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
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُهُمْ وَلَا يَضُرُّهُمْ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱلْكَافِرُ عَلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ ظَهِيرًا
But they worship rather than Allāh that which does not benefit them or harm them, and the disbeliever is ever, against his Lord, an assistant [to Satan].
وَقَدِمْنَآ إِلَىٰ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ هَبَآءً مَّنثُورًا
And We will approach [i.e., regard] what they have done of deeds and make them as dust dispersed.
۞ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَوْ نَرَىٰ رَبَّنَا ۗ لَقَدِ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَعَتَوْ عُتُوًّا كَبِيرًا
And those who do not expect the meeting with Us say, "Why were not angels sent down to us, or [why] do we [not] see our Lord?" They have certainly become arrogant within themselves and [become] insolent with great insolence.
قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ مَا كَانَ يَنۢبَغِى لَنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ مِن دُونِكَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ وَلَـٰكِن مَّتَّعْتَهُمْ وَءَابَآءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ نَسُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَكَانُوا۟ قَوْمًۢا بُورًا
They will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for us to take besides You any allies [i.e., protectors]. But You provided comforts for them and their fathers until they forgot the message and became a people ruined."