The brother Musa asked Allah for, by name.
قَالَ ابْنَ أُمَّ
His story
Musa asked for him: "Appoint for me a helper from my family, Harun my brother. Strengthen me through him" 20:29-31. Harun was more eloquent 28:34. Allah granted it.
When Musa went up the mountain, Harun stayed with the people 7:142. They made a golden calf. Harun told them: "My people, you are only being tested by it. Your Lord is the Most Merciful, so follow me" 20:90. They would not.
Musa came back furious and seized him by the beard and head. Harun did not fight back. He said: "O son of my mother", and explained that he had feared causing division among them 20:94. The Prophet ﷺ once comforted 'Ali by telling him he was to him what Harun was to Musa Bukhari 4416.
Moments
- 01
Chosen as a helper
When Musa was sent to Pharaoh, he asked Allah for a helper: "Appoint for me a helper from my family, Harun my brother. Strengthen me through him, and let him share my task." Allah answered: "You have been granted your request, O Musa." Harun became a prophet because his brother asked for him.
- 02
The calf
While Musa was away on the mountain, the people made a golden calf and worshipped it. Harun told them plainly: "My people, you are only being tested by it. Your Lord is the Most Merciful, so follow me and obey my command." They told him they would keep worshipping it until Musa returned.
- 03
"O son of my mother"
Musa came back furious and grabbed his brother by the beard and head. Harun did not fight back. He said: "O son of my mother, do not seize me by my beard or my head. I feared you would say I caused division among the Children of Israel." He answered anger with family.
What he did when…
Harun had tried to stop the calf-worship, and still his brother came back and grabbed him by the beard in front of everyone. He did not shout back or walk away. He said "O son of my mother", explained himself, and reminded Musa that they were family.
When Musa threw down the tablets and seized him, Harun explained: "The people overpowered me and nearly killed me. Do not let my enemies rejoice over me." Someone else's anger does not have to become your anger. A calm answer cooled it.
He and Musa were sent together to Pharaoh with one instruction: "Speak to him gently, so that perhaps he will remember, or fear." Two prophets, a tyrant, and the order was gentleness.
If your child carries this name
هارون Harun
Harun is a name for a loyal brother. Teach a child named Harun to be the calm one when everyone else is not.
Sources on this page
Quran 7:150Quran 7:150-151Quran 20:29-36Quran 20:43-44Quran 20:88-91Quran 20:92-94Quran 20:94
Quran meanings are given in plain English, close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com.