أَفَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَلَّا يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَوْلًا وَلَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا ﴿۸۹﴾ وَلَقَدْ قَالَ لَهُمْ هَارُونُ مِنْ قَبْلُ يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّمَا فُتِنْتُمْ بِهِ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ الرَّحْمَنُ فَاتَّبِعُونِي وَأَطِيعُوا أَمْرِي ﴿۹۰﴾ قَالُوا لَنْ نَبْرَحَ عَلَيْهِ عَاكِفِينَ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَيْنَا مُوسَى ﴿۹۱﴾

﴾89﴿ Afalaa yarawna allaa yarji'u ilaihim qawlanw wa laa yamliku lahum darranw wa laa naf'aa
﴾90﴿ Wa laqad qaala lahum Haaroonu min qablu yaa qawmi innamaa futintum bihee wa inna Rabbakumur Rahmaanu fattabi'oonee wa atee'ooo amree
﴾91﴿ Qaaloo lan nabraha 'alaihi 'aakifeena hattaa yarji'a ilainaa Moosaa

﴾89﴿ Do they not know that this calf cannot respond to them with any speech and has no power to harm or benefit them
﴾90﴿ And indeed, Aaron had said to them beforehand, O my people, you have only been tested by this (calf), and indeed your Lord is the Most Merciful. So follow me and obey my command
﴾91﴿ They said, "We will remain devoted to (worshiping) this calf until Moses returns to us

[89] In this verse, there is a refutation of the polytheists by negating the divine attributes from the calf.
One attribute is speaking and responding, which shows that speech is an attribute of Allah Almighty.
The second attribute is having control over benefit and harm, because the true God possesses the power to bring benefit and harm.
Note: These two attributes are also not present in the dead saints whom people have made into deities.
They can neither speak nor respond, nor do they have any control over the benefit or harm of anyone.
[90] In this verse, the advice of Harun (peace be upon him) to his people is conveyed in four statements.
The first statement is a refutation of polytheism and an indication that Samiri's actions were all a trial.
The second statement explains monotheism.
The third statement is a command to follow, and the fourth is a command to obey.
This is the summary of the true message.
This was mentioned in part to prevent anyone from claiming or objecting that Harun (peace be upon him) compromised—thus it becomes clear that showing leniency is permissible in certain contexts.
Note: The difference between following (ittibāʿ) and obeying (ṭāʿah) is that following refers to actions and way of life, while obeying refers to accepting speech and rulings.
Meaning, Harun (peace be upon him) told the people to act like him in the way of monotheism and to obey his command by abandoning polytheism.
[91] This is the people's response to Harun (peace be upon him) because they considered him weak, and they made the return of Musa (peace be upon him) a condition for obedience.
They assumed that Musa (peace be upon him) would approve of their worship of the calf.
Note: The meaning of ‘ukūf is to cling to something and turn toward it with reverence and worship.
They too began to revere and worship the calf, circling around it and dancing before it.