Dua Yunus is the powerful supplication made by Prophet Yunus (AS) when he was in distress and called upon Allah from the darkness. This dua is mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87, where Prophet Yunus (AS) acknowledged Allah’s perfection, affirmed His oneness, and admitted his own wrongdoing.
The dua is:
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin.
Meaning:
“There is no deity except You; glory be to You. Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers.”
Allah then says that He answered Yunus (AS) and rescued him from his distress.
What Is Dua Yunus?
Dua Yunus is the supplication of Prophet Yunus (AS), also known as Dhul-Nun.
It was made when Yunus (AS) found himself in a situation of extreme distress after leaving his people and boarding a ship. He eventually found himself in the sea and was swallowed by a great fish by Allah’s decree.
In the darkness, he called upon Allah:
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
This short dua contains three important meanings:
- Acknowledging Allah’s absolute oneness
- Declaring Allah free from every imperfection
- Admitting one’s own wrongdoing and need for Allah
It is one reason this supplication is so meaningful when a person is facing difficulty and turning sincerely to Allah.
Dua Yunus in Arabic
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Transliteration
La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin.
English Meaning
“There is no deity except You; glory be to You. Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers.”
Source: Qur’an 21:87
Where Is Dua Yunus Mentioned in the Quran?
Dua Yunus is mentioned in Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 87.
Allah describes Prophet Yunus (AS) as Dhun-Nun and says:
“And [remember] the man of the fish, 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 except You; glory be to You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.’”
Allah continues in the following verse:
“So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.”
Qur’an 21:87–88
The passage connects Prophet Yunus’s supplication with Allah’s response and rescue.
The Story of Prophet Yunus (AS)
Prophet Yunus (AS) was sent by Allah to his people.
The Qur’an tells us that he eventually left them and boarded a ship. When the ship became heavily burdened, lots were drawn, and Yunus (AS) was among those selected.
Allah says:
“Then he drew lots and was among the losers.”
Qur’an 37:141
Yunus (AS) was then swallowed by the great fish by Allah’s decree.
The Qur’an does not describe the fish as simply acting as a punishment in the way the original article stated. Rather, the event was part of the test and trial of Yunus (AS), through which Allah ultimately rescued him.
Inside the darkness, Yunus (AS) turned completely to Allah and made his famous supplication.
Why Did Prophet Yunus (AS) Make This Dua?
The Quran describes Yunus (AS) as calling upon Allah in the darkness.
His dua did not contain a long request for worldly possessions or an elaborate list of demands.
Instead, he began by acknowledging Allah:
“There is no deity except You.”
He then glorified Allah:
“Glory be to You.”
And finally acknowledged his own wrongdoing:
“Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers.”
This teaches Muslims an important principle of dua: turning sincerely to Allah, recognizing His greatness, and acknowledging one’s own weakness.
What Are the Benefits of Dua Yunus?
The greatest evidence for the virtue of Dua Yunus comes from the Qur’an and authentic hadith.
Allah says:
“So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.”
Qur’an 21:88
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also highlighted the supplication of Dhul-Nun.
He said:
“The supplication of Dhul-Nun when he supplicated while he was in the belly of the fish was: ‘There is no deity except You; glory be to You. Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers.’ No Muslim man supplicates with it for anything, ever, except Allah responds to him.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3505
This hadith shows the special virtue of this supplication.
However, it should not be presented as a magical formula or as a guarantee that a particular worldly outcome will happen immediately.
A Muslim makes dua with sincerity, faith, patience and trust in Allah.
Dua Yunus for Problems and Difficulties
Dua Yunus can be recited when a person is experiencing hardship and wants to turn sincerely to Allah.
For example, a person facing:
- Personal difficulties
- Anxiety about a situation
- Financial hardship
- Family problems
- Fear or uncertainty
- A difficult decision
- Emotional distress
- A period of hardship
can turn to Allah in dua.
There is no need to claim that Dua Yunus is exclusively prescribed for one particular type of problem.
The Qur’an presents it in the context of distress, and Allah says:
“And thus do We save the believers.”
Qur’an 21:88
If you are experiencing physical pain or illness, you can also make authentic supplications for healing while seeking appropriate medical care. See our guide on Dua for Pain.
How to Recite Dua Yunus
You can recite Dua Yunus sincerely while asking Allah for help.
A simple approach is:
- Understand the meaning of the dua.
- Turn your heart toward Allah.
- Acknowledge Allah’s greatness.
- Admit your mistakes and shortcomings.
- Ask Allah for whatever good you need.
- Remain patient and trust Allah’s wisdom.
The dua can be recited in Arabic:
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Then you can make your personal dua in whatever language you understand.
How Many Times Should You Read Dua Yunus?
There is no authentic evidence establishing one mandatory number of repetitions for Dua Yunus.
Therefore, it would be incorrect to claim that every person must recite it exactly 100, 313, 1,000 or another specific number of times unless reliable evidence is provided for that particular practice.
You can repeat the dua sincerely and make dua to Allah without believing that a particular number is guaranteed to produce a particular result.
The important matters are sincerity, faith, repentance and reliance upon Allah.
What Does “La Ilaha Illa Anta” Mean?
The first part of Dua Yunus is:
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
La ilaha illa anta
It means:
“There is no deity except You.”
This is an affirmation of Tawhid, the oneness of Allah.
Prophet Yunus (AS) began his supplication by recognizing that Allah alone deserves worship and that no one else has the power that belongs to Allah.
What Does “Subhanaka” Mean?
The second part is:
سُبْحَانَكَ
Subhanaka
It means:
“Glory be to You.”
It declares Allah to be free from every imperfection.
Yunus (AS) praised Allah even while he was in an extremely difficult situation.
What Does “Inni Kuntu Minaz-Zalimin” Mean?
The final part is:
إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Inni kuntu minaz-zalimin
It means:
“Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers.”
This is an admission of one’s weakness and wrongdoing before Allah.
The wording teaches Muslims the importance of humility and acknowledging their own mistakes rather than blaming others.
Dua Yunus and Repentance
Dua Yunus contains an important element of repentance.
When a person admits wrongdoing and turns back to Allah, they should also sincerely try to leave the sin and correct their actions.
Dua should not be treated as a substitute for repentance or for taking appropriate action to solve a problem.
A Muslim should combine:
Dua + Tawbah + Good deeds + Appropriate effort + Tawakkul
When facing a difficult situation, seeking help from Allah does not mean abandoning practical means.
What Can We Learn From Prophet Yunus (AS)?
The story of Yunus (AS) contains several important lessons.
1. Turn to Allah During Hardship
When Yunus (AS) was surrounded by darkness, he turned toward Allah rather than giving up.
2. Recognize Allah’s Greatness
The dua begins by affirming Allah’s oneness and glorifying Him.
3. Acknowledge Your Mistakes
Yunus (AS) acknowledged his wrongdoing instead of making excuses.
4. Never Lose Hope in Allah
Allah answered Yunus (AS) and rescued him from distress.
5. Allah Can Bring Relief From Unexpected Places
Yunus (AS) was in a situation that appeared impossible, yet Allah provided a way out.
6. Have Patience With Allah’s Decree
The story reminds believers that difficult circumstances do not mean Allah has abandoned them.
Dua Yunus for Anxiety and Distress
A person experiencing emotional distress can turn to Allah with Dua Yunus and other authentic supplications.
However, if anxiety, depression, panic or emotional distress is severe or persistent, seeking professional medical or mental-health support is also appropriate.
Islam encourages believers to take lawful and beneficial means while relying upon Allah.
You can also explore our Dua for Pain if you are looking for supplications related to physical discomfort.
Is Dua Yunus in the Quran?
Yes.
Dua Yunus is explicitly mentioned in Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87.
The next verse, 21:88, describes Allah responding to Yunus (AS) and saving him from distress.
Is Dua Yunus Authentic?
Yes.
The supplication itself is directly found in the Qur’an 21:87.
Its virtue is also mentioned in Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3505, where the Prophet ﷺ spoke about the supplication of Dhul-Nun.
This makes it important to distinguish Dua Yunus from many popular internet duas whose sources may not be established.
Is There a Specific Time to Read Dua Yunus?
There is no authentic evidence that limits Dua Yunus to one particular time of day.
You can turn to Allah whenever you need to make dua.
You should not believe that it is only effective at a particular hour unless there is reliable evidence establishing that specific time.
Can I Make Dua Yunus in English?
You can make personal dua to Allah in your own language.
However, when reciting the Quranic wording of Dua Yunus, it is beneficial to learn and recite the Arabic:
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
You can then ask Allah for your needs in the language you understand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dua Yunus?
Dua Yunus is the supplication of Prophet Yunus (AS) mentioned in Quran 21:87:
La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin.
What is the English meaning of Dua Yunus?
It means:
“There is no deity except You; glory be to You. Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers.”
Where is Dua Yunus mentioned in the Quran?
It is mentioned in Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 87, followed by Allah’s statement about answering Yunus (AS) and saving him from distress in verse 88.
What is Dua Yunus used for?
It can be recited as a sincere supplication when seeking Allah’s help during hardship and distress. It is not restricted to one specific worldly problem.
How many times should I read Dua Yunus?
There is no authentic evidence establishing a specific required number of repetitions. You may recite it sincerely without attaching an unsupported guarantee to a particular number.
Is Dua Yunus good for problems?
The Qur’an describes Allah rescuing Yunus (AS) from distress after he made this supplication and says, “And thus do We save the believers.” It is therefore a beautiful supplication for a believer facing hardship.
What is the story of Prophet Yunus?
Prophet Yunus (AS) was sent to his people and later left them before Allah’s decree regarding his departure. He boarded a ship, was selected by lot when the ship became heavily burdened, and was swallowed by a great fish. He called upon Allah from the darkness, and Allah rescued him.
What is another name for Prophet Yunus?
The Quran refers to Yunus (AS) as Dhun-Nun in Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87.
Final Thoughts
Dua Yunus is a short but profound supplication from the Quran.
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin.
“There is no deity except You; glory be to You. Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers.”
The story of Prophet Yunus (AS) teaches believers to turn to Allah during hardship, recognize His greatness, acknowledge their own shortcomings and never lose hope in His mercy.
Allah answered Yunus (AS) and saved him from distress. The Qur’an then gives believers a powerful reminder:
“And thus do We save the believers.”
Qur’an 21:88
May Allah relieve the difficulties of those who are suffering, forgive our shortcomings, strengthen our faith and guide us toward what pleases Him. Ameen.
References
- Quran 21:87–88 — Prophet Yunus (AS) and his supplication
- Quran 37:139–148 — The story of Prophet Yunus (AS)
- Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3505 — The supplication of Dhul-Nun
Also Read
Dua for Pain
9 Most Important Duas of the Prophets