Beit Ummar, West Bank – Palestine
Coordinates: 31.622858, 35.102203
Nabi Matta was the father of the Prophet Yunus عليه اسلام. He was also a native of Gath-hepher.
The main mosque in Beit Ummar houses the tomb of Nabi Matta عليه اسلام. Hz. Matta عليه اسلام refers to Amittai, the father of Hz. Yunus عليه اسلام.
Mujir ad-Din writes that Matta was “a holy man from the people of the house of the prophecy.”
Some suggested it referred to the apostle Matthew.
Nearby Halhul houses the purported tomb of Hz. Yunus عليه اسلام with the inscription reading “Yunus ibn Matta” or “Jonah son of Amittai”, confirming that Matta عليه اسلام is indeed the Arabic name for Amittai.
In Islam
Amittai (Matta in Arabic) is mentioned in Islam by the Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was returning from preaching in Ta’if and decided to take shelter in the garden of two leaders, Addas, a servant boy, was sent to offer grapes to Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
When Addas came, Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked which land he came from.
Addas replied he was from Nineveh.
Upon receiving this answer, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ exclaimed “The town of Yunus (عليه اسلام) , son of Amittai (Nabi Matta)!”
Overjoyed, Hz. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then told Addas how Yunus عليه اسلام and he ﷺ were prophetic brothers.
In the Bible
Amittai is only mentioned twice in the Bible, in 2 Kings 14:25 and Jonah 1:1. Nothing is known about him, other than that he was Jonah’s father.
