Amittai
{{Short description|Father of the prophet Jonah}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2022}}
Amittai ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|m|ɪ|t|.|aɪ}}; {{langx|he|אֲמִתַּי}}, ʾǍmīttay, "true";{{Cite web |url=https://biblehub.com/hebrew/573.htm |title=Strong's Hebrew: 573. אֲמִתַּי (Amittay) -- "true," the father of Jonah}} {{langx|la|Amathi}}; {{langx|ar|مَتّىٰ|Mattā}}) was the father of the Prophet Jonah.{{cite book |last1=Hanks |first1=Patrick |authorlink=Patrick Hanks |last2=Hardcastle |first2=Kate |last3=Hodges |first3=Flavia |title=A Dictionary of First Names |publisher=Oxford University Press | publication-place=Oxford, England |series=Oxford paperback reference |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-19-861060-1 |oclc=67869278 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9nd05X_awIgC |page=54 |access-date=21 November 2024}} He was also a native of Gath-hepher.
In the Bible
Amittai is only mentioned twice in the Bible, in {{bibleref|2 Kings|14:25}} and {{bibleref||Jonah|1:1}}. Nothing is known about him, other than that he was Jonah's father.
In Islam
Amittai (Matta in Arabic) is also mentioned in Islam by Muhammad. When Muhammad was returning from preaching in Ta'if and decided to take shelter in the garden of two leaders, Addas, a lowly servant boy, was sent to offer grapes to Muhammad. When Addas came, Muhammad asked which land he came from. Addas replied he was from Nineveh. Upon receiving this answer, Muhammad exclaimed "The town of Jonah, son of Amittai!" Overjoyed, Muhammad then told Addas how Jonah and he (Muhammad) were prophetic brothers.