Description

LINEAGE

Prophet Harun (AS) was the elder brother of Musa (AS). He was the son of Imran. He was born in the year when Pharaoh spared the boys from killing and Musa (AS) was born in the year when the boys were being killed. Prophet Harun (AS) is also mentioned in the Quran as a prophet of Allah. The Quran praises Harun (AS) repeatedly, calling him a “believing servant” as well as one who was “guided” and one of the “victors”.

LIFE

Prophet Harun (AS) accompanied Musa (AS) in his mission of guiding the Firawn to the truth as commanded by Allah. Musa (AS) had speech difficulty and he would stammer while talking Prophet Harun (AS) was a good speaker. This is why Musa (AS) asked Allah for his brother Harun (AS) to accompany him and Allah granted his wish.

As we all know from the story of Prophet Musa (AS) that Musa (AS) went to Mount Toor to keep his appointment of a special meeting with Allah for forty days. He assigned Prophet Harun (AS) in charge of Bani Israel in his absence. In this meeting, Musa (AS) spoke directly to Allah, and he was given the guidance for Bani Israel which was written on two stone-made tablets.

During these forty days, in the absence of Prophet Musa (AS), Bani Israel got restless and started questioning Harun (AS) about the God to whom they can worship. Harun (AS) tried his best to stop them from disbelieving and going astray.

But they all became so impatient and disobedient and got easily misguided by a hypocritical Israeli named Samiri. Samiri suggested to them that Musa (AS) has broken his promise as he did not come back for so long, so they should find another guide for themselves. Samiri took the pieces of jewelry from people, melted them, and made a calf-like idol with them. He then told the people that this calf is their new God.

Seeing his people go astray, Prophet Harun (AS) felt apprehensive about their behavior and reminded them to worship the only one Allah.

When Musa (AS) returned from the Toor, he found his people doing the sinful act of worshiping a golden calf. Musa (AS) could not believe this and got extremely angry. He got so furious that he threw the Tablets on the ground and said: “O my people! Did not your Lord promise you a fair promise? Did then the promise seems to you long in coming? Or did you desire the Wrath should descend from your Lord on you, so you broke your promise to me (disbelieving in Allah and worshipping the calf)?” (Ch 20: 83-86 Quran)

In a state of disappointment and sorrow, Prophet Musa (AS) grabbed his brother Harun (AS) by his beard and said: “O Harun (AS)! What stopped you when you saw them going astray, that you followed me not (according to my advice to you)? Have you then disobeyed my order?”

Prophet Harun (AS) then replied: “O my son of my mother! Seize me not by my beard, nor by my head! Verily, I feared lest you should say: ‘You have caused a division among the children of Israel, and you have not respected my word!’” (Quran 20)

Harun (AS) said: “the people overpowered me and almost killed me. Do not give my enemies cause to gloat over me. Do not include me with the wrongdoers.”

Musa (AS) then repented to Allah and said, “My Lord, forgive me and my brother and admit us to Your mercy. You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.” (Surat al-A’raf, 150-151).

Scholars say that Prophet Harun (AS) lived for 123 years. The tomb attributed to Harun (AS), the Islamic tradition, places it on Mount Hor, near Petra in Jordan. The area around Petra is dominated by hills and rocky prominences, with the tombs of Aaron and Miriam located on the tallest, Jabal Harun (AS), or Aaron’s Mountain.