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How can one reconcile the negation of Jonah's (peace be upon him) being cast out onto the barren land in Surat Al-Qalam, where Allah Almighty says: {Had not grace from his Lord overtaken him, he would have been cast onto the barren land while he was blameworthy}, with the affirmation of his being cast out onto the barren land in Surat As-Saffat, where Allah Almighty says: {So We cast him onto the barren land while he was ill}?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

There is no contradiction between the verses in Surah As-Saffat and Surah Al-Qalam regarding the story of Yunus (peace be upon him). Surah As-Saffat mentions that Allah cast him onto the bare shore while he was not blameworthy, whereas Surah Al-Qalam indicates that had it not been for a grace from his Lord, he would have been cast onto the bare shore while he was blameworthy. The negation in Surah Al-Qalam applies to the state of being blameworthy and expelled, not to the act of being cast onto the bare shore, which indeed occurred. There is no contradiction or inconsistency in the Holy Quran.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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