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.
Related Ayahs
فَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا ۖ وَمِنْ ءَانَآئِ ٱلَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْ وَأَطْرَافَ ٱلنَّهَارِ لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضَىٰ
So be patient over what they say and exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and during periods of the night [exalt Him] and at the ends of the day, that you may be satisfied.
فَلَنَأْتِيَنَّكَ بِسِحْرٍ مِّثْلِهِۦ فَٱجْعَلْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكَ مَوْعِدًا لَّا نُخْلِفُهُۥ نَحْنُ وَلَآ أَنتَ مَكَانًا سُوًى
Then we will surely bring you magic like it, so make between us and you an appointment, which we will not fail to keep and neither will you, in a place assigned."
قَالَ ءَامَنتُمْ لَهُۥ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱلسِّحْرَ ۖ فَلَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَـٰفٍ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِى جُذُوعِ ٱلنَّخْلِ وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ أَيُّنَآ أَشَدُّ عَذَابًا وَأَبْقَىٰ
[Pharaoh] said, "You believed him [i.e., Moses] before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who has taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and you will surely know which of us is more severe in [giving] punishment and more enduring."
قَالَ مَوْعِدُكُمْ يَوْمُ ٱلزِّينَةِ وَأَن يُحْشَرَ ٱلنَّاسُ ضُحًى
[Moses] said, "Your appointment is on the day of the festival when the people assemble at mid-morning."