they pursued what the devils falsely attributed to the kingdom of solomon. solomon was not an unbeliever it is the devils who are unbelievers. they taught people witchcraft and that which was sent down to harut and marut the two angels in babylon. but these two taught no one until they had said we are but a trial therefore do not disbelieve . so men learnt from them that by which they caused discord between man and wife but they harmed no one thereby except by the command of god these people learned that which would harm them and do them no good knowing full well that whoever acquired would have no share in the hereafter. evil indeed was the for which they sold their souls if only they had known it.
واتبعوا ما تتلو الشياطين على ملك سليمان وما كفر سليمان ولكن الشياطين كفروا يعلمون الناس السحر وما أنزل على الملكين ببابل هاروت وماروت وما يعلمان من أحد حتى يقولا إنما نحن فتنة فلا تكفر فيتعلمون منهما ما يفرقون به بين المرء وزوجه وما هم بضارين به من أحد إلا بإذن الله ويتعلمون ما يضرهم ولا ينفعهم ولقد علموا لمن اشتراه ما له في الآخرة من خلاق ولبئس ما شروا به أنفسهم لو كانوا يعلمون