Harut and Marut – The Fallen Angels
A window to Mathnavi Maulvi Ma’nvi
Translation and Commentary Seema Arif
Further Links for Rumi
W. St. Clair-Tisdal has quoted various sources relating the story of “Fallen Angels” in ‘The Sources of Islam’.
According to Araish al Majalis, “The Commentators say that when the angels saw the
evil doings of humankind in the days of Idris, they were distressed.” On ascending to heaven, they complained thus against them:
“Thou hast chosen these to be the rulers upon earth, and lo they sin against thee.”
Allah The Almighty had answered,
“If you were in their place, you would be doing the same thing.” It is also reported in another tradition that Allah said to them,
“I have given them ten carnal desires, and it is through these they disobey me.”
Allah challenged the angels to do better when placed in similar situations. They accepted it and said,
“O’ Lord! If you give us these carnal desires, we would descend and judge with justice.”
Harut and Marut were given the desires and sent to the city of Babylon, Harut as a scholar and Marut as a judge. (QUR’AN 2:102)
“They followed what the evil ones gave out (falsely) against the power of Solomon: the blasphemers were, not Solomon, but the evil ones, teaching men magic and such things as came down at Babylon to the
angels Harut and Marut. But neither of these taught anyone (Such things) without saying: “We are only for
trial; so do not blaspheme.”
They learned from them the means to sow seeds of discord between man and wife. But they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah’s permission. And they learned what harmed them, not what profited them. And they knew that the buyers of (magic) would have no share in the happiness of the Hereafter. And vile was the price for which they did sell their souls if they but knew!”
Al Kalby’s Version
However, Al Kalby’s version tells us that the Almighty had said:
Choose ye three: so they chose (Azz, i.e.) Harut, and (Azabi, i.e.) Marut, and Azrael; and The Lord changed the names of the two when they fell into sin, as he changed the name of the devil, which was Azazel. And God placed in their hearts the same worldly lusts as is there in the sons of Adam.
While descending them to the earth, God bade them to rule righteously amongst humankind, to avoid idolatry, not to kill but for a just cause, and to keep free from fornication and strong drink (Alcohol). When Azrael felt lust in his heart, he prayed to God to relieve him and was taken up to heaven, and for forty years, he was unable to raise his head for shame before his Creator. But the other two remained steadfast, judging the people during the day, and at night, they would ascend back to the heavens, reciting certain names of the Almighty.
Al Qatada’s Version
Catada [Qatada] tells us that before a month had passed, they fell into temptation for Zohra: one of the most beautiful women (according to Ali, she was queen of a city in Persia). She had filed a suit in their court. When they saw her, they fell in love with her and sought to have her, but she refused and went away. The second day, she came again, and they again asked for her, but she said, “Nay,” unless ye worship what I worship and bow down to this idol, or kill a soul, or drink wine. They replied, “We can’t do these things, which God hath forbidden”; she departed. On the third day, she came holding a cup of wine and cajoled them again. When the angels approached her, she repeated her demand to sin. The angels hesitated and remarked, To pray to other than God is a serious thing, and so is the killing of anyone; the slightest of the three sins is to drink wine.
Afterward, they drank the wine; while intoxicated, they committed adultery. Someone witnessed the scene, and they slew that person. It is further informed that they worshipped an idol as well.
Ali’s Version
Ali and others tell us that Zohra had kept herself pure but demanded to learn the Divine Code. She had allured them: “Come not near me till you teach me that by which ye can ascend to the heavens.” They said, “We ascend by the name of the great God.” She stopped them, saying: “Come not near me till ye teach me the code to enter heaven.” The angels wanted to fulfill their desire, so they taught Zohra the code, and she, repeating it, ascended to the skies. But she was halted in the sky and hung as a star. Venus is alluded to as God’s punishment changed into a star Zohra.
Others’ Version
According to the Jewish sources, “The angels of heaven had fallen in love with daughters of human beings after onlooking them from the heaven. They said to one another, Let us take these women, the daughters of humankind, and beget children for ourselves. And Sayaza (Harut), who was their chief, said: Aziel (Marut) taught men to make swords, daggers, and shields and taught them to wear breastplates. And for the women, they made ornaments of kinds, bracelets, jewels, and collyrium to beautify their eyelids, expensive and lovely stones, dresses of beautiful colors, and they also invented money.”
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