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
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Indeed, [O Muḥammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allāh guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.
قَالَ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ وَنَجْعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلْطَـٰنًا فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيْكُمَا ۚ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أَنتُمَا وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكُمَا ٱلْغَـٰلِبُونَ
[Allāh] said, "We will strengthen your arm through your brother and grant you both supremacy so they will not reach you. [It will be] through Our signs; you and those who follow you will be the predominant."
قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُۥ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عِندِىٓ ۚ أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ أَهْلَكَ مِن قَبْلِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ مَنْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرُ جَمْعًا ۚ وَلَا يُسْـَٔلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
He said, "I was only given it because of knowledge I have." Did he not know that Allāh had destroyed before him of generations those who were greater than him in power and greater in accumulation [of wealth]? But the criminals, about their sins, will not be asked.
وَمَا كُنتَ بِجَانِبِ ٱلْغَرْبِىِّ إِذْ قَضَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَى ٱلْأَمْرَ وَمَا كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ
And you, [O Muḥammad], were not on the western side [of the mount] when We revealed to Moses the command, and you were not among the witnesses [to that].