Tafsir of As-Saffat 37:145

"فَنَبَذْنَاهُ" (We cast him forth): Meaning that We caused the whale to cast him forth. Thus, the attribution is metaphorical, and the word nabdh (casting), according to al-Qamus, means to throw something in front of you or behind you; or it is general. Al-Raghib said: Al-nabdh is the throwing and discarding of a thing due to a lack of regard for it. The intended meaning here is casting and throwing. As for the restriction mentioned by al-Raghib, I do not incline toward it; for although he (peace be upon him) had fled and departed without the permission of his Master, and experienced the discipline from God that he experienced, the Lord—Mighty and Majestic is He—is merciful to His prophets, and He, Glory be to Him, has great regard for them in every affair. Thus, he (peace be upon him) was regarded with care even at the moment of being cast forth.

"بِالْعَرَاءِ" (On the open land): Meaning in a place devoid of anything that covers it, such as trees or vegetation. It is narrated that the whale traveled alongside the ship, raising its head to breathe while Yunus (Jonah) was glorifying God, until they reached land, whereupon it cast him forth. This has been countered by the statement of the Exalted: "And he called out within the darknesses," to which it is answered that by merely raising its head to breathe, he does not emerge from the darkness. Furthermore, this was so that Yunus would not suffocate or his breath be constricted by the rules of habit, not to prevent water from entering the belly of the whale, lest it be said that fish have no need for such breathing. Despite this, we do not assert the authenticity of this report. It has also been narrated that the whale circled all the seas with him and then cast him forth on the banks of the Tigris, near Nineveh (with a kasra on the first nun and a damma on the second, as in al-Kashf), in the land of Mosul. The swallowing occurred in the Tigris as well, according to some. The People of the Book differed on this, and God willing, I will transmit their words to you regarding this story so you may perceive what is within them. It is apparent that the whale was one of the whales of the Tigris; we have witnessed in it very large whales. It is also said it was one of the whales of the Nile. Ibn Abi Shaybah recorded from Wahb that he sat with Tawus and others of their time, and they discussed which of God’s affairs is the swiftest. Some said: "The saying of God: 'Like the blinking of an eye.'" Others said: "The throne [of Bilqis] when it was brought to Solomon." Wahb said: "The swiftest affair of God is that Yunus was on the edge of the ship when God, Glory be to Him, revealed to the whale in the Nile of Egypt; he did not fall from the edge of the ship except into its belly." There is no doubt that the power of God—Mighty and Majestic is He—is greater than that, but the doubt lies in the authenticity of the report.

It is as if I hear you saying: "There is no doubt in its lack of authenticity."

There is disagreement regarding the duration of his stay. Abd Allah ibn Ahmad recorded in Zawa’id al-Zuhd and others from al-Sha'bi that he said: "The whale swallowed him in the forenoon and cast him forth in the evening," intending by that when the night grew dark. Abd ibn Humayd and others recorded from Qatadah that he said: "He remained in its belly for three [days]." In the books of the People of the Book, it is three days and three nights. From 'Ata' and Ibn Jubayr, it is seven days; from al-Dahhak, twenty days; and from Ibn 'Abbas, Ibn Jurayj, Abu Malik, al-Suddi, Muqatil ibn Sulayman, al-Kalbi, and 'Ikrimah, it is forty days. In al-Bahr, there is that which indicates that no report has been authenticated regarding the duration of his stay (peace be upon him) in the belly of the whale.

"وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌ" (While he was sick): Due to what befell him. Ibn 'Abbas and al-Suddi said: "His body returned like the body of a newborn infant." From Ibn Jubayr: "He (peace be upon him) was cast forth with no hair, no skin, and no nails." Perhaps this, by the laws of habit, necessitates a long duration for his stay in the belly of the whale.