Surah Baqarah ayat 102 Tafsir Quran 2:102

﴿وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ ۖ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَلَٰكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ ۚ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ ۖ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ ۚ وَمَا هُم بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ ۚ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ ۚ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا بِهِ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ﴾
[ البقرة: 102]

2:102 And they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. But the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, "We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic]." And [yet] they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife. But they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allah. And the people learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But the Children of Israel certainly knew that whoever purchased the magic would not have in the Hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew.

And they follow wa’ttaba‘ū is a supplement to nabadha ‘it cast away’ what the devils used to relate during the time of Solomon’s kingdom in the way of sorcery it is said that they the devils buried these books of sorcery underneath his throne when his kingdom was taken from him; it is also said that they used to listen stealthily and add fabrications to what they heard and then pass it on to the priests who would compile it in books; this would be disseminated and rumours spread that the jinn had knowledge of the Unseen. Solomon gathered these books and buried them. When he died the devils showed people where these books were and the latter brought them out and found that they contained sorcery and said ‘Your kingdom was only thanks to what is in here’; they then took to learning them and rejected the Scriptures of their prophets. In order to demonstrate Solomon’s innocence and in repudiation of the Jews when they said ‘Look at this Muhammad he mentions Solomon as one of the prophets when he was only a sorcerer’ God exalted says Solomon disbelieved not that is he did not work magic because he disbelieved but the devils disbelieved teaching the people sorcery this sentence is a circumstantial qualifier referring to the person governing the verb kafarū; and teaching them that which was revealed to the two angels that is the sorcery that they were inspired to perform al-malakayn ‘the two angels’ a variant reading has al-malikayn ‘the two kings’ who were in Babylon — a town in lower Iraq — Hārūt and Mārūt here the names are standing in for ‘the two angels’ or an explication of the latter. Ibn ‘Abbās said ‘They were two sorcerers who used to teach people magic’; it is also said that they were two angels that had been sent to teach sorcery to people as a trial from God. They taught not any man without them saying by way of counsel ‘We are but a temptation a trial from God for people so that He may test them when they are taught it whoever learns it is a disbeliever but whoever renounces it he is a believer; do not disbelieve’ by learning it; if this person refused and insisted on learning it they would teach him.

And they pursued vanity and neglected religion; they were attracted to characteristics befitting AL-Shayatin who attributed Sulaymans (Solomon) prerogative of Prophethood and power to the art of sorcery and occult qualities; a defying impiety and a serious offence for which Sulayman was innocent. In fact it was the blasphemers who defied Allah. They taught people necromancy which they practised through contact with evil spirits and through the knowledge they acquired from revelations imparted to the two angelic Babylonians Harut and Marut. But Harut and Marut made it clear that their art was a source of temptation and an incitement to evil and they cautioned against indulgence as it meant defiance to Allah. Yet those blasphemers pursued the evil aspect of this art using those spirits to sow discord between husband and wife and other similar evil acts. Nonetheless no one suffers harm unless divinely predetermined. They applied themselves to learning the art which inflicts harm upon them and they derive no profit from it. Yet they knew that he who engages in sorcery for vice shall have no bliss of the Hereafter; how worthless was the price they received for selling their own souls to immorality and wickedness if they only knew

Proofs of Muhammad's ﷺ Prophethood Imam Abu Ja`far bin Jarir said that Allah's statement, وَلَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ءَايَـتٍ بَيِّنَـتٍ ( And indeed We have sent down to you manifest Ayat ) means, "We have sent to you, O Muhammad, clear signs that testify to your prophethood." These Ayat are contained in the Book of Allah ( Qur'an ) which narrates the secrets of the knowledge that the Jews possess, which they hid, and the stories of their earlier generations.
The Book of Allah also mentions the texts in the Books of the Jews that are known to only the rabbis and scholars, and the sections where they altered and distorted the rulings of the Tawrah.
Since Allah mentioned all of this in His Book revealed to His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, then this fact alone should be enough evidence for those who are truthful with themselves and who wish to avoid bringing themselves to destruction due to envy and transgression.
Further human instict testifies to the truth that Muhammad was sent with and the clear signs that he brought which he did not learn or acquire from mankind.
Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn `Abbas said that, وَلَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ءَايَـتٍ بَيِّنَـتٍ ( And indeed We have sent down to you manifest Ayat ) means, "You recite and convey this Book to them day and night, although you are an Ummi ( unlettered ) who never read a book.
Yet, you inform them of what they have ( in their own Books ).
Allah stated that this fact should serve as an example, a clear sign and a proof against them, if they but knew." The Jews break Their Covenants When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sent and Allah reminded the Jews of the covenant that they had with Him, especially concerning Muhammad ﷺ , Malik bin As-Sayf said, "By Allah! Allah never made a covenant with us about Muhammad ﷺ, nor did He take a pledge from us at all." Allah then revealed, أَوَكُلَّمَا عَـهَدُواْ عَهْدًا نَّبَذَهُ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُم ( Is it not (the case ) that every time they make a covenant, some party among them throw it aside) Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that Allah's statement, بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ ( Nay! (the truth is: ) most of them believe not) means, "There is not a promise that they make, but they break it and abandon it.
They make a promise today and break it tomorrow." The Jews abandoned the Book of Allah and practiced Magic As-Suddi commented on, وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ ( And when there came to them a Messenger from Allah (i.e.
Muhammad ) confirming what was with them), "When Muhammad ﷺ came to them, they wanted to contradict and dispute with him using the Tawrah.
However, the Tawrah and the Qur'an affirmed each other.
So the Jews gave up on using the Torah, and took to the Book of Asaf, and the magic of Harut and Marut, which indeed did not conform to the Qur'an.
Hence Allah's statement, كَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ( As if they did not know! )." Also, Qatadah said that Allah's statement, كَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ( As if they did not know! ) means, "They knew the truth but abandoned it, hid it and denied the fact that they even had it." Magic existed before Sulayman ( Solomon ) As-Suddi said that Allah's statement, وَاتَّبَعُواْ مَا تَتْلُواْ الشَّيَـطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَـنَ ( They followed what the Shayatin (devils ) gave out ( falsely of the magic ) in the lifetime of Sulayman) means, "`During the time of Prophet Solomon.' Beforehand, the devils used to ascend to heaven and eavesdrop on the conversations of the angels about what will occur on the earth regarding death, other incidents or unseen matters.
They would convey this news to the soothsayers, and the soothsayers would in turn convey the news to the people.
The people would believe what the soothsayers told them as being true.
When the soothsayers trusted the devils, the devils started to lie to them and added other words to the true news that they heard, to the extent of adding seventy false words to each true word.
The people recorded these words in some books.
Soon after, the Children of Israel said that the Jinns know matters of the Unseen.
When Solomon was sent as a Prophet, he collected these books in a box and buried it under his throne; any devil that dared get near the box was burned.
Solomon said, `I will not hear of anyone who says that the devils know the Unseen, but I will cut off his head.' When Solomon died and the scholars who knew the truth about Solomon perished, there came another generation.
To them, the devil materialized in the shape of a human and said to some of the Children of Israel, `Should I lead you to a treasure that you will never be able to use up' They said.
`Yes.' He said, `Dig under this throne,' and he went with them and showed them Solomon's throne.
They said to him, `Come closer.' He said, `No.
I will wait for you here, and if you do not find the treasure then kill me.
' They dug and found the buried books, and Satan said to them, `Solomon only controlled the humans, devils and birds with this magic.' Thereafter, the news that Solomon was a sorcerer spread among the people, and the Children of Israel adopted these books.
When Muhammad ﷺ came, they disputed with him relying on these books.
Hence Allah's statement, وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَـنُ وَلَـكِنَّ الشَّيْاطِينَ كَفَرُواْ ( Sulayman did not disbelieve, but the Shayatin (devils ) disbelieved). The Story of Harut and Marut, and the Explanation that They were Angels Allah said, وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَـرُوتَ وَمَـرُوتَ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ ( And such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Harut and Marut, but neither of these two (angels ) taught anyone ( such things ) till they had said, "We are for trial, so disbelieve not ( by learning this magic from us )." And from these ( angels ) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife). There is a difference of opinion regarding this story.
It was said that this Ayah denies that anything was sent down to the two angels, as Al-Qurtubi stated and then referred to the Ayah, وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَـنُ ( Sulayman did not disbelieve ) saying, "The negation applies in both cases.
Allah then said, وَلَـكِنَّ الشَّيْاطِينَ كَفَرُواْ يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ ( But the Shayatin (devils ) disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels). The Jews claimed that Gabriel and Michael brought magic down to the two angels, but Allah refuted this false claim." Also, Ibn Jarir reported, that Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said about Allah's statement, وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ ( And such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels ) "Allah did not send magic down." Also, Ibn Jarir narrated that Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said about, وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ ( And such things that came down to the two angels ), "Allah did not send magic down to the them." Ibn Jarir commented, "This is the correct explanation for this Ayah. وَاتَّبَعُواْ مَا تَتْلُواْ الشَّيَـطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَـنَ ( They followed what the Shayatin (devils ) gave out ( falsely ) in the lifetime of Sulayman.) meaning, magic.
However, neither did Solomon disbelieve nor did Allah send magic with the two angels.
The devils, on the other hand, disbelieved and taught magic to the people of the Babylon of Harut and Marut." Ibn Jarir continued; "If someone asks about explaining this Ayah in this manner, we say that, وَاتَّبَعُواْ مَا تَتْلُواْ الشَّيَـطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَـنَ ( They followed what the Shayatin (devils ) gave out ( falsely ) in the lifetime of Sulayman.) means, magic.
Solomon neither disbelieved nor did Allah send magic with the two angels.
However, the devils disbelieved and taught magic to the people in the Babylon of Harut and Marut, meaning Gabriel and Michael, for Jewish sorcerers claimed that Allah sent magic by the words of Gabriel and Michael to Solomon, son of David.
Allah denied this false claim and stated to His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that Gabriel and Michael were not sent with magic.
Allah also exonerated Solomon from practicing magic, which the devils taught to the people of Babylon by the hands of two men, Harut and Marut.
Hence, Harut and Marut were two ordinary men ( not angels or Gabriel or Michael )." These were the words of At-Tabari, and this explanation is not plausible. Many among the Salaf, said that Harut and Marut were angels who came down from heaven to earth and did what they did as the Ayah stated.
To conform this opinion with the fact that the angels are immune from error, we say that Allah had eternal knowledge what these angels would do, just as He had eternal knowledge that Iblis would do as he did, while Allah refered to him being among the angels, وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـئِكَةِ اسْجُدُواْ لأَدَمَ فَسَجَدُواْ إِلاَّ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَى ( And (remember ) when We said to the angels: "Prostrate yourselves before Adam." And they prostrated except Iblis ( Satan ), he refused) ( 20:116 ) and so forth.
However, what Harut and Marut did was less evil than what Iblis, may Allah curse him, did.
Al-Qurtubi reported this opinion from `Ali, Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn `Abbas, Ibn `Umar, Ka`b Al-Ahbar, As-Suddi and Al-Kalbi. Learning Magic is Kufr Allah said, وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ ( But neither of these two (angels ) taught anyone ( such things ) till they had said, "We are for trial, so disbelieve not ( by learning this magic from us ).) Abu Ja`far Ar-Razi said that Ar-Rabi' bin Anas said that Qays bin `Abbad said that Ibn `Abbas said, "When someone came to the angels to learn magic, they would discourage him and say to him, `We are only a test, so do not fall into disbelief.' They had knowledge of what is good and evil and what constitutes belief or disbelief, and they thus knew that magic is a form of disbelief.
When the person who came to learn magic still insisted on learning it, they commanded him to go to such and such place, where if he went, Satan would meet him and teach him magic.
When this man would learn magic, the light ( of faith ) would depart him, and he would see it shining ( and flying away ) in the sky.
He would then proclaim, `O my sorrow! Woe unto me! What should I do." Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that this Ayah means, "The angels were sent with magic, so that the people whom Allah willed would be tried and tested.
Allah made them promise that they would not teach anyone until first proclaiming, `We are a test for you, do not fall into disbelief."' It was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim.
Also, Qatadah said, "Allah took their covenant to not teach anyone magic until they said, `We are a test.
Therefore, do not fall in disbelief."' Also, As-Suddi said, "When a man would come to the two angels they would advise him, `Do not fall into disbelief.
We are a test.
' When the man would ignore their advice, they would say, `Go to that pile of ashes and urinate on it.' When he would urinate on the ashes, a light, meaning the light of faith, would depart from him and would shine until it entered heaven.
Then something black that appeared to be smoke would descend and enter his ears and the rest of his body, and this is Allah's anger.
When he told the angels what happened, they would teach him magic.
So Allah's statement, وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ ( But neither of these two (angels ) taught anyone ( such things ) till they had said, "We are for trial, so disbelieve not ( by learning this magic from us ).) Sunayd said that Hajjaj said that Ibn Jurayj commented on this Ayah ( 2:102 ), "No one dares practice magic except a disbeliever.
As for the Fitnah, it involves trials and freedom of choice."The scholars who stated that learning magic is disbelief relied on this Ayah for evidence.
They also mentioned the Hadith that Abu Bakr Al-Bazzar recorded from `Abdullah, which states,
«مَنْ أَتَى كَاهِنًا أَوْ سَاحِرًا فَصَدَّقَهُ بِمَا يَقُولُ فَقَدْ كَفَر بِمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍصلى الله عليه وسلّم»
( Whoever came to a soothsayer or a sorcerer and believed in what he said, will have disbelieved in what Allah revealed to Muhammad . ) This Hadith has an authentic chain of narration and there are other Hadiths which support it. Causing a Separation between the Spouses is One of the Effects of Magic Allah said, فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ ( And from these (angels ) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife,) This means, "The people learned magic from Harut and Marut and indulged in evil acts that included separating spouses, even though spouses are close to, and intimately associate with each other.
This is the devil's work." Muslim recorded that Jabir bin `Abdullah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَيَضَعُ عَرْشَهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُ سَرَايَاهُ فِي النَّاسِ فَأَقْرَبُهُمْ عِنْدَهُ مَنْزِلَةً أَعْظَمُهُمْ عِنْدَهُ فِتْنَةً وَيَجِيءُ أَحَدُهُمْ فَيَقُولُ: مَا زِلْتُ بِفُلَانٍ حَتَّى تَرَكْتُهُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَيَقُولُ إِبْلِيسُ: لَا وَاللهِ مَا صَنَعْتَ شَيْئًا، وَيَجِيءُ أَحَدُهُمْ فَيَقُولُ: مَا تَرَكْتُهُ حَتّى فَرَّقْتُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ أَهْلِهِ، قَالَ: فَيُقرِّبُهُ وَيُدْنِيهِ وَيَلْتَزِمُهُ وَيَقُولُ: نِعْمَ أَنْت»
( Satan erects his throne on water and sends his emissaries among the people.
The closest person to him is the person who causes the most Fitnah.
One of them (a devil ) would come to him and would say, `I kept inciting so-and-so, until he said such and such words.' Iblis says, `No, by Allah, you have not done much.' Another devil would come to him and would say, `I kept inciting so-and-so, until I separated between him and his wife.' Satan would draw him closer and embrace him, saying, `Yes, you did well.') Separation between a man and his wife occurs here because each spouse imagines that the other spouse is ugly or ill-mannered, etc. Allah's Appointed Term supercedes Everything Allah said, وَمَا هُم بِضَآرِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ( But they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah's leave ).
Sufyan Ath-Thawri commented, "Except by Allah's appointed term." Further, Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that, وَمَا هُم بِضَآرِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ( But they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah's leave ) means, "Allah allows magicians to adversely affect whomever He wills and saves whomever He wills from them.
Sorcerers never bring harm to anyone except by Allah's leave." Allah's statement, وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلاَ يَنفَعُهُمْ ( And they learn that which harms them and profits them not. ) means, it harms their religion and does not have a benefit compared to its harm. وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُواْ لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَـقٍ ( And indeed they knew that the buyers of it (magic ) would have no ( Khalaq ) share in the Hereafter.) meaning, "The Jews who preferred magic over following the Messenger of Allah ﷺ knew that those who commit the same error shall have no Khalaq in the Hereafter." Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and As-Suddi stated that `no Khalaq' means, `no share.' Allah then said, وَاتَّبَعُواْ مَا تَتْلُواْ الشَّيَـطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَـنَ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَـنُ وَلَـكِنَّ الشَّيْاطِينَ كَفَرُواْ يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَـرُوتَ وَمَـرُوتَ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ وَمَا هُم بِضَآرِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلاَ يَنفَعُهُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُواْ لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَـقٍ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْاْ بِهِ أَنفُسَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُونَ - وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُواْ واتَّقَوْا لَمَثُوبَةٌ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لَّوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُونَ ( And how bad indeed was that for which they sold their own selves, if they but knew.
And if they had believed and guarded themselves from evil and kept their duty to Allah, far better would have been the reward from their Lord, if they but knew! ).
Allah stated, o وَلَبِئْسَ ( And how bad ) meaning, what they preferred, magic, instead of faith and following the Messenger, if they but comprehend the advice. وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُواْ واتَّقَوْا لَمَثُوبَةٌ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ ( And if they had believed and guarded themselves from evil and kept their duty to Allah, far better would have been the reward from their Lord, ) meaning, "Had they believed in Allah and His Messenger and avoided the prohibitions, then Allah's reward for these good deeds would have been better for them than what they chose and preferred for themselves." Similarly, Allah said, وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْعِلْمَ وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـلِحاً وَلاَ يُلَقَّاهَآ إِلاَّ الصَّـبِرُونَ ( But those who had been given (religious ) knowledge said: "Woe to you! The reward of Allah ( in the Hereafter ) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this none shall attain except As-Sabirun ( the patient in following the truth ).") ( 28:80 ).

(2:102) (Instead of this,) they began to follow that (magic) to which the devils falsely attributed (the greatness of) the kingdom of Solomon. *104 In fact Solomon .was never involved in any practice of disbelief, but the satans, who taught magic to the people were themselves guilty of disbelief. They were after that thing which was sent to Harut and Marut, the two angels at Babylon. Whenever these two angels taught black art to anyone, they would always give a clear warning beforehand, saying, "We are merely a trial for you; so you should not commit blasphemy. *105 But in spite of this warning, those people used to learn from the angels the art which caused division between husband and wife. *106 Although it was obvious that they could not do any harm to anyone by means of this magic without Allah's permission, yet they learnt that art which could not be profitable even for them but was actually harmful. Moreover, they knew it full well that anyone, who purchased that art, would have no share in the Hereafter. What a vile commodity it was for which they sold off their souls, if they had but known it!

And they followed [instead] what the devils meaning

*104).
'Evil ones' embraces all evil beings, whether they belong to the human species or to the jinn.
Here the reference seems to be to both.

When moral and material decline set in amon the Israelites, they were overwhelmed with slavery and ignorance, with misery and poverty, and with humiliation and decadence.
They were thus drained of all high ambitions and increasingly turned to magic, sorcery, witchcraft, charms and amulets.
They began to search for facile means such as spells that would spare them hard work and yet ensure the achievement of their desired ends.
At this stage they were misled by the evil ones, who made them believe that the mighty kingdom and astonishing power of Solomon were merely due to occult sciences and magical formulae, and that by revealing those they would pass on to them the keys to success.
People were so engrossed in such practices that they ignored both the Book of God and anyone who summoned them to truth and righteousness.

*105).
There are various opinions on the interpretation of this verse.
My own conclusion is that at the time when the whole Israelite nation was chained in slavery and captivity in Babylonia God sent two angels in human form in order to test the Jews.
In the same way as angels were sent to the people of Lot in the form of handsome youths ( see Quran 11: 69 ff.
- Ed. ), they were presumably sent to Israel in the form of divines who could work magic and sorcery.
These angels at once began working their magical wonders but they warned the people that their presence among them was designed to test their faith, and that they ought not to jeopardize their After-life by the practice of magic.
Despite the warning it seems that the Israelites had become so fond of their magical artifices that they continued to resort to talismans and sorcery.

It should not surprise anyone that angels came down to earth in human form; angels are dutiful servants of God's kingdom, and are capable of assuming the form appropriate to the specific task they are required to perform at any particular time.
Who knows how many angels may be busy performing their duties in our midst even today!
One might also wonder why angels should teach people magic, which is after all intrinsically evil.
In order to understand this we must remember that the nature of their task was no different from that of an undercover policeman who hands over marked currency notes to a corrupt official as a bribe with the aim of ensuring that he is caught red-handed.

*106).
This shows that the greatest demand was for magical arts and charms to sow discord between a man and his wife and to procure the eventual seduction of the latter.
This was the depth of moral depravity to which these people had fallen.
A people cannot sink to a lower level of moral degeneracy than when adulterous affairs become their favourite pastime, and when seducing a married woman is considered a boastful achievement.
The matrimonial relationship is, in truth, the very foundation of man's collective life.
Tle soundness of human civilization depends on the soundness of the relationship between the twosexes.
Hence, nothing could be worse than the person who strikes at the very foundations of the structure which supports both him and society as a whole.

There is a Tradition from the Prophet to the effect that Satan sends his agents on their missions to all parts of the world.
On their return these agents report their achievements with each mentioning his own special evil act.
But Satan is not completely satisfied with any of them.
It is only when an agent reports that he has succeeded in separating a wife from her husband that Satan is filled with joy and embraces him.
( Bukhiri, 'Talaq', 25 - Ed. ) In the light of this Tradition it is understandable why the angels who were sent to the Israelites to test them were asked to disclose those magical arts which would lead to separation between a husband and his wife, for the inclination of a people to learn such arts is a sure index of its moral decadence.

 

Proofs of Muhammad's ﷺ Prophethood Imam Abu Ja`far bin Jarir said that Allah's statement, وَلَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ءَايَـتٍ بَيِّنَـتٍ ( And indeed We have sent down to you manifest Ayat ) means, "We have sent to you, O Muhammad, clear signs that testify to your prophethood." These Ayat are contained in the Book of Allah ( Qur'an ) which narrates the secrets of the knowledge that the Jews possess, which they hid, and the stories of their earlier generations.
The Book of Allah also mentions the texts in the Books of the Jews that are known to only the rabbis and scholars, and the sections where they altered and distorted the rulings of the Tawrah.
Since Allah mentioned all of this in His Book revealed to His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, then this fact alone should be enough evidence for those who are truthful with themselves and who wish to avoid bringing themselves to destruction due to envy and transgression.
Further human instict testifies to the truth that Muhammad was sent with and the clear signs that he brought which he did not learn or acquire from mankind.
Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn `Abbas said that, وَلَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ءَايَـتٍ بَيِّنَـتٍ ( And indeed We have sent down to you manifest Ayat ) means, "You recite and convey this Book to them day and night, although you are an Ummi ( unlettered ) who never read a book.
Yet, you inform them of what they have ( in their own Books ).
Allah stated that this fact should serve as an example, a clear sign and a proof against them, if they but knew." The Jews break Their Covenants When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sent and Allah reminded the Jews of the covenant that they had with Him, especially concerning Muhammad ﷺ , Malik bin As-Sayf said, "By Allah! Allah never made a covenant with us about Muhammad ﷺ, nor did He take a pledge from us at all." Allah then revealed, أَوَكُلَّمَا عَـهَدُواْ عَهْدًا نَّبَذَهُ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُم ( Is it not (the case ) that every time they make a covenant, some party among them throw it aside) Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that Allah's statement, بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ ( Nay! (the truth is: ) most of them believe not) means, "There is not a promise that they make, but they break it and abandon it.
They make a promise today and break it tomorrow." The Jews abandoned the Book of Allah and practiced Magic As-Suddi commented on, وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ ( And when there came to them a Messenger from Allah (i.e.
Muhammad ) confirming what was with them), "When Muhammad ﷺ came to them, they wanted to contradict and dispute with him using the Tawrah.
However, the Tawrah and the Qur'an affirmed each other.
So the Jews gave up on using the Torah, and took to the Book of Asaf, and the magic of Harut and Marut, which indeed did not conform to the Qur'an.
Hence Allah's statement, كَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ( As if they did not know! )." Also, Qatadah said that Allah's statement, كَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ( As if they did not know! ) means, "They knew the truth but abandoned it, hid it and denied the fact that they even had it." Magic existed before Sulayman ( Solomon ) As-Suddi said that Allah's statement, وَاتَّبَعُواْ مَا تَتْلُواْ الشَّيَـطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَـنَ ( They followed what the Shayatin (devils ) gave out ( falsely of the magic ) in the lifetime of Sulayman) means, "`During the time of Prophet Solomon.' Beforehand, the devils used to ascend to heaven and eavesdrop on the conversations of the angels about what will occur on the earth regarding death, other incidents or unseen matters.
They would convey this news to the soothsayers, and the soothsayers would in turn convey the news to the people.
The people would believe what the soothsayers told them as being true.
When the soothsayers trusted the devils, the devils started to lie to them and added other words to the true news that they heard, to the extent of adding seventy false words to each true word.
The people recorded these words in some books.
Soon after, the Children of Israel said that the Jinns know matters of the Unseen.
When Solomon was sent as a Prophet, he collected these books in a box and buried it under his throne; any devil that dared get near the box was burned.
Solomon said, `I will not hear of anyone who says that the devils know the Unseen, but I will cut off his head.' When Solomon died and the scholars who knew the truth about Solomon perished, there came another generation.
To them, the devil materialized in the shape of a human and said to some of the Children of Israel, `Should I lead you to a treasure that you will never be able to use up' They said.
`Yes.' He said, `Dig under this throne,' and he went with them and showed them Solomon's throne.
They said to him, `Come closer.' He said, `No.
I will wait for you here, and if you do not find the treasure then kill me.
' They dug and found the buried books, and Satan said to them, `Solomon only controlled the humans, devils and birds with this magic.' Thereafter, the news that Solomon was a sorcerer spread among the people, and the Children of Israel adopted these books.
When Muhammad ﷺ came, they disputed with him relying on these books.
Hence Allah's statement, وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَـنُ وَلَـكِنَّ الشَّيْاطِينَ كَفَرُواْ ( Sulayman did not disbelieve, but the Shayatin (devils ) disbelieved). The Story of Harut and Marut, and the Explanation that They were Angels Allah said, وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَـرُوتَ وَمَـرُوتَ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ ( And such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Harut and Marut, but neither of these two (angels ) taught anyone ( such things ) till they had said, "We are for trial, so disbelieve not ( by learning this magic from us )." And from these ( angels ) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife). There is a difference of opinion regarding this story.
It was said that this Ayah denies that anything was sent down to the two angels, as Al-Qurtubi stated and then referred to the Ayah, وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَـنُ ( Sulayman did not disbelieve ) saying, "The negation applies in both cases.
Allah then said, وَلَـكِنَّ الشَّيْاطِينَ كَفَرُواْ يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ ( But the Shayatin (devils ) disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels). The Jews claimed that Gabriel and Michael brought magic down to the two angels, but Allah refuted this false claim." Also, Ibn Jarir reported, that Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said about Allah's statement, وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ ( And such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels ) "Allah did not send magic down." Also, Ibn Jarir narrated that Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said about, وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ ( And such things that came down to the two angels ), "Allah did not send magic down to the them." Ibn Jarir commented, "This is the correct explanation for this Ayah. وَاتَّبَعُواْ مَا تَتْلُواْ الشَّيَـطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَـنَ ( They followed what the Shayatin (devils ) gave out ( falsely ) in the lifetime of Sulayman.) meaning, magic.
However, neither did Solomon disbelieve nor did Allah send magic with the two angels.
The devils, on the other hand, disbelieved and taught magic to the people of the Babylon of Harut and Marut." Ibn Jarir continued; "If someone asks about explaining this Ayah in this manner, we say that, وَاتَّبَعُواْ مَا تَتْلُواْ الشَّيَـطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَـنَ ( They followed what the Shayatin (devils ) gave out ( falsely ) in the lifetime of Sulayman.) means, magic.
Solomon neither disbelieved nor did Allah send magic with the two angels.
However, the devils disbelieved and taught magic to the people in the Babylon of Harut and Marut, meaning Gabriel and Michael, for Jewish sorcerers claimed that Allah sent magic by the words of Gabriel and Michael to Solomon, son of David.
Allah denied this false claim and stated to His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that Gabriel and Michael were not sent with magic.
Allah also exonerated Solomon from practicing magic, which the devils taught to the people of Babylon by the hands of two men, Harut and Marut.
Hence, Harut and Marut were two ordinary men ( not angels or Gabriel or Michael )." These were the words of At-Tabari, and this explanation is not plausible. Many among the Salaf, said that Harut and Marut were angels who came down from heaven to earth and did what they did as the Ayah stated.
To conform this opinion with the fact that the angels are immune from error, we say that Allah had eternal knowledge what these angels would do, just as He had eternal knowledge that Iblis would do as he did, while Allah refered to him being among the angels, وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـئِكَةِ اسْجُدُواْ لأَدَمَ فَسَجَدُواْ إِلاَّ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَى ( And (remember ) when We said to the angels: "Prostrate yourselves before Adam." And they prostrated except Iblis ( Satan ), he refused) ( 20:116 ) and so forth.
However, what Harut and Marut did was less evil than what Iblis, may Allah curse him, did.
Al-Qurtubi reported this opinion from `Ali, Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn `Abbas, Ibn `Umar, Ka`b Al-Ahbar, As-Suddi and Al-Kalbi. Learning Magic is Kufr Allah said, وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ ( But neither of these two (angels ) taught anyone ( such things ) till they had said, "We are for trial, so disbelieve not ( by learning this magic from us ).) Abu Ja`far Ar-Razi said that Ar-Rabi' bin Anas said that Qays bin `Abbad said that Ibn `Abbas said, "When someone came to the angels to learn magic, they would discourage him and say to him, `We are only a test, so do not fall into disbelief.' They had knowledge of what is good and evil and what constitutes belief or disbelief, and they thus knew that magic is a form of disbelief.
When the person who came to learn magic still insisted on learning it, they commanded him to go to such and such place, where if he went, Satan would meet him and teach him magic.
When this man would learn magic, the light ( of faith ) would depart him, and he would see it shining ( and flying away ) in the sky.
He would then proclaim, `O my sorrow! Woe unto me! What should I do." Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that this Ayah means, "The angels were sent with magic, so that the people whom Allah willed would be tried and tested.
Allah made them promise that they would not teach anyone until first proclaiming, `We are a test for you, do not fall into disbelief."' It was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim.
Also, Qatadah said, "Allah took their covenant to not teach anyone magic until they said, `We are a test.
Therefore, do not fall in disbelief."' Also, As-Suddi said, "When a man would come to the two angels they would advise him, `Do not fall into disbelief.
We are a test.
' When the man would ignore their advice, they would say, `Go to that pile of ashes and urinate on it.' When he would urinate on the ashes, a light, meaning the light of faith, would depart from him and would shine until it entered heaven.
Then something black that appeared to be smoke would descend and enter his ears and the rest of his body, and this is Allah's anger.
When he told the angels what happened, they would teach him magic.
So Allah's statement, وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ ( But neither of these two (angels ) taught anyone ( such things ) till they had said, "We are for trial, so disbelieve not ( by learning this magic from us ).) Sunayd said that Hajjaj said that Ibn Jurayj commented on this Ayah ( 2:102 ), "No one dares practice magic except a disbeliever.
As for the Fitnah, it involves trials and freedom of choice."The scholars who stated that learning magic is disbelief relied on this Ayah for evidence.
They also mentioned the Hadith that Abu Bakr Al-Bazzar recorded from `Abdullah, which states, «مَنْ أَتَى كَاهِنًا أَوْ سَاحِرًا فَصَدَّقَهُ بِمَا يَقُولُ فَقَدْ كَفَر بِمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍصلى الله عليه وسلّم» ( Whoever came to a soothsayer or a sorcerer and believed in what he said, will have disbelieved in what Allah revealed to Muhammad . ) This Hadith has an authentic chain of narration and there are other Hadiths which support it. Causing a Separation between the Spouses is One of the Effects of Magic Allah said, فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ ( And from these (angels ) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife,) This means, "The people learned magic from Harut and Marut and indulged in evil acts that included separating spouses, even though spouses are close to, and intimately associate with each other.
This is the devil's work." Muslim recorded that Jabir bin `Abdullah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَيَضَعُ عَرْشَهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُ سَرَايَاهُ فِي النَّاسِ فَأَقْرَبُهُمْ عِنْدَهُ مَنْزِلَةً أَعْظَمُهُمْ عِنْدَهُ فِتْنَةً وَيَجِيءُ أَحَدُهُمْ فَيَقُولُ: مَا زِلْتُ بِفُلَانٍ حَتَّى تَرَكْتُهُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَيَقُولُ إِبْلِيسُ: لَا وَاللهِ مَا صَنَعْتَ شَيْئًا، وَيَجِيءُ أَحَدُهُمْ فَيَقُولُ: مَا تَرَكْتُهُ حَتّى فَرَّقْتُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ أَهْلِهِ، قَالَ: فَيُقرِّبُهُ وَيُدْنِيهِ وَيَلْتَزِمُهُ وَيَقُولُ: نِعْمَ أَنْت» ( Satan erects his throne on water and sends his emissaries among the people.
The closest person to him is the person who causes the most Fitnah.
One of them (a devil ) would come to him and would say, `I kept inciting so-and-so, until he said such and such words.' Iblis says, `No, by Allah, you have not done much.' Another devil would come to him and would say, `I kept inciting so-and-so, until I separated between him and his wife.' Satan would draw him closer and embrace him, saying, `Yes, you did well.') Separation between a man and his wife occurs here because each spouse imagines that the other spouse is ugly or ill-mannered, etc. Allah's Appointed Term supercedes Everything Allah said, وَمَا هُم بِضَآرِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ( But they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah's leave ).
Sufyan Ath-Thawri commented, "Except by Allah's appointed term." Further, Al-Hasan Al-Basri said that, وَمَا هُم بِضَآرِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ( But they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah's leave ) means, "Allah allows magicians to adversely affect whomever He wills and saves whomever He wills from them.
Sorcerers never bring harm to anyone except by Allah's leave." Allah's statement, وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلاَ يَنفَعُهُمْ ( And they learn that which harms them and profits them not. ) means, it harms their religion and does not have a benefit compared to its harm. وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُواْ لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَـقٍ ( And indeed they knew that the buyers of it (magic ) would have no ( Khalaq ) share in the Hereafter.) meaning, "The Jews who preferred magic over following the Messenger of Allah ﷺ knew that those who commit the same error shall have no Khalaq in the Hereafter." Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and As-Suddi stated that `no Khalaq' means, `no share.' Allah then said, وَاتَّبَعُواْ مَا تَتْلُواْ الشَّيَـطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَـنَ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَـنُ وَلَـكِنَّ الشَّيْاطِينَ كَفَرُواْ يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَـرُوتَ وَمَـرُوتَ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ وَمَا هُم بِضَآرِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلاَ يَنفَعُهُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُواْ لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَـقٍ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْاْ بِهِ أَنفُسَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُونَ - وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُواْ واتَّقَوْا لَمَثُوبَةٌ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لَّوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُونَ ( And how bad indeed was that for which they sold their own selves, if they but knew.
And if they had believed and guarded themselves from evil and kept their duty to Allah, far better would have been the reward from their Lord, if they but knew! ).
Allah stated, o وَلَبِئْسَ ( And how bad ) meaning, what they preferred, magic, instead of faith and following the Messenger, if they but comprehend the advice. وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُواْ واتَّقَوْا لَمَثُوبَةٌ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ ( And if they had believed and guarded themselves from evil and kept their duty to Allah, far better would have been the reward from their Lord, ) meaning, "Had they believed in Allah and His Messenger and avoided the prohibitions, then Allah's reward for these good deeds would have been better for them than what they chose and preferred for themselves." Similarly, Allah said, وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْعِلْمَ وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـلِحاً وَلاَ يُلَقَّاهَآ إِلاَّ الصَّـبِرُونَ ( But those who had been given (religious ) knowledge said: "Woe to you! The reward of Allah ( in the Hereafter ) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this none shall attain except As-Sabirun ( the patient in following the truth ).") ( 28:80 ).

The Jews left the guidance of all the prophets ( And they followed that which the devils falsely related ) they acted upon what the devils had written ( against the kingdom of Solomon ) about the collapse of Solomon’s kingdom, and 40 days of sorcery and white magic. ( Solomon disbelieved not ) did not write this sorcery and white magic; ( but the devils disbelieved ) did write it, ( teaching mankind ) the devils taught people, as it is said that the Jews taught people ( magic and that which was revealed to the two angels ) but the angels were not taught sorcery and white magic; and it is said that this means: they also taught what the angels were inspired with ( in Babel, Harut and Marut. Nor did they teach it to anyone ) nor did the angels describe anything to anyone ( till they had said ) at the outset: ( We are only a temptation ) we have been tried with calling people to this in order that we reduce the intensity of the torment inflicted on ourselves, ( therefore disbelieve not ) do not learn or act upon it. ( And from these two (angels ) people learn) without being taught by them ( that by which they cause division between man and wife ) that by which a man finds excuse to leave his wife; ( but they injure thereby ) with sorcery and causing rift ( no one save by Allah’s leave ) except through Allah’s will and with His knowledge. ( And they learn ) the devils, the Jews and sorcerers learn from each other ( that which harms them ) in the Hereafter ( and profits them not ) in this world or the next. ( And surely they do know ) this refers to the angels, and it is said that it refers to the Jews in their Book, as it is said that his refers to the devils ( that he who trafficketh therein ) chooses sorcery and white magic ( will have no (happy ) portion in the Hereafter) in Paradise; ( and surely evil is the price for which they sold their souls ) by choosing sorcery for themselves, and the reference here is to the Jews, ( if they but knew ) but they do not know; and it is said that this means: and they did know this from their own Book.

They followed what the Shayatin (devils) gave out (falsely of the magic) in the lifetime of Sulaiman (Solomon). Sulaiman did not disbelieve, but the Shayatin (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Harut and Marut, but neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, "We are only for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us)." And from these (angels) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife, but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah's Leave. And they learn that which harms them and profits them not. And indeed they knew that the buyers of it (magic) would have no share in the Hereafter. And how bad indeed was that for which they sold their ownselves, if they but knew.

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