Quick answer: The Dua of Yunus (Ayat-e-Karima, آیتِ کریمہ) is لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ – La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin – “There is no god but You, glory be to You; indeed I have been among the wrongdoers” (Quran 21:87). Prophet Yunus عليه السلام called with it from the belly of the fish, and the Prophet ﷺ said no Muslim supplicates with it for anything except that Allah answers him (Tirmidhi 3505, sahih).
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Dua of 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 god except You; glory be to You; truly I have been one of the wrongdoers.
Urdu Tarjuma
تیرے سوا کوئی معبود نہیں، تو پاک ہے، بے شک میں ہی ظالموں (قصور واروں) میں سے تھا۔
The Story Behind the Dua (Quran 21:87–88)
Allah tells us that Dhun-Nun (Yunus) left his people in anger, thinking Allah would not hold him to account. He was swallowed by a great fish and called out “in the darknesses” – the darkness of night, of the sea and of the fish’s belly – with these words. Allah then says: “So We answered him and saved him from distress. And thus do We save the believers” (Quran 21:87–88). Surah As-Saffat (37:143–144) adds that had he not been among those who glorify Allah, he would have remained in its belly until the Day of Resurrection.
The last words of 21:88 – “thus do We save the believers” – are why scholars say this promise is not limited to Yunus عليه السلام.
Hadith on the Virtue of the Dua of Yunus
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: the supplication of Dhun-Nun when he called upon Allah in the belly of the fish was La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin, and no Muslim man supplicates with it for anything except that Allah responds to him (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3505, graded sahih).
Why This Dua Is So Powerful
- La ilaha illa anta – tawhid: only Allah can remove the hardship.
- Subhanaka – tasbih: Allah is free from any injustice in what He decreed.
- Inni kuntu minaz-zalimin – admission of one’s own fault, which is the heart of tawbah and istighfar.
Notice that Yunus عليه السلام did not even state his request; praising Allah and admitting his weakness was enough. This teaches the adab of dua: begin with praise and humility, then ask.
When to Recite the Dua of Yunus
- In distress, grief, debt, illness or fear – together with the authentic duas on our dua for hajat page.
- When you have sinned and want to return to Allah.
- In sujood of nafl prayer or in the last part of the night.
- As everyday dhikr – a digital tasbih counter helps if you like to count.
What about Ayat-e-Karima khatam (1,25,000 times)?
In South Asia families often gather to read Ayat-e-Karima 125,000 times for a problem. This specific number and gathering are a later custom; they are not from the Quran or Sunnah. Reading the dua sincerely, alone or with others, is good, but no number should be treated as required or as a guaranteed solution. Authentic duas from the Quran and Sunnah, read with humility, are best.
Related Quranic Comfort
Alongside this dua, many find comfort in Surah Alam Nashrah (“with hardship comes ease”), the dua for a heavy heart, and reflections on Allah ki rehmat. If your hardship involves wronging others, repentance includes returning their rights.
خلاصہ: آیتِ کریمہ «لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ» حضرت یونس علیہ السلام کی دعا ہے (سورۃ الانبیاء 21:87)۔ ترمذی 3505 کے مطابق جو مسلمان اس کے ذریعے کوئی دعا مانگے، اللہ قبول فرماتا ہے۔ سوا لاکھ کی تعداد قرآن و سنت سے ثابت نہیں۔
Related Reading
FAQ
What is the Dua of Yunus?
La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin (Quran 21:87): There is no god but You, glory be to You; I have been among the wrongdoers.
What is the benefit of the Dua of Yunus?
Tirmidhi 3505 (sahih) says no Muslim supplicates with it for anything except that Allah answers him.
Is Ayat-e-Karima the same as the Dua of Yunus?
Yes. In Urdu-speaking countries the Dua of Yunus is commonly called Ayat-e-Karima.
How many times should I read Ayat-e-Karima?
No number is fixed in the Quran or Sunnah. The 125,000 khatam is a cultural custom, not a requirement.
Can women read the Dua of Yunus during periods?
Many scholars allow reciting Quranic duas with the intention of dua and dhikr; ask your local scholar for your school’s ruling.
Source & review: References: Quran (quran.com 21:87–88, 37:143–144), Hadith (sunnah.com: Tirmidhi 3505). Content reviewed by Qilaj editorial team.
