سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 150
وَلَمَّا رَجَعَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ غَضْبَـٰنَ أَسِفًا قَالَ بِئْسَمَا خَلَفْتُمُونِى مِنۢ بَعْدِىٓ ۖ أَعَجِلْتُمْ أَمْرَ رَبِّكُمْ ۖ وَأَلْقَى ٱلْأَلْوَاحَ وَأَخَذَ بِرَأْسِ أَخِيهِ يَجُرُّهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِ ۚ قَالَ ٱبْنَ أُمَّ إِنَّ ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱسْتَضْعَفُونِى وَكَادُوا۟ يَقْتُلُونَنِى فَلَا تُشْمِتْ بِىَ ٱلْأَعْدَآءَ وَلَا تَجْعَلْنِى مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿150﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And when Mûsâ (Moses) returned to his people, angry and grieved, he said: "What an evil thing is that which you have done (i.e. worshipping the calf) during my absence. Did you hasten and go ahead as regards the matter of your Lord (you left His worship)?" And he threw down the Tablets and seized his brother by (the hair of) his head and dragged him towards him. Hârûn (Aaron) said: "O son of my mother! Indeed the people judged me weak and were about to kill me, so make not the enemies rejoice over me, nor put me amongst the people who are Zâlimûn (wrong-doers)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَمَّا
walammā
And when
رَجَعَ
rajaʿa
returned
مُوسَىٰٓ
mūsā
Musa
إِلَىٰ
ilā
to
قَوْمِهِۦ
qawmihi
his people
غَضْبَـٰنَ
ghaḍbāna
angry
أَسِفًۭا
asifan
and grieved
قَالَ
qāla
he said
بِئْسَمَا
bi'samā
Evil is what
خَلَفْتُمُونِى
khalaftumūnī
you have done in my place
مِنۢ
min
from
بَعْدِىٓ ۖ
baʿdī
after me
أَعَجِلْتُمْ
aʿajil'tum
Were you impatient
أَمْرَ
amra
(over the) matter
رَبِّكُمْ ۖ
rabbikum
(of) your Lord
وَأَلْقَى
wa-alqā
And he cast down
ٱلْأَلْوَاحَ
l-alwāḥa
the tablets
وَأَخَذَ
wa-akhadha
and seized
بِرَأْسِ
birasi
by head
أَخِيهِ
akhīhi
his brother
يَجُرُّهُۥٓ
yajurruhu
dragging him
إِلَيْهِ ۚ
ilayhi
to himself
قَالَ
qāla
He said
ٱبْنَ
ib'na
O son
أُمَّ
umma
(of) my mother
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱلْقَوْمَ
l-qawma
the people
ٱسْتَضْعَفُونِى
is'taḍʿafūnī
considered me weak
وَكَادُوا۟
wakādū
and were about to
يَقْتُلُونَنِى
yaqtulūnanī
kill me
فَلَا
falā
So (let) not
تُشْمِتْ
tush'mit
rejoice
بِىَ
biya
over me
ٱلْأَعْدَآءَ
l-aʿdāa
the enemies
وَلَا
walā
and (do) not
تَجْعَلْنِى
tajʿalnī
place me
مَعَ
maʿa
with
ٱلْقَوْمِ
l-qawmi
the people
ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
l-ẓālimīna
(who are) wrongdoing
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
150. 1 When Musa (Moses) ؑ came and saw that they were engaged in the worship of the calf, he became extremely angry, and in haste, the tablets which he had brought from Mount Tur, he placed them in such a manner that it appeared to the onlookers as if he had thrown them down, which the Quran has described as "cast down." However, even if he did throw them, there is no disrespect in this, because his intention was not to disrespect the tablets, but rather, in religious zeal and importance, he became so overwhelmed that this act occurred from him involuntarily.
150. 2 Harun (Aaron) ؑ and Musa (Moses) ؑ were real brothers, but here Harun ؑ said "son of my mother" because in this phrase there is more affection and gentleness.
150. 3 Harun (Aaron) ؑ presented his excuse, due to which he was unable to prevent the people from the grave crime of shirk (associating partners with Allah). One reason was his own weakness, and the other was the stubbornness and rebellion of Bani Israel, to the extent that they were ready to kill him, and he had to remain silent to save his life, for which Allah has given permission in such situations.
150. 4 By only reproaching me, the enemies will be pleased, whereas this is the time to suppress the enemies and to save our people from them.
150. 5 And besides, how can I be counted among them in belief and action? I neither committed shirk, nor permitted it, nor was pleased with it; I only remained silent, and for that I have a valid excuse. Then how can I be counted among the wrongdoers (polytheists)? Thus, Musa (Moses) ؑ prayed for forgiveness and mercy for his brother Harun (Aaron) ؑ.
150. 2 Harun (Aaron) ؑ and Musa (Moses) ؑ were real brothers, but here Harun ؑ said "son of my mother" because in this phrase there is more affection and gentleness.
150. 3 Harun (Aaron) ؑ presented his excuse, due to which he was unable to prevent the people from the grave crime of shirk (associating partners with Allah). One reason was his own weakness, and the other was the stubbornness and rebellion of Bani Israel, to the extent that they were ready to kill him, and he had to remain silent to save his life, for which Allah has given permission in such situations.
150. 4 By only reproaching me, the enemies will be pleased, whereas this is the time to suppress the enemies and to save our people from them.
150. 5 And besides, how can I be counted among them in belief and action? I neither committed shirk, nor permitted it, nor was pleased with it; I only remained silent, and for that I have a valid excuse. Then how can I be counted among the wrongdoers (polytheists)? Thus, Musa (Moses) ؑ prayed for forgiveness and mercy for his brother Harun (Aaron) ؑ.
