STORIES FROM THE QURAN : HARUT AND MARUT, CONTINUED

As-Sadiy said: Allah's Saying: {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}, i.e. the devils used to listen stealthily to the talks of the angels concerning what happens to those on earth: death, unseen matters or divine ordainments. Then, they come down to inspire the soothsayers with it and the latter would tell the people with it. The people believe in them and regard them trustworthy. Time after time, the soothsayers trusted the devils who later on used to add to each word one-hundred lies of their own. The people started to write down these matters and it circulated among the Children of Israel that the Jinn know the Unseen. Sulaiman moved quickly and gathered all these writings and put them in a chest and buried it under his throne. All the devils who tried to even approach the chest were burnt alive. Sulaiman declared that he would behead anyone who claims that the devils know the Unseen. After Sulaiman's death and that of the godly-scholars who knew it well, a devil came in the form of a human being to the people and said: I will lead you to an everlasting treasure that will never run out. He ordered them to dig under Sulaiman's throne and he took a side. He said to them: kill me if you find nothing. They dug it and found these writings. Thereupon, the devil said: Only with this magic, Sulaiman could overcome mankind, the Jinn and birds. Then, he flew away. It was rumored and circulated that Sulaiman had been a sorcerer. The Children of Israel kept these writings and disputed with Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) regarding them. But Allah the Almighty revealed to him His Saying: {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}.


Narrated Ar-Rabi' Ibn Anas: the Jews used to ask Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) about matters from the Torah, and every time they ask him, Allah reveals to him that with which he defeats and overcomes them. Thereupon, they said: Muhammad knows what has been revealed to us better than we do! Then, they asked him about sorcery and Allah revealed His Statement: {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}. And He informed His Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) that the devils wrote a book about sorcery and soothsaying and buried it under Sulaiman's throne. Verily, Sulaiman was not knowledgeable about the Unseen. When he died, the devils got that magic out and deceived the people by saying: this is the knowledge which Sulaiman used to secretly keep from you. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) informed the Jews of that narration and they went out lowering their heads defeated and humiliated.

Mujahid said pertaining to Allah's Statement: {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}, the devils used to listen stealthily to the discussions of the angels and add to what they heard two-hundred lies. Then, Sulaiman seized what they wrote and after his death they regained it and taught it to the people, it was nothing but blackmagic.

Sa'id Ibn Jubair said: Sulaiman used to look for and capture the magic of the devils and keep it buried under his throne. The devils could not reach it and thus they inspired to the people that it is the knowledge with which Sulaiman was able to overcome the Jinn, the wind, etc., and that it is buried under his own throne. Afterwards, the people got it out and practiced it. Later, the people of the Hejaz said: Sulaiman used to practice sorcery. Upon this, Allah the Almighty revealed His Saying: {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}. Muhammad Ibn Ishaq Ibn Yasar said: when the devils knew of the death of Sulaiman, they wrote down types of sorcery (magic) as thus: to fulfill such and such matters, practice such and such (procedures). They gathered all these in a book and sealed it with a ring bearing the inscription found on Sulaiman's ring and titled it with: This is what was written by Asif Ibn Barkhiya by order of King Sulaiman Ibn Dawud. Then, they buried it under the throne (of Sulaiman). After some time, the Children of Israel got it out and said: Verily, Sulaiman ruled over us only with this and they diffused sorcery among the people. When Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) mentioned Sulaiman Ibn Dawud as one of the former Messengers sent by Allah the Almighty, the Jews in Madinah said: Amazingly Muhammad claims that Sulaiman Ibn Dawud was a Prophet, by Allah, he was nothing but a sorcerer. Thereupon, Allah the Almighty revealed His Saying: {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 own selves, if they but knew).

Narrated Ibn Jarir: I was told by Al-Qasim after Hussein Ibn Al-Hajjaj after Abu Bakr after Shahr Ibn Hawshab[1] as saying: The devils used to write sorcery down when Sulaiman was absent. "They wrote: whosoever wants to do such and such, he should stand facing the sun and say such and such. And, whosoever wants to do such and such, he should stand giving his back to the sun and say such and such." They wrote this in a book titled: "This is what has been written by Asif Ibn Barkhiya by the order of King Sulaiman Ibn Dawud: from the treasures of knowledge." Then, they buried it under Sulaiman's throne. When Sulaiman died, Satan established himself as an orator and said: "O people! Sulaiman was not a prophet; he was only a sorcerer! Go and seek his sorcery in his dwellings and luggage." And he led them to the buried "treasure". The people said: "By Allah! Sulaiman was a sorcerer who subjected us through his magic." The believers from among them said: "Nay, he was a faithful Prophet." When Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was sent and he mentioned Dawud and Sulaiman, the Jews said: "Muhammad confounds the truth with falsehood: he puts Sulaiman with the Prophets while he was just a sorcerer who was carried by the wind. Thereupon, Allah the Almighty revealed: {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 Marutbut 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 own selves, if they but knew}.

To be continued...