نبي الله Harun
Prophet Harun
peace be upon him
7 sections · approx. 7 min read
Intro
Harun (هارون), also referred to as Aaron, was the elder brother of Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ and was himself a Prophet عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, as well. He is one of those 25 Prophets who are mentioned in the Quran by name. Prophet Harun عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ is mentioned in the Quran 20 times, mostly along with Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. Prophet Harun عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ was amongst the descendants of Prophet Ibrahim عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. He was granted Prophet-hood during the Prophet-hood of his brother Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. The name of his father was Imran. He is known as an eloquent person with a great speech skill. He is mentioned in the Quran as a man who is “Guided to the right path.”
Historical Background of Prophet Harun A.S
It is believed that Prophet Harun عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ was born in Egypt. He belonged to the Bani Israel (the children of Israel). He was sent to his Bani Israel as a Prophet by Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. No detailed information is available about the life and Prophet-hood of Prophet Harun عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, except for the two historical events associated with him, the Golden Calf and his visit to the then King of Egypt, along with his brother Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. All the time, he is mentioned in the Quran alongside his younger brother, Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ.
Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ Seeks Assistance of His Brother Harun عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ
During the Prophet-hood of Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ Commanded him to go to the King Pharaoh to warn him about the inevitable punishment of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, at this point of time sought the assistance of his brother Prophet Harun عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, to strengthen him. This request is mentioned in the Quran in Surah Taha, verses 25-35: Moses said: “O my Lord, enlarge my breast And make my mission easy Remove the defect of my tongue That they may understand my speech And give me as assistant from my family Aaron my brother To strengthen me And share my task That we may sing Your praises much And remember you a great deal Surely You know us well The request of Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ was graciously accepted and Prophet Harun عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ accompanied him to the Court of King Pharaoh.
Prophet Harun عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ in the Court of Pharaoh
The request of Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ was accepted by Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ and Prophet Harun عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ was entrusted the futy to accompany him during his visit to Pharaoh. Bani Israel had been under severe oppression at the hands of Pharaoh for a long. They had been serving the Pharaoh and his army as slaves. Not only the Pharaoh but the other powerful Egyptians also treated the children of Israel (Bani Israel) as slaves. In this backdrop, Allah commanded Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ to meet the Pharaoh to warn him about the punishment and to release the people of Israel. Then, Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ requested to entrust his brother Haroon to assist him, as narrated above in verses 25 to 35 of Surah Taha. His request was accepted by Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ as mentioned in the 36th verse of Surah Taha: He answered: “Granted is your prayer, O Moses. So, both Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ and his brother Prophet Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ reached the Court of Pharaoh and asked him to release the people of Israel. They were a little worried about the behavior of Pharaoh, but Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥوَتَعَٰلَىٰ commanded them not to fear, as He will be with them and Pharaoh will be able to harm them. This is mentioned in Surah Taha verses 42-48: Go with My signs, you and your brother, and do not be lax in remembering Me. Then go to the Pharaoh as he has become exceedingly rebellious Speak to him gently. He may possibly take heed or may come to have fear. They said: “O our Lord, we are really frightened lest he behave insolently with us or become violent (The Lord) said: “Be not afraid. I am verily with you, and I hear and see So go to him and say: ‘The two of us have indeed been sent by your Lord. So let the children of Israel come with us, and do not oppress them. We have come to you with a token from your Lord. Peace on him who follows the way of guidance It has been revealed to us that punishment will befall him who denies and turns away. So, both reached the court of Pharaoh and warned him about the upcoming punishment from Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. The dialogue started between them and Pharaoh. A section of the audience was impressed by the view point of Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ and Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. But it did not transpire into any positivity. Instead, Pharaoh declared Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ a magician and called his top magicians to contest him. But even the top magicians of Pharaoh could not beat the two brothers, Musa and Haroon and they still came out victorious. Consequently, Pharaoh ordered his army to kill all the Israelites. Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ and Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ lead the entire population of Israelites to go out of Egypt. The army of Pharaoh followed them. Ultimately, the Israelites were trapped between the ocean and the army of Pharaoh. However, with the Will and Command of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ, the sea was parted to let Israelites cross, out of Egypt, under the guidance of Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ and Prophet Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. The Pharaoh’s army tried to follow them but the path suddenly disappeared and the whole army was drowned in the ocean. This is believed to be the present-day Red Sea, which separates the Arabian Peninsula from Egypt.
Prophet Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ and the Golden Calf
The Israelites, commonly referred to as Bani Israel in the Islamic Commentaries, were safely brought out of the reach of Pharaoh. Still, the consistent slavery had left its impact on their lives. They felt it difficult to leave the worship of Idols. However, the preaching of both Prophets, Haroon and Musa, continued. Meanwhile, with the Will and Command of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ, Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ had to leave the town and go up the Mount Sinai for a spiritual interaction. His journey to and back from Mount Sinai lasted 40 days and nights. He asked his brother Prophet Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ to lead Bani Israel in his absence. Prophet Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ fulfilled his duty with full devotion and preached to the Israelites to worship only One Allah and leave idolatry. A group of Israelites rebelled. One of them, Sameri, collected the entire gold and jewelry from the Israelites and made a Golden Calf. The disbelievers started worshiping this Golden Calf, despite all efforts of Prophet Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. Instead, they said, let Musa come back; till that time, we will not leave worshiping this Idol of Golden Calf. This is mentioned in detail in verses 85 to 94 of Surah Taha: He said: “We have put your people on trial in your absence; and Sameri has led them astray.” So Moses returned to his people full of anger and regret. “O my people,” he said, “did not your Lord make you a better promise? Did the time of covenant seem too long to you? Or did you wish the wrath of your Lord to fall upon you that you broke the promise you had made to me? They said: “We did not break our promise to you of our own will, but we were made to carry the loads of ornaments belonging to the people, which we threw (into the fire), and so did Sameri Then he produced the image of a calf which mooed like a cow. And they said: ‘This is your god and the god of Moses (whom) he has neglected. Did they not see that it did not give them any answer, nor had it power to do them harm or bring them gain? Aaron had indeed told them earlier: “O my people, you are being only misled with this. Surely your Lord is Ar-Rahman. So follow me and obey my command.” They said “So long as Moses does not come back we are not going to give it up, and we will remain devoted to it.” But (Moses) said: “O Aaron, when you saw that they had gone astray, what hindered you From coming after me? Did you not disobey my command?” (And Moses pulled him by the hair). “O son of my mother,” (Aaron cried), do not pull me by my beard or my hair! I was really afraid you may say that I had created a rift among the children of Israel, and did not pay heed to your command.” On listening to the viewpoint of Prophet Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, his brother Prophet Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ realized that Haroon was helpless in this matter, though he tried his best.
Prophet Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ Meets Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
It is believed that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, while ascending to Heavens during the historic event of Miraj An-Nabi, met Prophet Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. This was the fifth level of Heavens. It is mentioned in the old Islamic Commentaries that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ particularly mentioned the personality and beauty of Prophet Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ.
The Burial Place of Prophet Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ
Some Muslims believe that Prophet Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ was buried on the top of Mount Aaron (جَـبـل هَـارون), situated near the town of Petra, present-day Jordan. The local Muslims believe that the tomb of Prophet Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ exists on the top of Mount Aaron, alongside a historic mosque with a white dome. This mosque was built in the 14th Century. However, there is no authentic proof of this place being the burial site of the Prophet Haroon عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ.