Haroon alaihissalam was the elder brother of Prophet Musa alaihissalam and was one of the noble prophets of the people of Israel. He was born in the year when Firawn spared the boys from killing and Musa alaihissalam was born in the year when boys were being killed.
Prophet Haroon alaihissalam accompanied Musa alaihissalam in his mission of guiding the Firawn to the truth as commanded by ALLAH SWT. Musa alaihissalam had speech difficulty and he would stammer while talking and Prophet Haroon alaihissalam was a good speaker. This is why Musa alaihissalam asked ALLAH SWT for his brother Haroon alaihissalam to accompany him and ALLAH SWT granted his wish.
Prophet Musa alaihissalam made dua as: “‘O ALLAH, lift my heart and ease my task for me. Untie my tongue, so that they may understand my words, and give me a helper from my family, my brother Harun (Aaron) – augment my strength through him. Let him share my task so that we can glorify You much and remember You often: You are always watching over us.” (Quran 20:25-35)
Haroon alaihissalam is mentioned in the Holy Quran 20 times and 20 verses.
As we all know from the story of Prophet Musa alaihissalam, that Musa alaihissalam went to Mount Toor to keep his appointment of a special meeting with ALLAH SWT for forty days. He assigned Prophet Haroon alaihissalam in charge of Bani Israel in his absence. In this meeting, Musa alaihissalam spoke directly to ALLAH SWT and he was given the guidance for Bani Israel which was written on two stone-made tablets.
During these forty days, in the absence of Prophet Musa alaihissalam, Bani Israel got restless and started questioning Haroon alaihissalam about God to whom they can worship. Haroon alaihissalam tried his best to stop them from disbelieving going astray. He told them: “My people! It is just a trial for you. Your Lord is the All-Merciful, so follow me and obey my command!” (Surah Ta-Ha, 90)
But they all became so impatient and disobedient and got easily misguided by a hypocritical Israeli named Samiri. Samiri suggested to them that Musa alaihissalam has broken his promise as he did not come back for so long, so they should find another guide for themselves. Samiri took the pieces of jewelry from people, melted them, and made a calf-like idol with it. He then told the people that this calf is their new God. They all started worshiping the calf and said: “We will not stop devoting ourselves to it until Musa returns to us.” (Surah Ta-Ha, 91)
Seeing his people go astray, prophet Haroon alahissalam felt apprehensive about their behavior and reminded them to worship the only one ALLAH.
When Musa alaihissalam returned from the Toor, he found his people doing the sinful act of worshiping a golden calf. Musa alaihissalam could not believe this and got extremely angry. He got so furious that he threw the Tablets on the ground and said: “O my people! Did not your Lord promise you a fair promise? Did then the promise seem to you long in coming? Or did you desire the Wrath should descend from your Lord on you, so you broke your promise to me (disbelieving in Allah and worshipping the calf)?” (Ch 20: 83-86 Quran)
In a state of disappointment and sorrow, Prophet Musa alaihissalam grabbed his brother Haroon alaihissalam by his beard and said: “O Haroon! What stopped you when you saw them going astray, that you followed me not (according to my advice to you)? Have you then disobeyed my order?“
Prophet Haroon alaihissalam then replied: “O my son of my mother! Seize me not by my beard, nor by my head! Verily, I feared lest you should say: ‘You have caused a division among the children of Israel, and you have not respected my word!’” (Quran 20)
Haroon alaihissalam said: “the people overpowered me and almost killed me. Do not give my enemies cause to gloat over me. Do not include me with the wrongdoers.”
Musa alaihissalam then repented to ALLAH SWT and said, “My Lord, forgive me and my brother and admit us to Your mercy. You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.” (Surat al-A’raf, 150-151).
Scholars say that Prophet Haroon alaihissalam lived for 123 years. The tomb of Prophet Haroon alaihissalam is in West Jordan at the peak of Mount hoor.
ALLAH SWT mentioned Prophet Haroon alaihissalam among other Prophets in the Quran which shows the high status of Prophet Haroon alaihissalam.
Amir bin Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas RA reported (on the authority of his father) that the Prophet said: In hadeeth, Prophet Muhammad SAW said that: “Your position to me is like the position of Aaron (Haroon) to Moses (Musa), except there will be no prophet after me.” (Sahi Muslim)