Page 88 - The importance of conscience in the Qur'an

86 The Importance of Conscience in the Qur'an

distress, and subsequently repented with all sincerity.
(Allah has turned) also towards the three who
were left behind, so that when the earth
became narrow for them, for all its great
breadth, and their own selves became
constricted for them and they realised that
there was no refuge from Allah except in Him,
He turned to them so that they might turn to
Him. Allah is the Ever-Returning, the Most
Merciful. (Surat at-Tawba: 118)
In the Qur'an, one of those whose twinge of conscience
has been quoted as an example is Prophet Yunus (AS), a praised
messenger of Allah. Prophet Yunus left his people when they
did not listen to him. A while later, after suffering great distress,
he understood that it was wrong to have abandoned them; he
felt great remorse and repented to his Lord. Allah accepted his
repentance and sent him to a new community as messenger.
This is described in different verses of the Qur'an:
And Dhu'n-Nun (Yunus) when he left in anger
and thought We would not punish him. He
called out in the pitch darkness: 'There is no
god but You! Glory be to You! Truly I have
been one of the wrongdoers.' We responded
to him and rescued him from his grief. That is
how We rescue the believers. (Surat al-
Anbiya': 87-88)
So wait steadfastly for the judgement of your
Lord. Do not be like the Companion of the
Fish (Prophet Yunus) when he called out in
absolute despair. Had a blessing from his Lord
not overtaken him, he would have been