Al-Qalam (The Pen): (50) Then his Lord chose him and made him...

There are two issues concerning this verse:

There are two interpretations:

1. Ibn Abbas's view: Allah returned the revelation to him (Yunus/Jonah) and accepted his intercession for his people.
2. A group's view: Perhaps he was not a messenger bearing revelation before this incident. After this incident, Allah made him a messenger, which is what is meant by "Then his Lord chose him."

Those who deny miracles (Karamāt) and pre-prophetic signs (Irhas) must choose the first view. This is because his confinement in the belly of the whale and his survival there, if it was neither a Karamah nor an Irhas, must necessarily be a Miracle (Mu'jizah). A miracle necessitates that he was already a messenger in that state.

The proponents (of the Ash'ari view) argue that human actions are created by Allah, citing the verse: "And made him among the righteous."

This verse indicates that this righteousness was achieved through Allah's making and creation.

Al-Jubba'i's view: It is possible that "made him" means Allah informed him of this status, or it means Allah bestowed favor (Lutf) upon him so that he became righteous, as the term Ja'l (making/constituting) is used in the language with these meanings.

The Response: These two interpretations you mentioned are metaphorical (Majāz). The fundamental principle in language is to adhere to the literal meaning (Haqiqah).

< { And indeed, those who disbelieve are almost certain to slip you with their eyes when they hear the Reminder, and they say, "Indeed, he is insane." } >