Here is a detailed compilation of mentions of Prophet Harun (Aaron, peace be upon him) in the Quran, along with their corresponding English translations, and mentions of Harun in Sahih Hadith. I’ll first present the Quranic verses and then move to the Hadith.
Quranic Verses mentioning Prophet Harun (Aaron, PBUH):
1. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:248)
– Arabic: وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ آيَةَ مُلْكِهِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَكُمُ التَّابُوتُ فِيهِ سَكِينَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَبَقِيَّةٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ آلُ مُوسَىٰ وَآلُ هَارُونَ تَحْمِلُهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
– Translation: “Their prophet said to them, ‘Indeed, a sign of his kingship is that the chest will come to you in which is assurance from your Lord and a remnant of what the family of Moses and the family of Aaron had left, carried by the angels. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.'”
2. Surah An-Nisa (4:163)
– Arabic: إِنَّا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ كَمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ نُوحٍ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ مِن بَعْدِهِ ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَعِيسَىٰ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَارُونَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ ۚ وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا
– Translation: “Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And We revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book [of Psalms].”
3. Surah Al-A’raf (7:122-124)
– Arabic: إِنَّا آمَنَّا بِرَبِّ مُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ – قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ آمَنتُم بِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ آذَنَ لَكُمْ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَّكَرْتُمُوهُ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهَآ أَهْلَهَا فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ – لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَٰفٍۢ ثُمَّ لَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
– Translation: “[The magicians said], ‘We have believed in the Lord of Moses and Aaron.’ Pharaoh said, ‘You believed in Him before I gave you permission? Indeed, this is a conspiracy which you conspired in the city to expel therefrom its people. But you are going to know. I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides; then I will surely crucify you all.'”
4. Surah Taha (20:25-36)
– Arabic: قَالَ رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي – وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي – وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي – يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي – وَاجْعَل لِّي وَزِيرًا مِّنْ أَهْلِي – هَارُونَ أَخِي – اشْدُدْ بِهِ أَزْرِي – وَأَشْرِكْهُ فِي أَمْرِي – كَيْ نُسَبِّحَكَ كَثِيرًا – وَنَذْكُرَكَ كَثِيرًا – إِنَّكَ كُنتَ بِنَا بَصِيرًا – قَالَ قَدْ أُوتِيتَ سُؤْلَكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ
– Translation: “[Moses] said, ‘My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance]; and ease for me my task; and untie the knot from my tongue that they may understand my speech. And appoint for me a minister from my family, Aaron, my brother. Increase through him my strength and let him share my task, that we may exalt You much and remember You much. Indeed, You are of us ever Seeing.’ [Allah] said, ‘You have been granted your request, O Moses.'”
5. Surah Ash-Shu’ara (26:10-13)
– Arabic: وَإِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبُّكَ مُوسَىٰ أَنِ ٱئْتِ ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ – قَوْمَ فِرْعَوْنَ ۚ أَلَا يَتَّقُونَ – قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ – وَيَضِيقُ صَدْرِى وَلَا يَنفَلِقُ لِسَانِى فَأَرْسِلْ إِلَىٰ هَـٰرُونَ
– Translation: “And [mention] when your Lord called Moses, [saying], ‘Go to the wrongdoing people – the people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear Allah?’ He said, ‘My Lord, indeed, I fear that they will deny me and that my breast will tighten and my tongue will not be fluent, so send for Aaron.'”
6. Surah Al-Anbiya (21:48-49)
– Arabic: وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ وَهَـٰرُونَ ٱلْفُرْقَانَ وَضِيَآءًۭ وَذِكْرًۭا لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ – ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَهُمْ مِّنَ ٱلسَّاعَةِ مُشْفِقُونَ
– Translation: “And We had already given Moses and Aaron the criterion and a light and a reminder for the righteous – those who fear their Lord unseen, while they are of the Hour apprehensive.”
7. Surah Al-Qasas (28:34-35)
– Arabic: وَأَخِى هَـٰرُونُ هُوَ أَفْصَحُ مِنِّى لِسَانًۭا فَأَرْسِلْهُ مَعِىَ رِدْءًۭا يُصَدِّقُنِىٓ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ – قَالَ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ وَنَجْعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلْطَـٰنًۭا فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيْكُمَا ۚ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أَنتُمَا وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكُمَا ٱلْغَـٰلِبُونَ
– Translation: “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.’ [Allah] 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.'”
8. Surah Maryam (19:53)
– Arabic: وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥ مِن رَّحْمَتِنَآ أَخَاهُ هَـٰرُونَ نَبِيًّۭا
– Translation: “And We gave him out of Our mercy his brother Aaron as a prophet.”
Early Life
Prophet Harun (PBUH) was born into the family of Imran in Egypt, among the Israelite people who were suffering under the oppression of Pharaoh. He was the elder brother of Prophet Musa (PBUH) and played a significant role in the liberation of the Israelites from the Pharaoh’s brutal regime. Unlike Musa, who was raised in Pharaoh’s palace, Harun grew up among the Israelites.
Harun’s Appointment as a Prophet (PBUH)
When Allah commanded Musa (PBUH) to go to Pharaoh and convey the message of monotheism, Musa expressed his concern about his ability to speak eloquently and fluently. In Surah Taha (20:25-35), Musa prayed to Allah:
“My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance]… And untie the knot from my tongue that they may understand my speech. And appoint for me a minister from my family, Aaron, my brother. Increase through him my strength.”
Allah accepted this prayer and appointed Harun as a prophet to assist Musa in his mission. Harun was gifted with eloquence and was known for his excellent communication skills. His role was to accompany Musa, support him, and help explain the message of Allah to the Israelites and Pharaoh.
Harun (PBUH) & Musa Before Pharaoh
Together, Musa and Harun (PBUT) went to Pharaoh to convey Allah’s message. Harun’s role was significant as he conveyed the message clearly and helped Musa challenge the sorcery of Pharaoh’s magicians. In Surah Ash-Shu’ara (26:10-13), Allah recounts their interaction when they were commanded to approach Pharaoh:
“And [mention] when your Lord called Moses, [saying], ‘Go to the wrongdoing people – the people of Pharaoh. Will they not fear Allah?’ He said, ‘My Lord, indeed, I fear that they will deny me… so send for Aaron.'”
The two prophets performed miracles by the will of Allah, such as Musa’s staff turning into a serpent and swallowing the tricks of the magicians. Despite their efforts, Pharaoh and his people continued to reject the message, leading to the famous plagues sent upon Egypt.
The Exodus from Egypt
After Pharaoh continued to reject Allah’s message, despite witnessing the miracles, Allah commanded Musa and Harun to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. With Allah’s help, Musa and Harun led the Israelites across the Red Sea, which miraculously parted, allowing them safe passage. Pharaoh and his army followed but were drowned when the sea returned to its normal state.
The Incident of the Golden Calf
One of the most significant incidents involving Prophet Harun occurred after the Israelites had escaped from Egypt. When they settled in the Sinai desert, Musa was called by Allah to Mount Sinai to receive divine commandments, including the Torah. Musa left Harun in charge of the Israelites during his absence, instructing him to guide and protect them.
However, during this time, a man named Samiri misled the Israelites, convincing them to create a golden calf and worship it as a god. Despite Harun’s efforts to stop them, the people ignored his warnings and began idolizing the calf.
In Surah Al-A’raf (7:142-151), it is mentioned that when Musa returned from Mount Sinai and saw the people worshiping the calf, he was angered and upset. He rebuked Harun for not preventing the idolatry. Harun explained that he had done his best to dissuade the people, but they had almost overpowered him.
“And Aaron had already told them before [the return of Moses], ‘O my people, you are only being tested by it, and indeed, your Lord is the Most Merciful, so follow me and obey my order.’ They said, ‘We will never cease being devoted to it [the calf] until Moses returns to us.’” (Quran 20:90-91)
Musa realized that Harun had acted with wisdom, trying to prevent division among the people until Musa returned. Musa then prayed for forgiveness for both himself and his brother.
Harun’s (PBUH) Role in the Community
Prophet Harun (PBUH) continued to play a crucial role in the leadership of the Israelites. He was a patient and wise leader, constantly striving to keep the people on the right path, as emphasized in Surah Al-Anbiya (21:48-49):
“And We had already given Moses and Aaron the criterion and a light and a reminder for the righteous – those who fear their Lord unseen, while they are of the Hour apprehensive.”
Harun was known for his piety, kindness, and dedication to Allah’s cause. He served as both a religious leader and a prophet, helping guide the Israelites spiritually and morally.
Harun’s (PBUH) Death
According to Islamic tradition, Prophet Harun passed away before Musa. His death deeply affected the Israelites, as he was highly respected for his righteousness and wisdom. Both Musa and the Israelites mourned his passing.
Also, read the Story of Prophet Musa (Moses) (Pbuh)