قَالَ يَـٰهَـٰرُونُ مَا مَنَعَكَ إِذْ رَأَيْتَهُمْ ضَلُّوٓا۟ 92
Translations
[Moses] said, "O Aaron, what prevented you, when you saw them going astray,
Transliteration
Qala ya harun ma mana'aka idh ra'aitahum dalla'u
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah addresses Harun (Aaron) asking what prevented him from stopping the people when he saw them going astray by worshipping the calf. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this was a divine rebuke meant to highlight Harun's inability to prevent the grave sin of idolatry among Bani Israel, illustrating the limits of human authority and the power of collective transgression. The question is rhetorical, emphasizing Harun's weakness in the face of the people's rebellion, though classical scholars note Harun was not directly blameworthy as he had attempted to restrain them but was overpowered.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the narrative of Surah Taha detailing the incident of the golden calf during Musa's (Moses) absence on Mount Sinai. When Musa returned and found his people worshipping the calf he had left Harun to lead them, he questioned his brother about why he allowed such deviation. This context appears within the broader Meccan surah addressing the Prophet Muhammad and polytheistic Meccans.
Related Hadiths
While no single hadith directly quotes this verse, the general incident is referenced in various tafsir traditions. Surah Al-A'raf 7:150 provides complementary narration where Musa seizes Harun by his beard in anger, with Harun explaining he feared the people would split apart if he opposed them too forcefully.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that leaders bear responsibility for guiding their communities, yet it also acknowledges the real challenges in preventing widespread transgression when collective defiance occurs; modern believers should recognize both the importance of moral courage and the reality that preventing all evil requires divine support and community cooperation.