Long ago, in the high heavens, the angels gazed upon the sins of humankind and questioned their Creator:
“O Lord, how do You endure such wickedness?”
God, who knows the secrets of all creation, responded:
“If you were in their place, you would fall just the same. They have desires and egos—you do not.”
The angels protested. Surely they would never commit such acts! To prove the point, God selected two of the most trusted among them: Harut and Marut. They were sent down to Earth, to the ancient city of Babylon, to live among humans.
During the day, they walked the earth. At night, they ascended to the heavens by reciting a divine secret—the Ism al-A’zam, the Great Name of God.
❖ A Test of Desire
One day, a woman named Zuhra appeared before them. She was dazzlingly beautiful and came with a plea: her husband had wronged her, and she sought help.
Both Harut and Marut fell for her. She, sensing their weakness, made a bold offer:
“If you want me, choose one of three conditions:
- Drink wine,
- Kill my husband,
- Or bow to an idol.”
Shocked, the angels refused. The next day, Zuhra returned and made the same offer. Again, they resisted. But on the third day, tempted beyond reason, they chose what seemed the lightest sin: wine.
But sin is a chain. Intoxicated, they went on to kill the man. Then, in the chaos, they bowed to an idol.
❖ The Star of Shame
Zuhra, cunning and curious, learned the sacred words they used to ascend. She recited the Ism al-A’zam—and rose to the heavens. But God turned her into a star, Venus, as a reminder of desire and downfall. Today, that shining planet is still called Zuhra in many cultures.
❖ The Curse of the Angels
Harut and Marut, now unworthy of heaven, were given a choice:
“Do you choose punishment in this world, or in the Hereafter?”
Knowing the eternal nature of the Hereafter, they chose worldly punishment.
And so they were hung upside down in a well in Babylon, bound in chains of shame, teaching magic to those who came—but always warning:
“We are only a trial. Do not fall as we did.”
Their names became forever linked with the origins of sorcery, the fall of divine beings, and the dangers of desire.
Key Takeaways
- Harut and Marut symbolize the fallibility of even the purest beings.
- Zuhra’s transformation into Venus reflects the enduring link between beauty and danger.
- Babylon stands as a mythic origin of magic and divine testing.
- This tale echoes themes of temptation, judgment, and cosmic justice.
