e. Others
say that she is the star Venus.

It is only right to state that the Qazi 'Ayaz, Imam Fakhr-ud-din Razi
(544-606 A.H.), Qazi Nasir-ud-din Baidavi (620-691 A.H.) and most
scholastic divines deny the truth of this story. They say that angels are
immaculate, but it is plain that this does not meet the difficulty which
the Quran itself raises in connection with Harut and Marut. They want to
know how beings in such a state can teach, and whether it is likely that
men would have the courage to go near such a horrible scene. As to the
woman, they think the whole story absurd, not only because the star Venus
was created before the time of Adam, but also because it is inconceivable
that one who was so wicked should have the honour of shining in heaven for
ever. A solution, however, they are bound to give, and it is this. Magic is
a great art which God must allow mankind to know. The dignity of the order
of prophets is so great that they cannot teach men what is confessedly
hurtful. Two angels were therefore sent, and so men can now distinguish
between the miracles of prophets, the signs of {144} saints, the wonders of
magicians and others. Then Harut and Marut always discouraged men from
learning magic. They said to those who came to them: "We are only a
temptation. Be not thou an unbeliever." Others assert that it is a Jewish
allegory in which the two angels represent reason and benevolence, the
woman the evil appetites. The woman's ascent to heaven represents death.

To this solution of the difficulty, however, the great body of the
Traditionists do not agree. They declare that the story is a Hadis-i-Sahih,
and that the Isnad is sound and good. I name only a few of the great
divines who hold this view. They are Imam Ibn Hanbal, Ibn Ma'sud, Ibn 'Umr,
Ibn 'Abbas, Hafiz 'Asqallani[127] and others. Jelal-ud-din Syuti in his
commentary the Durr-i-Mashur, has given all the Traditions in order and,
though there is some variety in the details, the general purport accords
with the narrative as I have related it. The Traditionists answer the
objections of the Scholastics thus. They say that angels are immaculate
only so long as they remain in the angelic state; that, though confined,
Harut and Marut can teach magic, for a word or two is quite sufficient for
that purpose; that some men have no fear and, if they have, it is quite
conceivable that the two angels may teach through the instrumentality of
devils or jinn. With regard