Chapter 10 of the Quran, entitled Jonah was revealed in Mecca. It takes its title from the reference to Prophet Jonah in verse 98 and concentrates primarily on the Oneness of God. This chapter emphasises God’s power and His anger towards those who consistently deny the truth of His revelations and signs. Prophet Muhammad is encouraged to be patient and to be aware that he is unable to force the people to believe.
Verses 1 – 10 A book of wisdom
These are the verses from a wise book says God. It is a book full of wisdom that holds the decision about all matters. Why then do people call the warner chosen from among themselves a sorcerer? God is the One who created all that is in the heavens and the earth in six periods of time (Day is the word used here but it is not the 24 hour period as we know it). He then established Himself upon the Throne, overseeing and overlooking everything that is below Him. Worship Him, believers will be rewarded but those who refuse will taste the punishment. His signs are everywhere throughout the universe and they are not without purpose. Those who believe understand. Some pay no heed to the signs but their eternal home will be in the Fire. However those who are saved because of their faith will praise God.
Verses 11 – 20 Who is the most wicked?
If God was to hasten the punishment for those who deserve it, then their worldly life would be over but that is not His way. Instead he leaves the wrongdoers to wonder blindly in their ignorance. When a person is in need he calls out to God but when God removes the affliction he (the person) returns to disobedience as if he had never called upon God at all. Whole generations have been destroyed because of the evil they did. The messengers came but were ignored and abused. God observes the successive generations.
When the Quran is recited to those who hold no hope of meeting God they ask Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessing of God be upon him, to bring a different or changed Quran. God tells Prophet Muhammad to tell them that it is not for him to change it. He (Prophet Muhammad) brings only what is revealed to him and he too fears a day of account. God asks who is more wicked than the one who invents lies against God or denies His signs!? Wrongdoers will never prosper. They worship things other than God that cannot harm or benefit them. God is far above those they associate with Him. Humankind was once one nation, but they differed. Only God knows the unseen, so wait for it to be revealed.
Verses 21 – 30 God invites you to Paradise
People call upon God when they are suffering but plot and scheme against Him when they are returned to comfort. When they are returned to God He will tell them the result of the schemes. People think they have some power over the life of this world but it is God’s decree that will come to pass. The signs are there for those who choose to reflect. God invites everyone to the Home of Peace (Paradise) and guides whomever He wills to the straight path. Those who do good will have a good reward; they are the companions of Paradise. And those who do evil will find an evil outcome in the Fire. On the Day of Judgment, those who worshipped other than God will find that their false deities deny all knowledge of their worship and behavior. Some are not even aware that they are being worshipped and those who consented to be worshipped will lie and deny it.
Verses 31 – 40 Who will believe?
God addresses the disbelievers asking who provides for you, who allows you to see and hear, who brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living and who arranges every matter? They answer God but why then do they not take heed? God is the Giver of life, the one who can end creation but then bring it all back again. Can any of the associates you turn to do that? No they cannot. What is wrong with people? The One who guides to the truth is more worthy to be followed then those who do not.
God is All-Knowing and it is not possible for this Quran to have been produced by anyone but God. It is a confirmation of what came before it. If people say that Prophet Muhammad invented the Quran then ask them to bring forth a chapter like it. They are not able to do so even when they ask for assistance. They cannot grasp the truth because they have not seen its prophecies fulfilled. The Quran shows the end waiting for the disbelievers. Some will believe but some will not. God knows who causes corruption.
Verses 41 – 56 Losers in the Hereafter
God tells Prophet Muhammad what to say if they deny him - "For me are my deeds, and for you are your deeds. You are disassociated from what I do, and I am disassociated from what you do." There are some that listen but Muhammad cannot cause the deaf to hear, there are some who look but he cannot cause the blind to see. God does not wrong people but people wrong themselves.
On the Day of Judgement people will feel as if they have been in this world for an hour or less and they will recognise one another. Those who denied this meeting will be the losers. All will return to God and this will happen whether Prophet Muhammad sees the punishment fall or not. For every nation there is a messenger. When the messenger comes they will be judged and there will be no injustice. There is an appointed time for every community and when it is reached it cannot be delayed or hastened.
On the Day of Judgement there is no way out for the disbelievers. They have denied it for so long, will they even believe it when it overtakes them? They will be told to taste the punishment, God’s promise is true. He gives life, and causes death. To Him we will all be returned.
Verses 57 – 60 Guidance has come
Instruction from God has been given to humankind; it is a mercy, a cure, and guidance. Tell them, Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, that these things are a blessing and better for humankind than all the riches of this world that they try to accumulate. Ask them to think about the provisions that have been sent down by God. He has made some lawful and others unlawful, why then do some people change the rules and try to make the illicit permissible? Has God given permission for this or are you inventing a lie about God? How will this be dealt with on the Day of Judgment? Think. God is indeed full of grace towards humankind but most people are ungrateful.
Verses 61 – 67 God witnesses everything
Whatever matters people are engaged in, from reading the Quran to the mundane, God is a witness to it and it is all, the large and the small of it, recorded in a book. Not even a speck, the weight of dust escapes God’s knowledge, and it is kept in a clear record. For those who believe and fear God there will be no fear; they will receive good tidings both in this world and the Hereafter. God tells Prophet Muhammad not to let the words of the unbelievers grieve him. God is All-Powerful; All-Hearing and All-Knowing. Everything in the heavens and on the earth belongs to Him. Those who call on other than God are following only assumptions and lies. God made the day and the night and surely this is a sign for those who listen to the message.
Verses 68 – 70 The consequence of lying about God
Some people say that God has a son. He is free of all needs, the master of the heavens and the earth. They have no authority to make such a claim, why do they invent lies about God? Those who lie about God will not succeed, they may have some brief enjoyment in this world but in the Hereafter they will face severe punishment.
Verses 71 – 86 Stories from the past
Tell the people about the story of Noah. He said to his people, "If my presence among you reminds you too much of that which you do not wish to hear about God’s signs and warnings then do what you will. But let it be clear and decisive. Remember however that I have not asked for any kind of payment, my reward is from God alone. I am among those commanded to worship Him Alone." They did not listen, they rejected Noah. God saved him and those with him in the ship. Those who denied the signs were left to drown.
Then God sent others, each to their own people. They came with clear evidences but the succeeding generations were persistent in their disbelief. Moses and Aaron were sent to Pharaoh and his people but they behaved arrogantly towards them and their message. Moses said, "Do you think I bring you magic; because magicians will never succeed." Haughtily Pharaoh called for all the magicians in the land and Moses exposed the worthlessness of their magic. God does not promote the work of mischief makers.
Nobody believed Moses except some of the youth amongst his own people; most of the people were too scared of Pharaoh’s regime. Moses asked the believers to put their trust in God and they prayed to Him to release them from the hands of the unjust people.
Verses 87 – 95 Deliverance
God revealed to Moses and Aaron that they should take their people to Egypt where they would build their houses and establish the prayer. Moses then prayed that the wealth and splendour of Pharaoh’s people be taken away from them. Obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts he asked. God said that this prayer would be answered and told Moses to remain steadfast. So Moses led his people across the sea; Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them until they were drowned.
At the very last minute Pharaoh said that he believed in the God of Moses and that he submitted to Him but God replied, "Now?" God saved his body but not his life so that he may be a sign for those that come after him. Many people still fail to heed the signs. The people of Moses were settled in a good place and were provided with the things required for a good life. They did not differ amongst themselves until after knowledge had come to them but on the Day of Judgment God will judge between the things they failed to agree on. Prophet Muhammad had complete certainty in that which was revealed to him. Even if the People of the Book do not give heed to your call, they will still find evidence of you in their books.
Verses 96 – 103 Forced conversion is prohibited
There are many for whom the love of this world has sealed their hearts and eyes. They cannot see the signs in front of their faces. They will not believe. No town ever saw the scourge then believed and it profited them except for the people of Jonah. When they believed the punishment was removed, and they had enjoyment, for a time. If God had so willed all the people on the earth would have believed. Prophet Muhammad is asked if he would compel the people, against their will to believe. Belief comes only by the will of God and He disgraces those who will not use their common sense. Tell the people to see the signs in the heavens and the earth but no signs will convince those who will not believe. God asks the question, "What are they waiting for?" In the end God will save the messengers and the believers, that is God’s way and He says that it is only right that He saves those who believe.
Verses 104 – 109 Guidance has arrived, so choose
Prophet Muhammad is commanded by God to say, "People, doubt my religion if you will, I will never worship those you worship other than God, but I worship God who will cause you to die, and I am commanded to be a believer". He is further commanded to dedicate himself to the religion and not to be amongst those who associate others with God. God says you will not pray to others because they cannot benefit or harm you and if you do you will surely be one of the losers. If God afflicts you with a calamity, none can remove it but He; and if He intends to bestow a favour, none can withhold His bounty. He bestows it on whoever He pleases; He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Prophet Muhammad is further told to tell the people that the truth has come. Whoever chooses to follow the right path does so for his own benefit and whoever strays does so at his own risk. I (Muhammad) am not set over you to oblige you for guidance. God tells Prophet Muhammad to follow what has been revealed to him and to be patient until God judges. He is the best of judges.
