures of the earth during the tales of Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him), the fish in the relato of Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him), and the wolf in the story of Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him), among others like the cow of Bani Israel, the donkey of Uzair, the elephant of Abraha, the crow of the two sons of Adam, and the dog of the People of the Cave.
Some animals are depicted in extraordinary circumstances and are not perceived in their natural state, serving as signs of Allah’s power, such as the staff of Musa (peace be upon him), which transformed into a serpent, and the birds fashioned by ‘Isa (peace be upon him), which were given life through Allah’s command. Additionally, there are the birds sent as an admonition against Abraha and his people.
In summary, the stories depicted in the Quran are varied, encompassing tales of prophets, their nations, former civilizations, individuals besides the prophets, significant events during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and accounts relating to animals.