A Quranic Journal: Surah al-Qalam ayah 48

[The Companion of the Fish is] Dhun-Nun, who was Yunus bin Matta, when he went off angry with his people. Various things happened to him, such as riding on a ship at sea, being swallowed by a fish, the fish carrying him off into the ocean, being in the darkness and depth of the sea and hearing the sea's and its dwellers' glorification of the Most High, the Most Able (Allah). For He (Allah) is the One Whose execution of divine decree cannot be resisted. After all of this, he (Yunus) called out from the layers of darkness, "That none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah), Glorified (and Exalted) are You! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers." (21:87) Then Allah said concerning him, "So We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress. And thus We do deliver the believers." (21:88) Allah also says, "Had he not been of them who glorify Allah, he would have indeed remained inside its belly (the fish) till the Day when they are resurrected." (37:143,144) So here (in this Surah), Allah says, "when he cried out (to Us) while he was Makzum." Ibn Abbas, Mujahid and As-Suddi, all said, "while he was distressed"