Prophet Harun, peace be upon him, was the brother of Prophet Moses. Allah sent him alongside Moses to Pharaoh and the Children of Israel, making him a supporter and minister in the mission.
Harun is mentioned in several passages of the Quran as one of Allah’s prophets and as a companion to Moses in conveying the divine message.
Who Was Prophet Harun?
Harun was the brother of Moses, and historical and exegetical works commonly describe him as the elder brother.
Moses asked Allah to appoint Harun as his minister and strengthen his mission through him.
The Quran records Moses saying:
﴿And appoint for me a minister from my family, Aaron, my brother. Strengthen me through him and let him share in my task.﴾
Allah accepted Moses’ supplication and sent Harun with him.
Harun and Moses Before Pharaoh
Allah sent Moses and Harun to Pharaoh, who had become arrogant and oppressive.
Allah instructed them to address Pharaoh gently:
﴿And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear Allah.﴾
Harun supported Moses throughout this mission and joined him in calling Pharaoh and his people to worship Allah alone and abandon oppression.
Harun and the Children of Israel
After the Israelites left Egypt, Moses and Harun continued guiding and caring for their people.
When Moses went to receive revelation, he appointed Harun to oversee the Children of Israel.
The Quran says:
﴿And Moses said to his brother Aaron, ‘Take my place among my people, act rightly, and do not follow the way of the corrupters.’﴾
Harun therefore carried a major responsibility while Moses was away.
The Samiri and the Golden Calf
During Moses’ absence, the Samiri made a golden calf and encouraged some of the Israelites to worship it.
Harun rejected this practice and called upon them to return to the worship of Allah. However, they resisted his efforts and weakened his authority.
When Moses returned, Harun explained that he feared that using force against them could lead to an even greater division and conflict among the Israelites. He also explained that they had overpowered him and nearly killed him.
Moses’ Confrontation with Harun
When Moses returned and saw what had happened, he was extremely angry and confronted his brother.
Harun explained:
﴿O son of my mother, indeed the people overpowered me and were about to kill me. So do not let the enemies rejoice over me, nor place me among the wrongdoing people.﴾
Moses then prayed:
﴿My Lord, forgive me and my brother and admit us into Your mercy, and You are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.﴾
The passage demonstrates that Harun did not approve of the worship of the calf. Rather, he attempted to stop his people while seeking to prevent a greater conflict among them.
How Did Prophet Harun Die?
Historical and exegetical accounts contain stories about the death of Harun. One well-known account describes Moses and Harun going to a beautiful elevated place where they found a house containing a bed.
According to this account, Harun admired the place and lay on the bed, after which Allah caused him to die. Moses later returned to the Israelites and informed them of his brother’s death.
However, the detailed elements of this story concerning the location, the bed, and its being raised to heaven are found in historical reports whose details are not all established by an explicit authentic text. Therefore, they should be distinguished from information firmly established in the Quran and authentic Sunnah.
The Status of Prophet Harun
Harun was one of Allah’s prophets and was appointed alongside Moses to call Pharaoh and the Israelites to the worship of Allah.
His story highlights the importance of cooperation in conveying the message, patience when facing opposition, and wisdom when dealing with internal disputes and social conflict.
Who was Prophet Harun?
Prophet Harun was the brother of Prophet Moses. Allah sent him with Moses to Pharaoh and the Children of Israel.
Was Harun older than Moses?
Historical and exegetical works commonly state that Harun was older than Moses.
What did Harun do when the Israelites worshipped the Golden Calf?
He rejected their worship of the calf and called them back to the worship of Allah, but they resisted him and nearly killed him.
Why did Moses confront Harun?
Moses confronted him after discovering that the Israelites had worshipped the calf. Harun explained that he had tried to stop them but feared that stronger action would lead to greater division and conflict.
How did Prophet Harun die?
It is established that Harun died before Moses. The detailed accounts concerning the exact location and the story of the bed and angels come from historical reports whose details are not all established by an explicit authentic text.
