The Quran on the prophet Aaron
In an earlier comment, I had quoted the following verses of the Quran about Aaron and noted what they tell us about his position and mission:
The Quran says that Aaron received revelation like other prophets including Muhammad (saw):
“Surely We have revealed to you (Muhammad) as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him, and We revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon, …” (4:163)
Aaron was guided like other prophets:
“…and Noah did We guide before, and of his descendants, David and Solomon and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron.” (6:84)
Aaron was appointed as a prophet at Moses’ request because Moses needed his help to conduct his mission:
“And give to me an aider from my family: Aaron, my brother; add to my strength by him, and make him share my task” (20:29-32)
“And my breast straitens, and my tongue is not eloquent, so send for Aaron (too).” (26:13).
“And my brother, Aaron, he is more eloquent in speech than I, so send him with me as a helper to confirm me. Surely I fear that they would reject me. He said: We will strengthen your arm with your brother, and We will give you both an authority, so that they shall not reach you. With Our signs, you two and those who follow you, will triumph.” (28:34-35)
Now here are some more verses.
In the quotations below, I have underlined the words which are grammatically in the dual tense, referring to both. In Arabic, apart from singular and plural, there is also a dual tense for two people.
They were both commanded to go to Pharaoh as two messengers:
“Go you and your brother with My messages and do not be remiss in remembering Me. Go both of you to Pharaoh, surely he is inordinate; then speak to him a gentle word, perhaps he may be mindful or fear. They said: Our Lord, we fear that he may hasten to do us harm or be inordinate. He said: Do not fear, surely I am with you — I do hear and see. So go to him and say: Surely we are two messengers of your Lord…” (20:42-47).
Moses and Aaron are spoken of as both having been given the Book by God and both being guided by God:
“And certainly We conferred a favour on Moses and Aaron. And We delivered them and their people from the mighty distress. And We helped them, so they were triumphant. And We gave them both the clear Book. And We guided them on the right way. And We granted them among the later generations (the salutation): Peace be on Moses and Aaron!” (37:114-120)
It is thus clear that Aaron and Moses performed a joint mission, since the mission was too onerous for one man. Aaron was establishing the shariah along with Moses.
Addition made 15 August 2020:
The Quran in 2:248 refers to the so-called ark of the covenant of the Israelites as containing “the remainder of what the followers (aal) of Moses and the followers (aal) of Aaron have left”. This again shows they had a joint mission.
Addition made 8 November 2023:
“And certainly We gave Moses and Aaron the criterion and a light and a reminder for those who guard against evil,” (21:48). Both Moses and Aaron were given the scripture.
From Rashid Jahangiri:
Hazrat Haroon AS
My understanding for reason of Hazrat Musa AS prayer for his brother Hazrat Haroon AS (Aaron) to become message of Allah SWT is, because Hazrat Musa AS was raised in rich home of king Pharaoh. So he could not relate to poor Israelites. He was finding difficulty connecting with them, like wise they were facing the same difficulty understanding teachings of someone who did not grow among them. This disconnect and gap was filled with help of Hazrat Haroon AS. As he grew among poor Israelites, and they could better understand his lingo and they could relate better to him.
From Umar AR:
Good reply by Rashid. Just add to it following
Its also mentioned in Quran that we gave book to Israel (45:16). But surely those books were given to them by Allah through prophets.
Similarly book given to h.Haroon by Allah through h.Musa to lead their tribe in following those guidelines and the will of Allah. In this entire process status of h.Haroon was closer to h.Musa than the rest of Israeli people and sharing that responsibility with h. Musa so that’s how that book was given to both. But primarily the prophethood was given to h. Musa and then extended to h.Haroon as the incident has been quoted and so was the book. But this was specific to those two only and a third person could not assume this role by his ownself. It has to be ordained by All Mighty as was h.Yosha(Joshua)
From Zahid Aziz:
Further to what I wrote in the above post, I may add the following verse:
"And their prophet said to them: Surely the sign of his kingdom is that there shall come to you the heart in which there is tranquillity from your Lord and the best of what the followers of Moses and the followers of Aaron have left, the angels bearing it. Surely in this there is a sign for you if you are believers." (2:248)
Here the Israelites are described as "the aal of Moses and the aal of Aaron". This again shows that Moses and Aaron were two prophets on a par with one another.
From T Ijaz:
From the Holy Quran it appears though Hazrat Aaron was subordinate to Hazrat Moses, symbolized as Hazrat Moses grabbing his brother's beard in anger. Jewish history and tradition holds Hazrat Moses as law giver, not Aaron, the latter having the priestly function of making sure the Mosaic law was followed.
From Rashid Jahangiri:
"Hazrat Moses grabbing his brother's beard in anger"
It only shows beard is not some thing sacred. Devout Muslim does not have to have beard.
Reading T. Ijaz post tells us how Qadianis will come up with every "proof" to prove that HMGA was "subordinate prophet with out sharia" EXCEPT providing a simple proof that such as phrase 'Ummati-Nabi' was actually written by HMGA himself in his writings.
From Zahid Aziz:
The point under discussion was whether, in view of the position which the Holy Quran assigns to Aaron, someone holding that position could arise among Muslims after the Holy Prophet Muhammad (e.g."sharing" the Holy Prophet's mission, having "authority" along with the Holy Prophet, being better able to articulate the Holy Prophet's mission than the Holy Prophet himself, etc.).
As to the grabbing of beard incident, it raises the question whether, like Moses, the Holy Prophet Muhammad might be angry and indignant with some "prophet without a law in his Ummah", and grab his beard on the Day of Judgment and reprimand him and ask: Why did you disobey my order and did not stop my followers from committing shirk?
From Zahid Aziz:
On the subject of the main post above, here are more verses.
Pharaoh and his chiefs said to Moses and Aaron:
"And we are not going to believe in you" (10:78).
The Arabic word for "you" here is in the dual tense (kuma), meaning "believe in you two".
"And We revealed to Moses and his brother: Take for your people houses to abide in Egypt and make your houses places of worship and keep up prayer. And give good news to the believers." (10:87)
In 10:88 there is a prayer by Moses against Pharaoh. The reply from Allah is:
"He said: Your prayer is accepted; so continue in the right way and do not follow the path of those who do not know." (10:89)
The pronoun and the two verbs that I have placed in bold above are in the dual tense, meaning that Allah in reply is addressing both Moses and Aaron.
These verses again show that Moses and Aaron were two prophets on a par with one another.