دُعَاءُ يُونُسَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام
Dua of Prophet Yunus: Arabic Text, Transliteration, Meaning, and Benefits
This is the dua Prophet Yunus (AS) called out with from the belly of the whale, in layers of darkness where no human help could reach him. It is short enough to memorize in minutes, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) promised that no Muslim makes dua with it except that Allah answers him. Below you will find the full Arabic text in Uthmani script, the transliteration, the English meaning, the story behind it, and guidance on when to recite it. It is part of our collection of Quranic duas.
At a Glance
Surah Al-Anbiya, the 21st surah of the Quran
Verse 21:87, answered in 21:88
Prophet Yunus (AS), also called Dhun-Nun
Distress, repentance, and relief from hardship
The Dua of Prophet Yunus in Arabic
أَن لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
La ilaha illa anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu minaz-zalimin.
“There is no deity but You. Glory be to You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.”
تیرے سوا کوئی معبود نہیں۔ تو پاک ہے، ہر عیب سے برتر ہے۔ بے شک میں نے اپنی جان پر ظلم کیا۔
For context, here is the full verse of Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87 in which this dua appears:
وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَـٰضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Quran 21:87: And Dhun-Nun, when he went off in anger and thought We would not decree anything upon him. Then he called out in the darknesses: “There is no deity but You. Glory be to You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.”
اور ذوالنون (یونس) جب غصے میں اپنی قوم کو چھوڑ کر چلے گئے اور سمجھے کہ ہم ان پر کوئی گرفت نہ کریں گے، پھر انہوں نے اندھیروں میں پکارا: تیرے سوا کوئی معبود نہیں۔ تو پاک ہے۔ بے شک میں نے اپنی جان پر ظلم کیا۔
Meaning and Context
Allah sent Prophet Yunus (AS) to the people of Nineveh to call them to worship Allah alone. After years of preaching with little response, he grew frustrated and left his people in anger. The mistake was that he left without Allah’s permission. For a prophet, departing from his mission on his own judgment was a serious lapse, and Allah tested him for it.
Yunus (AS) boarded a ship, and when a violent storm struck, he was cast into the sea and swallowed by a great fish. Inside the belly of the fish he was wrapped in darkness upon darkness: the darkness of the night, the darkness of the deep sea, and the darkness of the belly of the fish. In that place, with no person to call upon and no means of escape, he turned fully to Allah and cried out this dua.
Notice what the dua contains. It begins with pure tawhid, declaring that none is worthy of worship but Allah. It continues with tasbih, glorifying Allah above all imperfection. It ends with a humble confession: “Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.” Yunus (AS) did not blame his people or his circumstances. He admitted his own fault, and that sincere admission is what opened the door of mercy.
Allah answered him. The very next verse says: “So We answered him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers” (21:88). He was cast onto the shore, and when he returned, his people of Nineveh had believed, and Allah granted them enjoyment of life for a time. His story is also retold in Surah As-Saffat (37:139–148) and Surah Al-Qalam (68:48–50), where Allah says, “do not be like the companion of the fish.” The lesson is timeless: no darkness is too deep for Allah to hear a sincere call.
Virtues and When to Recite
The Prophet (peace be upon him) gave glad tidings about this dua. In Jami’ at-Tirmidhi (3505), a hadith graded sahih by Al-Albani, he said that the supplication of Dhun-Nun, “La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin,” which he made while in the belly of the whale, is such that no Muslim makes dua with it for anything except that Allah answers him. This is a rare and direct promise attached to a specific dua from the Quran.
Scholars recommend reciting it in times of distress, hardship, fear, debt, illness, and anxiety, and when seeking forgiveness for sins. There is no fixed number authentically prescribed for it, so it can be recited often and with presence of heart. Many scholars mention repeating it at length, as Yunus (AS) himself called out repeatedly in his prolonged distress, so making it a steady dhikr during hard days is a beautiful practice. Like the dua of Prophet Musa (AS), it is a prophetic supplication that suits both moments of crisis and everyday remembrance of Allah.
- In distress or hardship: when you feel trapped by a problem with no visible way out.
- When seeking forgiveness: after a sin, with a sincere heart and resolve to change.
- In daily dhikr: as part of morning or evening remembrances, since it combines tawhid, tasbih, and repentance.
- Before making dua: as an opening that glorifies Allah and humbles the heart before asking for your need.
FAQ
What does the dua of Prophet Yunus mean?
It means: “There is no deity but You. Glory be to You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.” Each part carries weight: “la ilaha illa anta” affirms that none is worthy of worship but Allah, “subhanaka” declares Him free of every imperfection, and “inni kuntu minaz-zalimin” is a humble confession of one’s own wrong. In a single sentence it combines tawhid, glorification, and repentance.
What is the Arabic text of the dua?
The dua, as it appears in Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87, is: أَن لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ. The full text is displayed in Uthmani script in the card above, so you can read and memorize it right here without going anywhere else.
How do I pronounce it?
The transliteration is: “La ilaha illa anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu minaz-zalimin.” Break it into three parts and practice slowly: “la ilaha illa anta” (there is no deity but You), “subhanaka” (glory be to You), “inni kuntu minaz-zalimin” (indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers). Listening to a reciter while reading the Arabic will help you perfect the pronunciation.
When should I read the dua of Prophet Yunus?
It is most known for times of distress, hardship, fear, and anxiety, but it is not limited to those moments. Because it contains tawhid, tasbih, and a confession of sin, it is excellent daily dhikr, a way to seek forgiveness, and a powerful opening before making any personal dua. Yunus (AS) used it in the darkest hour of his life, and we can use it in ours.
How many times should I recite it?
No fixed number is authentically prescribed in the Quran or Sunnah, so recite it as often as you like and with presence of heart. Yunus (AS) called out repeatedly during his prolonged trial, so repeating it many times in hard moments follows his example. If you hear a specific count attached to it, know that this is personal practice, not something the Prophet (peace be upon him) legislated.
What are the benefits of reciting this dua?
The greatest benefit is the promise of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3505: no Muslim makes dua with it for anything except that Allah answers him. Beyond that, it softens the heart through confession of sin, strengthens tawhid, and brings calm, because it reminds you that the One who saved Yunus from the belly of the whale can relieve your distress too. Verse 21:88 extends the promise: “And thus do We save the believers.”
Is this dua only for times of distress?
No. While it is famous as the dua of distress, its words are pure remembrance of Allah: declaring His oneness, glorifying Him, and admitting one’s faults. These are always appropriate. Reciting it in ease as well as hardship keeps the heart connected to Allah, so that when hardship comes, the tongue already knows the words, just as Yunus (AS) was known for remembering Allah before his trial.
What is the story behind this dua in brief?
Prophet Yunus (AS) was sent to the people of Nineveh. When they rejected his message, he left them in anger without Allah’s permission. He boarded a ship, was cast into the sea during a storm, and was swallowed by a great fish. In the darkness of the night, the sea, and the belly of the fish, he called out this dua. Allah answered him, saved him from the distress, and cast him onto the shore. When he returned, his people had believed.
Final Thoughts
Few words in the Quran carry a promise as direct as this one. A prophet in the darkest place imaginable spoke these words, and Allah answered. Keep this dua on your tongue in hard days and in easy ones. Memorize it, understand it, and say it with the same sincerity Yunus (AS) had when no one could hear him but Allah. The One who heard him in the belly of the whale hears you too.
Continue reading
Explore the next supplication in the series: Dua of Prophet Musa (AS), or browse the full collection in our Quranic duas hub.
Sources
Quran 21:87 on quran.com • Detailed commentary on the dua of Yunus at myislam.org • The Clear Quran for English translation reference.