هارون
Hārūn
Prophet
Moses’ brother and a prophet in the Quran, who stood by him before Pharaoh.
What it means
In the Quran Moses asks God to make his brother Aaron his helper and a partner in his mission, and God grants it (20:29–36, 19:53). Aaron is named among the prophets and honoured with Moses, as in “peace upon Moses and Aaron” (37:114–120).
Often misunderstood as
That the Quran makes Aaron the maker of the golden calf, or confuses Mary with Aaron’s sister.
What the sources say
In the Quran it is not Aaron but al-Samiri who makes the calf (20:85–87), and Aaron warns the people that they are being tested and tells them to follow him (20:90–94). His words to Moses, “do not seize my beard or my head”, show him as a restrained brother (20:94). On “sister of Aaron” (19:28) see Maryam.