سورة البَقَرَة
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:102
The Cow · Verse 102 of 286
وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ ۖ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَلَٰكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ 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 هُمْ بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنْفَعُهُمْ ۚ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ ۚ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا بِهِ أَنْفُسَهُمْ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ
Abdul Mannan Omar
Moreover, they (- the Jews of the Prophet´s time) pursue (the same tactics) which the rebels had followed against the empire of Solomon. And it was not Solomon that had committed breach of faith, but it was the rebels that had committed breach of faith. They (- the Jews of Madînah) teach the people the modes of intriguing; and also (pursue) that which had (once) been revealed to the two angels, Hârût and Mârût in Babylon. But these two would not teach (anything to) anyone without first declaring, `We are but a trial (for you here), do not, therefore commit breach of faith.´ So they (- the followers of Hârût and Mârût), learnt from them that (teaching) by which they made a distinction between man and his wife, (- they taught men only and not women), yet they would not harm anyone thereby (by their practice), save by the command of Allâh. But these people (- the Jews of the Prophet´s time, on the contrary) are learning things that would harm them and do them no good. (They do it) even though they know that he who adopts this course will have no share (of good) in the Hereafter. Indeed, evil is that thing which they have sold themselves for. Had they but known (this fact).
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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.
Ali Unal
And (just as their ancestors did) they follow the fictions the satans invented and spread about the rule of Solomon (falsely attributing his employment of jinn, devils, and animals in his kingdom to sorcery). But (ascribing creativity or creative effect to sorcery is a kind of unbelief and) Solomon (being a Prophet and excellent servant of God) never disbelieved. Rather, the satans (who spread false things about his rule) disbelieved, teaching people sorcery and the (distorted form of the) knowledge that was sent down on Harut and Marut, the two angels in Babylon. And they (these two angels charged with teaching people some occult sciences such as breaking a spell and protection against sorcery) never taught them to anyone without first warning, "We are a trial, so do not disbelieve (– It is risky to learn the knowledge given to us, therefore use it in lawful ways, and beware of committing an act of unbelief by abusing it.)" And (yet) they (those who followed the falsehoods of the satans) learned from them (the two angels) that by which they might divide a man and his wife. But (though they wrongly attributed creative power to sorcery, in fact) they could not harm anyone thereby save by the leave of God. And they learned what would harm them, not what would profit them. Assuredly, they knew well that he who bought it (in exchange for God’s Book) will have no share (no happy portion) in the Hereafter. How evil was that for which they sold their selves; and if only they had known (acted like people of true knowledge and understanding).
11 more translations
Daryabadi
And they follow that which the Satans recited in the reign of Sulaiman; and Sulaiman blasphemed not, but the Satans blasphemed.; teaching people magic; and they follow that also which was sent down unto the two angels in Babil, Harut, and Marut. Unto none the twain taught it until they had said: We are but a temptation, so blaspheme not; but they learned from the twain that wherewith they might separate man from his wife; and they could harm none thereby save by Allah´s will. And they have learnt that which harmeth them, and profiteth them not; and assuredly they know that whosoever purchaseth it, his is no portion in the Hereafter. And surely vile is the price for which they have bartered themselves, if they but knew!
Faridul Haque
And they followed what the devils used to read during the rule of Sulaiman (Solomon - peace and blessings be upon him); and Sulaiman did not disbelieve, but the devils disbelieved - they teach people magic; and that which was sent down to the two angels, Harut and Marut in Babylon; and the two (angels) never taught a thing to anyone until they used to say, “We are only a trial, therefore do not lose your faith” and they used to learn from them that by which they cause division between man and his wife; and they cannot harm anyone by it except by Allah’s command; and they learn what will harm them, not benefit them; and surely they know that whoever bargains for this will not have a share in the Hereafter; and for what an abject thing they have sold themselves; if only they knew!
Maulana Muhammad Ali
And they follow what the devils fabricated against the kingdom of Solomon. And Solomon disbelieved not, but the devils disbelieved, teaching men enchantment. And it was not revealed to the two angels in Babel, Harut and Marut. Nor did they teach (it to) anyone, so that they should have said, We are only a trial, so disbelieve not. But they learn from these two (sources) that by which they make a distinction between a man and his wife. And they cannot hurt with it anyone except with Allah's permission. And they learn that which harms them and profits them not. And certainly they know that he who buys it has no share of good in the Hereafter. And surely evil is the price for which they have sold their souls, did they but know!
Maulvi Sher Ali
And they pursue the course which was pursued by the rebellious men against the Kingdom of Solomon. And Solomon did not disbelieve; but it was the rebellious ones who disbelieved. They taught people falsehood and deception, and they claim that they follow what was revealed to the two angels in Babylon, Har
Muhammad Asad
and follow [instead] that which the evil ones used to practice during Solomon's reign - for it was not Solomon who denied the truth, but those evil ones denied it by teaching people sorcery -; and [they follow] that which has come down through the two angels in Babylon, Harut and Mirut - although these two never taught it to anyone without first declaring, "We are but a temptation to evil: do not, then, deny [God's] truth!" And they learn from these two how to create discord between a man and his wife; but whereas they can harm none thereby save by God's leave, they acquire a knowledge that only harms themselves and does not benefit them - although they know; indeed, that he who acquires this [knowledge] shall have no share in the good of the life to come. For, vile indeed is that [art] for which they have sold their own selves - had they but known it!
Muhammad Musin Khan
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.
Muhammad Pickthall
And follow that which the devils falsely related against the kingdom of Solomon. Solomon disbelieved not; but the devils disbelieved, teaching mankind magic and that which was revealed to the two angels in Babel, Harut and Marut. Nor did they (the two angels) teach it to anyone till they had said: We are only a temptation, therefore disbelieve not (in the guidance of Allah). And from these two (angles) people learn that by which they cause division between man and wife; but they injure thereby no-one save by Allah's leave. And they learn that which harmeth them and profiteth them not. And surely they do know that he who trafficketh therein will have no (happy) portion in the Hereafter; and surely evil is the price for which they sell their souls, if they but knew.
Muhammad Sarwar
They followed the incantations that the devils used against the kingdom of Solomon. Solomon did not hide the truth but the devils did. They taught magic to the people and whatever was revealed to the two angels, Harut and Marut, in Babylon. The two angels did not teach anything to anyone without saying, "Our case is a temptation for the people, so do not hide the truth." People learned something from the two angels that could cause discord between a man and his wife. However, they could harm no one except by the permission of God. In fact, the (people) learned things that would harm them and render them no benefit. They knew very well that one who engaged in witchcraft would have no reward in the life hereafter. Would that they had known that they had sold their souls for that which is vile!
Muhammed ali Shakir
And they followed what the Shaitans chanted of sorcery in the reign of Sulaiman, and Sulaiman was not an unbeliever, but the Shaitans disbelieved, they taught men sorcery and that was sent down to the two angels at Babel, Harut and Marut, yet these two taught no man until they had said, "Surely we are only a trial, therefore do not be a disbeliever." Even then men learned from these two, magic by which they might cause a separation between a man and his wife; and they cannot hurt with it any one except with Allah's permission, and they learned what harmed them and did not profit them, and certainly they know that he who bought it should have no share of good in the hereafter and evil was the price for which they sold their souls, had they but known this.
Rashad Khalifa
They pursued what the devils taught concerning Solomon's kingdom. Solomon, however, was not a disbeliever, but the devils were disbelievers. They taught the people sorcery, and that which was sent down through the two angels of Babel, Haroot and Maroot. These two did not divulge such knowledge without pointing out: "This is a tombarr_test. You shall not abuse such knowledge." But the people used it in such evil schemes as the breaking up of marriages. They can never harm anyone against the will of GOD. They thus learn what hurts them, not what benefits them, and they know full well that whoever practices witchcraft will have no share in the Hereafter. Miserable indeed is what they sell their souls for, if they only knew.
Shabbir Ahmed
(Their clergy have been distorting the Scripture in the past as well.) They propagated a rumor that satanic people preached in the kingdom of Solomon. Solomon never disbelieved but the satanic people did. They taught people “magic” while nothing was revealed through the two angels “Haaroot and Maaroot” in Babylon. (The rumor further stated that) they used to warn people, “Both of us are only a temptation, therefore do not reject God.” And that the people learned from both of them how to create discord between a man and his wife. They could harm none against the Divine laws. And what people learned from them only harmed them instead of benefiting them. People must know that whoever indulges in this trade (the so-called occult sciences) will have no share in the Hereafter. Miserable indeed is what they sell their ‘self’ for. They would know only if they used their intellect.
Commentary 2:102 Tatlû تَتْلُو is derived from talâ تلئ, which means to follow or to recite (cf. 19:73; Râghib). The Holy Qur’ân says, وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلَاهَا –“By the…
وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰمُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ ۖ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ ۚ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ
2:102 Tatlû تَتْلُو is derived from talâ تلئ, which means to follow or to recite (cf. 19:73; Râghib). The Holy Qur’ân says, وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلَاهَا –“By the moon when it follows the sun” (91:2). The word ‘alâ علئ gives the impression of fî فئ – “in”, during or against (Mughnî). Shayâtînشياطين (plural) refers to rebels, rebellious ring leaders; here in this verse Shayâtîn are those rebellious ringleaders who conspired against Solomon (cf. 2:14; 2:36; Râzî, see also Bahral-Muhît). Siher سحر is falsehood and deception. Siher al-fidzdzatah سحر الفِضٌة would mean that he coated a piece of silver so as to make it look like gold. Siher also refers to the action underlying a cause which is not visible, presenting falsehood in the form of truth, a crafty device, or mischief (Lisân, Tâj). Hârût هَارُوتَ and Mârût مَارُوتَ are descriptive names. Hârût is one who tears, and Mârût is one who breaks (Lisân). These descriptive names signify that the object of these Holy persons was to tear asunder and break the grandeur and power of certain rebellious peoples against Solomon. The word “angels”, as applied to Hârût and Mârût is also figurative, and signifies holy men of knowledge, wisdom and power (Baidzawî, Râzî). The Holy Qur’ân refers to Joseph, “He is but a gracious angel” (12:31). Thus, in the present verse, al-Malakain الْمَلَكَيْنِ refers to two men with wisdom, knowledge, power and insight, whose mission was to tear asunder and break the glory of the Babylonian empire. Ibn ‘Abbâs says they were the Prophets Haggi and Zachariah, the son of Iddo (Ezra 5:1).
In the days of Solomon, certain members of the Jewish community became rebels, plotting and inciting against Solomon. In these plots, secret signs and symbols were used (1 Kings. 11.1-6;14,23,26,29-32; 11 Chron. 10.2-4; 11.15). Similar tactics were repeated in the days when King Nebuchadnezzar took Israelites into Babylon as captives (cf. 17:5). When Cyrus, King of Media and Persia (Dhul Qarnain 18:83) rose to power, the Israelites entered into a secret agreement with him and facilitated his conquest of Babylon. In return for this service, Cyrus not only allowed them to return to Palestine, but also helped them in rebuilding their temple in Jerusalem (cf. 17:6). The efforts of the Jews on these two occasions met with two different results. In the days of Solomon, they conspired against a Prophet of God, and they failed. On the second occasion however, they were on the side of the righteous (Cyrus or Dhul Qarnain of Persia; 18:83) and were successful.
This verse clearly refers to Jewish secret societies, their conspiracies, and their secret signs and symbols (cf. 58:7-8). When the Jews of Madînah saw that the power of Islam was steadily expanding and that not only the opposition from the Arabs, but also their own efforts to check the progress of the new religion had failed, they resorted to a variety of occult evils and took the matter to the secret councils. Their behaviour was the same as in the time of Solomon and during the period of their captivity in Babylon.
At the time of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), the Israelites were already opposed to the Roman Empire and were looking for support from the Persians, where their co-religionists enjoyed considerable influence in the court of the Persian King Chusro II. They incited the Persian King against the Holy Prophet (pbuh). Because of their intrigues, Chusro II issued orders to the Governor of Yemen, Bahdzân, to send to him the “Arabian claimant” as a captive. It is to these efforts of the Jews that the Holy Qur’ân alludes in the verse under consideration.
The verse also contains a warning to future Muslim leaders that there may be such groups in their own time who will be resorting to the same tactics, which the Jews adopted at the time of Solomon. However, in the words of the Holy Qur’ân, “Yet they would not harm anyone” by this practice as they could not harm Solomon. The condition is that the Muslim leader should be just and righteous as Solomon.
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
The verse continues to reveal that Jews “are teaching things that would harm them and do them no good”. In the concluding portion of the verse it is said, “They do it though they know very well that he who adopts this course will have no share of good in the Hereafter”. The mention in the verse, “So they [Hârût and Mârût] learnt from them [the Jews] that teaching by which they made a distinction between a man and his wife “refers to the membership of the secret societies available exclusively to males. The same theme is mentioned in 58:8-10 in more detail, along with an ethical code in verse 58:10. This episode of Israelite history is mentioned again in verses 17:5-8 with a warning for the Muslims that the same or similar could also happen to them. The verse 17:8 gives hope to the Israelites for the future.
In attempts to explain this verse, many legends have arisen without being sanctioned either by the Holy Qur’ân or the sayings of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). One of these legends is the story of two rebellious angels hanging by their feet with their heads downward in a well of Babel. It would be quite wrong to interpret the verse based on these myths without substance (Râzî, see also Bahr-al-Muhît).