Part II of Hazrat Yunus Alyh Slam Story: SETTING SAIL Meanwhile, Yunus AS boarded a ship in order to leave his community far behind. Some reports mention that the ship was already loaded to capacity, but the passengers, recognizing the marks of piety on him, persuaded the captain to squeeze Yunus AS in. They set sail peacefully. However, a storm suddenly erupted and the sea became choppy. Wave after wave of saltwater crashed in upon them. One pious person in the boat mentioned that this was not an ordinary storm, for its sudden manifestation and ferocity were abnormal. According to the traditions of the time, this was an indication that the boat carried a sinner in their midst. There was an extra passenger who was not meant to be there. The boat was tossed around in the open waters and the force of the pounding waves was threatening to break the hull and drown them all. The passengers unloaded all the excess cargo, but this was not sufficient for the boat to stay afloat. It was apparent that this condition no longer had any connection to the weight onboard, but something more ominous. The only solution was to throw the sinning passenger overboard, but which one was he? The passengers and crew consulted with each other, and decided to draw lots to decide who the matter. The first round was against Yunus AS. Given his appearance of piety, the passengers thought there was a mistake, so they drew lots a second time. Again, the odds were against him. This process was repeated a third time, but Yunus AS was still the clear loser. Yunus AS understood that this was the decree of Allah. “And indeed, Yunus was among the messengers. [Mention] when he ran away to the laden ship. And he drew lots and was among the losers.” (Qur’an 37:139-141) He was thrown into the churning waters. Anyone who has been caught in a rough sea will know the feeling of helplessness when tossed about by the huge waves, with limited mobility and even ability to see and breathe. Violent waves can bring disorientation and debilitating seasickness, powerful currents can jettison one uncontrollably off course, and the cold water can cause hypothermia and the cramping of the muscles. One can drown in minutes, even with a life jacket and swimming experience. Continuee..
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 17:00:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015