وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَجَعَلْنَا مَعَهُۥٓ أَخَاهُ هَـٰرُونَ وَزِيرًا 35
Translations
And We had certainly given Moses the Scripture and appointed with him his brother Aaron as an assistant.
Transliteration
Wa-laqad ātaynā Mūsā al-Kitāba wa-jaʿalnā maʿahu akhāhu Hārūn wazīrā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah granted Mūsā (Moses) the Torah (al-Kitāb) and appointed his brother Hārūn (Aaron) as his minister (wazīr) to assist him in his prophetic mission. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the appointment of Hārūn as a wazīr demonstrates Allah's mercy in providing Mūsā with support and companionship during the arduous task of conveying the message to Bani Isrāʾīl, emphasizing the importance of consultation and delegating responsibility in leadership.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Furqan (a Meccan surah), which addresses the polytheists of Mecca by presenting narratives of previous prophets and their steadfastness. The context here celebrates the prophetic lineage and divine support given to the messengers, serving as evidence of Allah's consistent pattern of revelation and guidance throughout history.
Related Hadiths
The Quranic reference to Hārūn as a wazīr is elaborated in Surah Taha (20:29-32) where Mūsā himself requests: 'And appoint for me a minister from my family, Hārūn, my brother. Increase through him my strength, and let him share my task.' This demonstrates the permissibility and virtue of seeking assistance in fulfilling responsibilities.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that seeking trustworthy and capable companions to share in noble responsibilities is not a sign of weakness but a wise practice endorsed by Allah Himself; modern leaders and individuals should recognize the value of surrounding themselves with righteous advisors and helpers.
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ لَا بُشْرَىٰ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُجْرِمِينَ وَيَقُولُونَ حِجْرًا مَّحْجُورًا
The day they see the angels - no good tidings will there be that day for the criminals, and [the angels] will say, "Prevented and inaccessible."
أَمْ تَحْسَبُ أَنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ أَوْ يَعْقِلُونَ ۚ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا كَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ۖ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا
Or do you think that most of them hear or reason? They are not except like livestock. Rather, they are [even] more astray in [their] way.
إِن كَادَ لَيُضِلُّنَا عَنْ ءَالِهَتِنَا لَوْلَآ أَن صَبَرْنَا عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ حِينَ يَرَوْنَ ٱلْعَذَابَ مَنْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا
He almost would have misled us from our gods had we not been steadfast in [worship of] them." But they are going to know, when they see the punishment, who is farthest astray in [his] way.
ٱلَّذِينَ يُحْشَرُونَ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا وَأَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا
The ones who are gathered on their faces to Hell - those are the worst in position and farthest astray in [their] way.