they followed what the evil ones gave out 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 without saying we are only for trial so do not blaspheme. they learned from them the means to sow discord between man and wife. but they could not thus harm anyone except by allahs permission. and they learned what harmed them not what profited them. and they knew that the buyers of would have no share in the happiness of the hereafter. and vile was the price for which they did sell their souls if they but knew!
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