Harut and Marut

Harut and Marut (Arabic هاروت وماروت ) are two angels mentioned by name in the Koran.

The Qur'anic narrative

Harut and Marut teach according to the Koran the people of Babel sorcery. This serves, for example, to divide spouses. Harut and Marut sharpen the people but this one that they are a temptation and people should not lose their faith. The Qur'anic verse ( 2:102 ) is:

Islamic exegesis

The Islamic exegesis explains the presence of the two angels in Babel as follows: The angels make disparaging remarks about the sinfulness of man. God calls the angels out to make it better, and sends Harut and Marut to the test on the earth. They have a mission to resist sin as idolatry, murder, fornication and wine enjoyment, but they become the charms of a woman and kill the witness of their offense. Given the choice to serve their punishment in hell or on earth, they opt for the earth and dwell in torment in Babylon.

According to Islamic commentators on the meaning of the Quran Surat is to illustrate to people the difference between simple magic and divine power.

Origin

Role model and source of the legend of fallen angels are various biblical (2nd Letter of Peter: 2:4; Letter of Jude: 6) and extra-biblical traditions as the apocryphal books of Enoch or the Midrash Abkir. Namesake Haruts and Maruts are two Amschaspand of Zoroastrianism: Haurvatat (integrity) and Ameretat ( immortality). It is unclear how it came to the synthesis of Zoroastrian and Jewish-Christian traditions and in what way this came to Arabia.