place

Babylon

بَابِل

Babylon, an ancient city steeped in history, holds a unique and thought-provoking place within Islamic tradition, primarily due to its mention in the Holy Quran. It is remembered not just as a cradle of early civilization, but as the site of a profound divine trial involving two angels, Harut and Marut. The Quran tells us that these angels were sent to Babylon, and they taught people magic, but always with a clear warning: [“We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic]”]. This narrative serves as a powerful reminder of accountability and the dangers of misusing knowledge. While the angels explicitly cautioned against disbelief, some individuals still chose to learn magic, even using it to [cause separation between a man and his wife]. The Quran emphasizes that such harm could only occur [by permission of Allah], underscoring God's ultimate sovereignty. For Muslims, Babylon's story is a sober lesson about discerning beneficial knowledge from that which harms, and the dire spiritual consequences for those who pursue magic, understanding that [whoever purchased the magic would not have in the Hereafter any share].

Quran 1 verse

وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ مَا تَتْلُوا۟ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَٰنَ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَٰنُ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ ٱلسِّحْرَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى ٱلْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَٰرُوتَ وَمَٰرُوتَ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَآ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِۦ بَيْنَ ٱلْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِۦ وَمَا هُم بِضَآرِّينَ بِهِۦ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا۟ لَمَنِ ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَٰقٍ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ أَنفُسَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ

Wattaba'oo maa tatlush Shayaateenu 'alaa mulki Sulaimaana wa maa kafara Sulaimaanu wa laakinnash Shayattena kafaroo yu'al limoonan naasas sihra wa maaa unzila 'alal malakaini bi Baabila Haaroota wa Maaroot; wa maa yu'allimaani min ahadin hattaa yaqoolaaa innamaa nahnu fitnatun falaa takfur fayata'al lamoona minhumaa maa yufarriqoona bihee bainal mar'i wa zawjih; wa maa hum bidaaarreena bihee min ahadin illaa bi-iznillah; wa yata'allamoona maa yadurruhum wa laa yanfa'uhum; wa laqad 'alimoo lamanish taraahu maa lahoo fil Aakhirati min khalaaq; wa labi'sa maa sharaw biheee anfusahum; law kaanoo ya'lamoon

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.

اور ان (ہزلیات) کے پیچھے لگ گئے جو سلیمان کے عہدِ سلطنت میں شیاطین پڑھا کرتے تھے اور سلیمان نے مطلق کفر کی بات نہیں کی، بلکہ شیطان ہی کفر کرتے تھے کہ لوگوں کو جادو سکھاتے تھے۔ اور ان باتوں کے بھی (پیچھے لگ گئے) جو شہر بابل میں دو فرشتوں (یعنی) ہاروت اور ماروت پر اتری تھیں۔ اور وہ دونوں کسی کو کچھ نہیں سکھاتے تھے، جب تک یہ نہ کہہ دیتے کہ ہم تو (ذریعہٴ) آزمائش ہیں۔ تم کفر میں نہ پڑو۔ غرض لوگ ان سے (ایسا) جادو سیکھتے، جس سے میاں بیوی میں جدائی ڈال دیں۔ اور خدا کے حکم کے سوا وہ اس (جادو) سے کسی کا کچھ بھی نہیں بگاڑ سکتے تھے۔ اور کچھ ایسے (منتر) سیکھتے جو ان کو نقصان ہی پہنچاتے اور فائدہ کچھ نہ دیتے۔ اور وہ جانتے تھے کہ جو شخص ایسی چیزوں (یعنی سحر اور منتر وغیرہ) کا خریدار ہوگا، اس کا آخرت میں کچھ حصہ نہیں۔ اور جس چیز کے عوض انہوں نے اپنی جانوں کو بیچ ڈالا، وہ بری تھی۔ کاش وہ (اس بات کو) جانتے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In connection with these two verses, some commentators have reported certain Judaic traditions, which have given rise to a number of doubts, especially in the minds of Muslims with a Western orientation. Maulana Ashraf Thanavi has provided very simple and clear solutions to these exegetical problems...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: 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...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): 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 contai...

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