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Harun (Aaron), the brother and support of the Prophet Musa
Harun (Aaron)
His Divine Election
Musa's Helper
His Eloquence
The Joint Mission
The Trial of the Golden Calf
His Faithfulness
His Noble Character
His Legacy
Important Note
This collection brings together a selection of authentic texts about the Prophet Harun (peace be upon him). The English translations are given as a guide.
- Refer to the original Arabic texts
- Consult the commentaries of the scholars
- Study the historical context of each account
- Check the authentic sources
Harun in Islam: the story of the prophet, brother of Musa
Harun, known as Aaron in English, holds an important place among the prophets of Islam. Brother of Musa (Moses), he was chosen by Allah to go with him on his mission to Pharaoh and the people of Israel. The Quran mentions Harun several times, underlining his supporting role and his wisdom.
According to the sacred texts, Harun had remarkable eloquence. Musa had asked Allah to grant him the help of his brother, because Harun spoke better than he did. That brotherly complement is a perfect illustration of how Allah guides His messengers according to their particular gifts.
The story of Harun teaches several important lessons. His patience with the difficulties of the people of Israel shows how important perseverance in faith is. When Musa went to Mount Sinai to receive the tablets of the law, Harun stayed with the people. He tried to dissuade them from worshipping the golden calf, but could not stop them falling into idolatry.
That trial shows how hard it is to guide a people to the straight path. Harun did his best in a difficult situation. Through his story, Muslims learn that even the prophets face enormous challenges in their mission.
The stories of the prophets, Harun's among them, enrich our understanding of Islam. They remind us that divine guidance often comes through ordinary men with extraordinary faith. To go further into these teachings, you can read other stories on our page devoted to the prophets or read the verses directly in our section on Quran.
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ReadYou may be wondering…
Who is the Prophet Harun in Islam?
Harun (Aaron) is the brother of the prophet Musa (Moses). Allah made him a prophet by His mercy and joined him to Musa's mission to Pharaoh and the Children of Israel: And We gave him, out of Our mercy, his brother Harun as a prophet (Surah Maryam, verse 53). He is described as truthful, a messenger and a prophet.
Why did Musa ask for Harun's help?
Musa asked Allah to join his brother to him because Harun was more eloquent than he was: My brother Harun is more eloquent than me in speech. Send him with me as a support to confirm my words (Surah Al-Qasas, verse 34). Allah granted his prayer and sent them together to Pharaoh, commanding them to speak to him gently.
What was Harun's part in the episode of the golden calf?
While Musa was receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai, Harun stayed with the people, who began to worship a golden calf. Harun warned them: You have only been tested by it, and indeed your Lord is the Most Merciful (Surah Taha, verse 90). He could not stop them, and explained to Musa that he had feared to divide the Children of Israel.
In which surahs is Harun mentioned?
Harun appears in many surahs of the Quran, in particular Maryam, Taha, Al-Qasas, Al-A'raf and As-Saffat, almost always alongside Musa. Surah As-Saffat (verses 119-120) relates that Allah left for him a good name among later generations: Peace be upon Musa and Harun. He is the 15th of the 25 prophets named in the Quran.
Is Harun the Aaron of the Bible?
Yes. Harun corresponds to Aaron, the brother of Moses in the Jewish and Christian traditions. Muslims know him chiefly through the Quran, which stresses his faithfulness, his eloquence and his support of Musa. See where he stands in the list of the 25 prophets of Islam.