(Instead of this,) they began to follow that (magic) to which the devils falsely attributed (the greatness of) the kingdom of Solomon. In fact Solomon was never involved in any practice of disbelief, but the satans, who taught magic to the people were themselves guilty of disbelief. They were after that thing which was sent to Harut and Marut, the two angels at Babylon. Whenever these two angels taught black art to anyone, they would always give a clear warning beforehand, saying, "We are merely a trial for you; so you should not commit blasphemy. But in spite of this warning, those people used to learn from the angels the art which caused division between husband and wife. Although it was obvious that they could not do any harm to anyone by means of this magic without Allah's permission, yet they learnt that art which could not be profitable even for them but was actually harmful. Moreover, they knew it full well that anyone, who purchased that art, would have no share in the Hereafter. What a vile commodity it was for which they sold off their souls, if they had but known it!
و پیروی کردند آنچه می‌خواندند شیاطین بر پادشاهی (کشور) سلیمان و کافر نشد سلیمان و لکن شیاطین کافر شدند می‌آموختند به مردم جادو را و آنچه فرستاده شد بر دو فرشته در بابل هاروت و ماروت و نمی‌آموختند کسی را تا می‌گفتند جز این نیست که ما آزمایشیم زنهار کافر مشو پس می‌آموختند از آنان آنچه را جدائی بدان می‌افکندند میان مرد و زنش و زیان نمی‌رساندند بدان کس را جز با اذن خدا و یاد می‌گرفتند آنچه را زیانشان داشت و سودشان نمی‌رسانید و همانا دانسته بودند که هر کس آن را بخرد نیست او را بهره‌ای در آخرت چه زشت است آنچه فروختند بدان خویشتن را اگر بودند می‌دانستند