Qur’anic supplication · meaning, pronunciation and practice
When you feel overwhelmed, it can be hard to find words. This Qur’anic passage records the call of Yunus, peace be upon him, with worship, praise and acknowledgment of wrong brought together. Learn the words carefully without treating someone’s distress as proof of personal wrongdoing.
Read the complete Qur’anic source
Qur’an study · Al-Anbya
Ayah 21:87
A full learner transliteration is not displayed here. Listen to the complete ayah and use the Arabic with a capable teacher rather than guessing its sounds from English letters.
Transliteration can help you begin, but it cannot reproduce every Arabic sound or replace listening, tajwid study, or correction from a capable teacher.Read from right to left. Each column keeps one Arabic word, its reading aid and its contextual gloss together. Select a word to hear it.
Each word card: Arabic · reading aid · contextual gloss
Saheeh International is the primary reading. The two named comparisons make translation choices visible; none is presented as the Arabic Qur’an itself.
And [mention] the man of the fish [i.e., Jonah], 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."
And (mention) Dhu'n-Nun, when he went off in anger and deemed that We had no power over him, but he cried out in the darkness, saying: There is no Allah save Thee. Be Thou Glorified! Lo! I have been a wrong-doer.
And remember Zun-nun, when he departed in wrath: He imagined that We had no power over him! But he cried through the deptHs of darkness, "There is no god but thou: glory to thee: I was indeed wrong!"
Sources used for this ayah panelOpen the Arabic, audio and translation notes
- Arabic and word segmentation
- Quran Foundation Quran.com Content API snapshot for Qur’an 21:87. The selected riwayah and Mushaf text field are recorded with the source data.
- Reading aids
- A full learner transliteration is not displayed; use the recitation and Arabic with a capable teacher. Transliteration is not Qur’an.
- Word audio and contextual glosses
- Quran Foundation word data. Glosses help align words; they are not presented as a complete translation.
- Named translations
- Saheeh International (resource 20), M. Pickthall (resource 19), and A. Yusuf Ali (resource 22).
- Complete recitation
- Mishari Rashid al-‘Afasy, Quran Foundation recitation resource 7.
The verse names the Man of the Whale and records his call in darkness. It contains narrative before the supplication. A complete reading therefore needs more care than memorising a short phrase found on a poster. Read the named translation, and distinguish the account of what happened from the words he called out. Do not add invented conversations, the exact length of his stay or details about the darkness that have not been established in this study.
The Arabic source, named translations and learning aids have different roles. The explanation below is an educational guide, not additional revelation. Bring any uncertainty about the wording back to the source panel and a capable teacher.
Understand what you are asking
The call first affirms that none is worthy of worship except the One being addressed. It then glorifies Him and acknowledges wrongdoing. This is not an appeal to Yunus himself: it is his appeal to his Lord. Nor does its humility suggest any shortcoming in the Lord. The admission belongs to the servant. Some wording in the surrounding narrative needs careful interpretation; use the named translation and consult a reliable explanation rather than assuming that an English word proves a prophet denied divine power.
The One being addressed is اللّٰه (ALLAH). Keep your attention on the meaning rather than the appearance of a progress badge. Learning a sacred text calls for care, but a beginner should be supported patiently, not embarrassed for needing help.
Learn the pronunciation with care
Begin by listening to the complete verse through the verified recitation control, once it is available, or with a capable Qur’an reader. Follow the Arabic from right to left. Listen to a short phrase, point to the same words and repeat after the reader. A transliteration can help you find your place, but English letters cannot represent every Arabic sound.
Use the word meanings as reading support, then return to a full named translation. Arabic grammar does not always divide into one English word for each Arabic word. Do not combine fragments from different translations and label the result as the original text. Ask a qualified reader about sounds and stopping places you are unsure of. A sensible amount of practice is a teaching choice, not a newly prescribed devotional count.
Bring the meaning into ordinary life
A useful learning exercise is to identify three movements in the meaning: who is worshipped, who is glorified and who acknowledges a wrong. When reflecting on your own life, name a responsible next step without claiming that your situation is identical to a prophet’s. Seeking practical support does not prevent you from making du‘a. This page offers no medical diagnosis, no guarantee that a crisis will end on a particular day and no instruction to leave needed care.
Do not assume that every anxious or distressed person has caused their own suffering. Do not turn this verse into a fixed-count treatment or attach a guaranteed result from an uncited report. This resource is a Qur’anic wording study; separate hadith virtues require their own verified report and wording.
Teach a younger learner gently
Use three text cards headed worship, glory and acknowledgment. Let the learner point to the corresponding parts of the meaning. Keep the discussion calm; there is no need for frightening pictures or an acted scene of being trapped. A child may explain a fictional mistake rather than confessing something personal. Praise a careful distinction, such as noticing that the supplication is addressed to the Lord rather than to the prophet.
Give the learner time to explain in their own words before correcting them. Focus on one point at a time: recognising the addressee, finding a request or distinguishing source text from an example. Let them answer by speaking, pointing or writing. These are suggested teaching methods, not claims about a guaranteed learning result. Keep private family information out of shared classroom notes.
Check understanding and keep a useful record
Who is being addressed? What three ideas can you recognise in the supplication? Why is the surrounding narrative not part of a short formula you can copy without checking?
Keep three learning aims separate: reading the page, explaining the meaning and reciting accurately. Reaching the end of a page does not prove memorisation or establish a person’s spiritual standing. In your own notes, record the phrase you reached and one question to return to; use the site’s save or assignment controls where they are available and working.
If you print the verse, select only what you need and avoid wasting paper. Keep Qur’anic text clean and handle it respectfully. Do not scatter or casually discard it. Ask a knowledgeable local teacher about suitable handling when a printed copy is no longer needed. The paper, screen and audio device are ways to access the words, not objects with independent protective power.