refused to worship the idol, she said to them: "Choose one of the three options: either you worship this idol, or you kill this person, or you drink this wine." They said: "All of this is inappropriate, but the easiest of this is drinking wine." So they drank the wine, and it took effect on them, then they had their way with the woman. They feared that she might inform the man about them, so they killed him. When the intoxication wore off and they realized the sin they had committed, they wanted to ascend to the sky, but they could not, and a barrier was placed between them and that. The veil was lifted between them and the people of heaven, and the angels looked at the sin they had fallen into, and they were utterly amazed. They realized that he who is in a state of unseen trial has less fear [of punishment], so after that, they began to seek forgiveness for those on earth. It was revealed regarding that: "And the angels exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord and ask forgiveness for those on earth." It was said to them: "Choose the punishment of the world or the punishment of the hereafter." They said: "As for the punishment of the hereafter, there is no end to it, while the punishment of the world is temporary and passes away." So they chose the punishment of the world, and they were placed in Babylon, where they are being punished.

1006 - Ahmad ibn 'Isam al-Ansari narrated to us, Mu'ammal narrated to us, Sufyan al-Thawri narrated to us, Musa ibn 'Uqbah narrated to us, from Salim, from Ibn 'Umar, from Ka'b, who said: "The angels mentioned the deeds of the children of Adam and the sins they commit. It was said to them: 'Choose two from among you.' They chose Harut and Marut. He said to them: 'Descend to the earth, and I am sending messengers to the children of Adam, and there is no messenger between Me and you. Do not associate anything with Me, do not commit adultery, and do not drink wine.'" Ka'b said: "They did not reach the evening of the day they were descended to earth until they had completed everything that was forbidden to them."

1007 - My father narrated to us, 'Abd Allah ibn Ja'far al-Raqqi narrated to us, 'Ubayd Allah—meaning Ibn 'Umar—narrated to us, from Zayd ibn Abi Unaysah, from al-Minhal ibn 'Amr and Yunus ibn Khabbab, from Mujahid. He said: "I was staying with 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar on a journey. One night, he said to his servant: 'Look, has the Red One (al-Hamra') risen? No welcome to her, no greeting, and may Allah not bestow life upon her; she is the companion of the two angels.' The angels said: 'Lord, how can You leave the sinners among the children of Adam, while they shed forbidden blood, violate Your sanctities, and spread corruption on earth?'

He said: 'I have tested them, so perhaps if I tested you with the like of what I tested them with, you would do as they do.' They said: 'No.' He said: 'Then choose two from the best of you.' They chose Harut and Marut. He said to them: 'I am descending you to the earth and taking a covenant from you that you shall not associate [anything with Me], not commit adultery, and not betray.' They were descended to the earth, and He cast desire upon them, and al-Zuhrah (Venus) was descended for them in the most beautiful form of a woman, and she presented herself...