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 Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
150. And when Musa (Moses) ؑ returned to his people, angry and grieved, he said, "You have done evil in my absence. Did you hasten the matter before your Lord's command?" Then he threw down the tablets and seized his brother by the head, pulling him towards himself. Harun (Aaron) said, "O son of my mother! The people considered me weak and were about to kill me. So do not let the enemies rejoice over me, and do not place me with the wrongdoing people."
[147]
The Reproach of Sayyiduna Musa (علیہ السلام) Upon Harun (علیہ السلام) and His Response:
Musa (علیہ السلام) had already been informed by revelation while on Mount Tur that Samiri had made a calf and that many people of the nation had fallen into calf-worship. Therefore, when he returned to his people, anger and grief were already present in his temperament. Upon arrival, he said to the people, "What mischief have you committed after me?" Your life immediately of disbelief and polytheism returned among you. Then, in a state of anger and religious zeal, he threw down the tablets and, pulling the beard and head hair of Sayyiduna Harun (علیہ السلام), said, "How did you tolerate all this as my deputy?" In response, Sayyiduna Harun (علیہ السلام) replied in a very loving tone and apologetic manner: "My brother, son of my mother! Just listen to me. I did not fall short in trying to make them understand, but these people were so rebellious that they did not understand anything I said. Rather, they even started threatening to kill me. Therefore, do not give these wretches a chance to laugh at me and clap their hands, and never think that the injustice and polytheism they committed was done at my instigation." Here, it is worth mentioning that in the Bible, some prophets have been accused of various severe sins, among whom is Sayyiduna Harun (علیہ السلام), who is not only considered a participant in the crime of this polytheism of Bani Israel but also its instigator and helper. In this regard, consider the following passage from the Bible: "When Musa delayed in coming down from the mountain, the Israelites became impatient and said to Sayyiduna Harun (علیہ السلام), 'Make us a god,' and Harun (علیہ السلام) made a golden calf for them according to their request. As soon as the Israelites saw it, they exclaimed, 'O Israel! This is your god who brought you out of the land of Egypt.' Then Harun (علیہ السلام) built an altar for it and, after announcing, gathered all the Israelites the next day and offered sacrifices before it." [خروج باب 32 آيت 1 تا 6]
The Accusation of Calf-Worship Against Sayyiduna Harun (علیہ السلام) in the Bible:
The Noble Quran has completely exonerated Sayyiduna Harun (علیہ السلام) from this accusation of the Jews and clarified that the maker of the calf was not Harun (علیہ السلام) but Samiri. And for this reason, Allah Almighty has declared the Quran as a guardian over all previous heavenly books, meaning that whatever in those books contradicts the Quran cannot be considered revealed; it is certainly the inventions of others.
[147]
The Reproach of Sayyiduna Musa (علیہ السلام) Upon Harun (علیہ السلام) and His Response:
Musa (علیہ السلام) had already been informed by revelation while on Mount Tur that Samiri had made a calf and that many people of the nation had fallen into calf-worship. Therefore, when he returned to his people, anger and grief were already present in his temperament. Upon arrival, he said to the people, "What mischief have you committed after me?" Your life immediately of disbelief and polytheism returned among you. Then, in a state of anger and religious zeal, he threw down the tablets and, pulling the beard and head hair of Sayyiduna Harun (علیہ السلام), said, "How did you tolerate all this as my deputy?" In response, Sayyiduna Harun (علیہ السلام) replied in a very loving tone and apologetic manner: "My brother, son of my mother! Just listen to me. I did not fall short in trying to make them understand, but these people were so rebellious that they did not understand anything I said. Rather, they even started threatening to kill me. Therefore, do not give these wretches a chance to laugh at me and clap their hands, and never think that the injustice and polytheism they committed was done at my instigation." Here, it is worth mentioning that in the Bible, some prophets have been accused of various severe sins, among whom is Sayyiduna Harun (علیہ السلام), who is not only considered a participant in the crime of this polytheism of Bani Israel but also its instigator and helper. In this regard, consider the following passage from the Bible: "When Musa delayed in coming down from the mountain, the Israelites became impatient and said to Sayyiduna Harun (علیہ السلام), 'Make us a god,' and Harun (علیہ السلام) made a golden calf for them according to their request. As soon as the Israelites saw it, they exclaimed, 'O Israel! This is your god who brought you out of the land of Egypt.' Then Harun (علیہ السلام) built an altar for it and, after announcing, gathered all the Israelites the next day and offered sacrifices before it." [خروج باب 32 آيت 1 تا 6]
The Accusation of Calf-Worship Against Sayyiduna Harun (علیہ السلام) in the Bible:
The Noble Quran has completely exonerated Sayyiduna Harun (علیہ السلام) from this accusation of the Jews and clarified that the maker of the calf was not Harun (علیہ السلام) but Samiri. And for this reason, Allah Almighty has declared the Quran as a guardian over all previous heavenly books, meaning that whatever in those books contradicts the Quran cannot be considered revealed; it is certainly the inventions of others.
