Harut

Harut (Arabic: هاروت; also known as Azazel) is one of two angels mentioned in the "Qur'an", who were sent down to test the people at Babel. (Sura Al-Baqara, verse 102). He is accompanied by Marut.

In Islam in contrast to Christianity and Judaism, Angelic beings can not disobey Allah's (God's) commands, the concept of "fallen angels" being outside Islamic belief.

16:49 [the Bee] : And to Allâh maketh prostration whatsoever in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth, of living creatures, and angels (also), and they are not proud. [i.e. they worship their Lord (Allâh) with humbility] . They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded.

2:102 [the Heffer] : and follow that which the Devils falsly related against the Kingdom of Solomon. Solomon disbelieved not; but the Devils disbelieved teaching mankind magic and that which was revealed on the two Angels (Kings) in Babel, Harut and Marut. Nor did they (the two Angels) teach it to any one till they had said: We are only a temptation, therefore disbelieve not (in the Guidance of God). And from these two Angels (Kings) people learn that by which cause division between man and his wife; but they injur thereby no one save by God's leave. And they learn that which harmeth them and profiteth them not. And surely they do know that he who trafficketh therein will have no (happy) portion in the Hereafter; and surely evil is the price for which they sell their souls, if they but knew.

The most widely accepted interpretation of this verse is that Harut and Marut did not deceive the people. It is true that they taught the people occult sciences, but they did warn their students about the temptation that comes with such knowledge. They told their apprentices we are only a temptation, therefore disbelieve not (in the Guidance of God)", that the practice of sorcery amounts to disbelief in God, and that they should therefore not learn sorcery and Magic. So when someone came forth of his own choice and decided not to heed the warning, it meant that he willingly chose disbelief. Later their teachings were used by subsequent generations of humans to practice black magic and sorcery. An analogy is that of a teacher teaching his student a common mistake made by other students in hopes that he will not fall in a similar error. Moreover, this verse vindicates the character of Solomon, a prophet just like all other prophets, all were held in high regard by Muslims.

Alternative view

An alternative interpretation presented by the Ahmadiyya a splinter non-muslim group regarding Harut and Marut is that they were not angels but pious people, who led the enslaved Jewish people during their captivity in Babylon. The reference in the Verse mentioned above is to the history of formation of Secret societies in Jewish history. Differentiation is given between the Masons who organized themselves against King Solomon and the secret society formed by Harut and Marut in Babylon.

References

* [http://www.alislam.org/quran/tafseer/?page=156&region=E1&CR= Tafseer e Kabeer]