وَأَخِى هَـٰرُونُ هُوَ أَفْصَحُ مِنِّى لِسَانًا فَأَرْسِلْهُ مَعِىَ رِدْءًا يُصَدِّقُنِىٓ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ 34
Translations
And my brother Aaron is more fluent than me in tongue, so send him with me as support, verifying me. Indeed, I fear that they will deny me."
Transliteration
Wa akhee harun huwa afsahu minni lisanan fa arsilhu ma'ee ridaa'an yusaddiquni inni akhafu an yukadhdhibun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Musa (Moses) appeals to Allah to send his brother Harun (Aaron) with him as a helper and supporter, citing that Harun is more eloquent in speech and will corroborate his message to Pharaoh and the people of Egypt. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that Musa's concern about being disbelieved was genuine, and Allah's acceptance of this request (in verse 35) demonstrates the permissibility of seeking assistance in conveying divine truth. The word 'ridaa' (support/backing) emphasizes the complementary role of having a trustworthy witness to strengthen one's testimony.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Musa's mission after his encounter with Allah at Mount Sinai. Musa had already been granted the staff and the light on his hand as miracles (28:32), but he seeks additional divine support by requesting his brother's companionship. This request reflects the human need for support in facing the tremendous responsibility of prophetic mission against Pharaoh's opposition.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari from Ibn Abbas regarding the excellence of Harun (Aaron) and his role as the spokesman for Musa reinforces this ayah's theme. Additionally, hadith literature emphasizes the importance of righteous companions in supporting Islamic work, as seen in various traditions about the Prophet's reliance on Abu Bakr and other companions.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that seeking help from capable and trustworthy partners in righteous endeavors is not a sign of weakness but of wisdom, and that Allah appreciates our humility in acknowledging our limitations while striving to fulfill our responsibilities effectively.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ ۘ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُۥ ۚ لَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
And do not invoke with Allāh another deity. There is no deity except Him. Everything will be destroyed except His Face. His is the judgement, and to Him you will be returned.
قَالَتْ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱسْتَـْٔجِرْهُ ۖ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ ٱسْتَـْٔجَرْتَ ٱلْقَوِىُّ ٱلْأَمِينُ
One of the women said, "O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy."
وَأَصْبَحَ فُؤَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ فَـٰرِغًا ۖ إِن كَادَتْ لَتُبْدِى بِهِۦ لَوْلَآ أَن رَّبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قَلْبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And the heart of Moses' mother became empty [of all else]. She was about to disclose [the matter concerning] him had We not bound fast her heart that she would be of the believers.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا وَلَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ
But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of Allāh is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient."