Tafsir of As-Saffat 37:139

"And indeed, Jonah was among the messengers."

It is narrated, according to what is in al-Bahr, that he (peace be upon him) was made a prophet when he was twenty-eight years old.

It is recounted in al-Bahr that he lived during the time of the minor kings of the Persians (muluk al-tawa'if). He is Jonah, son of Matta—with the mim vocalized with fatha, the ta vocalized with shadda, and truncated (maqsur). There is a difference of opinion regarding whether this is the name of his mother or his father; it has been said it is the name of his mother, which is what is mentioned in the commentary of Abd al-Razzaq. It has also been said that it is the name of his father, and this, as Ibn Hajar stated, is more correct. Some of the People of the Book call him Yunan ibn Mathi, and others call him Yunah ibn Imtiyazi. We have not encountered any reports regarding the connection of his lineage.

Regarding his name among the Arabs, there are six dialects: varying the vocalization of the nun—with damma, fatha, or kasra—in combination with the waw, the ya, and the hamza. The famous recitation is with the damma on the nun combined with the waw. Abu Talha ibn Musarrif recited it with a kasra on the nun; it is said he intended to make it an Arabic derivation from uns (intimacy), and this is as you see.