Part VI.
Nos. 15 and 16.
(Heb.) Moses (Heb.) mōšeh - (Ar.) Mūsā (15) and Aaron (Heb.) ‘aḥārōn - (Ar.) Hārūn (16) and associated sacred Books.
Stephen Lambden, UC Merced. Written 1980s. Last updated - 11-02-2022.
15. Moses (= Heb. , mōšeh), Ar. Mūsā In the Qur'an a Rasul (sent-Messenger) and a Nabi-Prophet ( R+N+M*) Moses (13th cent. BCE?). In the Bible he is the son of the Levites Amram and Yochebed (Exod. 2:1ff). The central lawgiver and prophet figure in biblical Judaism, Moses is also a key prophet-messenger of the Q. A major prototype and annunciator of Muhammad (Q.7:156), Moses is mentioned in the Q more frequently than any other prophet figure (Q. x 137 in 502 verses within 36 sūras).
Many of the biblical episodes associated with Moses have qur’ānic counterparts; examples are the Sinaitic call, theophany (Q.7:142-3) and revelation of the Torah (tawrāt); Pharoah and the exodus and various miracles associated therewith (Q.20:12; 7:143f; etc). As in the Q. Moses the exalted divine manifestation is very frequently mentioned in Shaykhī and in Bābī- Bahā’ī literatures. The interpretation of the theophany on Sinai was foundational for the self-understanding and claims of the Bāb and BA*. This especially as it is mentioned in the semi-ghuluww (“extremist”), Shī`ī khuṭba al-ṭutunjiyya [Tatanjiyya] (loosely, `"Sermon of the Gulf") ascribed to Imam `Alī (d.40/661) (Lambden, 1986:84-5).
16. Aaron, Hebrew , ‘aḥārōn) (Ar.) Hārūn, a Qur'anic Rasul (sent Messenger) as well as a Nabi - Prophet figure (R+N ) fl. 3th cent. BCE?) though not a Babi-Baha'i mazhar-i ilahi -Manifestation of God. Aaron is the biblical elder brother of Moses (Exod. 2:1f) and an Israelite priest of the tribe of Levi. In the Q. he is
20 times mentioned in 13 sūras. He is the wazīr of Moses (Q. 20:30; 35:17) with whom he is almost always mentioned. Aaron is again very seldom mentioned in Bābī-Bahā’ī sources save in association with Moses.
