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
قُلْ فَأْتُوا۟ بِكِتَـٰبٍ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ أَهْدَىٰ مِنْهُمَآ أَتَّبِعْهُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
Say, "Then bring a scripture from Allāh which is more guiding than either of them that I may follow it, if you should be truthful."
وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِن نَّتَّبِعِ ٱلْهُدَىٰ مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ أَرْضِنَآ ۚ أَوَلَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّهُمْ حَرَمًا ءَامِنًا يُجْبَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَٰتُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ رِّزْقًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And they [i.e., the Quraysh] say, "If we were to follow the guidance with you, we would be swept from our land." Have We not established for them a safe sanctuary to which are brought the fruits of all things as provision from Us? But most of them do not know.
وَقِيلَ ٱدْعُوا۟ شُرَكَآءَكُمْ فَدَعَوْهُمْ فَلَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لَهُمْ وَرَأَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ۚ لَوْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَهْتَدُونَ
And it will be said, "Invoke your 'partners,'" and they will invoke them; but they will not respond to them, and they will see the punishment. If only they had followed guidance!
فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِۦ وَبِدَارِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ مِن فِئَةٍ يَنصُرُونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنتَصِرِينَ
And We caused the earth to swallow him and his home. And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allāh, nor was he of those who [could] defend themselves.