M6:3001 — خوی آن هاروت و ماروت ای پسر / چون بگشت و دادشان خوی بشر

Translation: The nature of Harut and Marut, O son, / When it changed and gave them the nature of man... Meaning: This verse alludes to the story of Harut and Marut, two angels whose divine nature transformed when they came to Earth and adopted human characteristics. It highlights the vulnerability of human nature to temptation and the challenge of maintaining purity in the earthly realm.

This verse, appearing in the broader discussion of the transformation of character, refers to the cautionary tale of Harut and Marut, two angels whose names are also mentioned in the Holy Quran. Rumi employs this narrative to illustrate how a change in one’s fundamental nature and disposition can bring a being from the pinnacle of purity and innocence to the depths of defilement and fall.

The story, as popularly recounted, tells of these two angels who, upon witnessing the corruption and transgressions of humankind, questioned God regarding His earthly creation: what sort of beings were these, and why were they so rebellious and disobedient? In response, the Almighty sent them to Earth to experience human conditions, so that they might grasp the difficulty of maintaining purity in that realm. In later traditions and myths, the planet Venus (Zohreh), which we call Nahid, appeared to them in the guise of a seductive woman. These two angels were tempted and subsequently succumbed to various vices and corruptions. This tale, though highly ambiguous in the Quran—as Allameh Tabataba'i noted in his Tafsir al-Mizan, yielding millions of possible interpretations from each word of the relevant verse—holds a clear lesson for Rumi.

The lesson is this: when even angels, possessing a sacred and pure essence, assume human nature and are exposed to carnal temptations, it becomes possible for them to fall from their exalted station. Rumi states that with this change in disposition, they “fell from ‘lanahnu al-sāffūn’”—meaning, they plummeted from the position where angels declared, “We are indeed ranged in ranks,” ever ready for worship. Even the “preserved tablet” (lowh-e mahfuz), a symbol of divine knowledge and purity, “was removed from their sight,” and their destiny became intertwined with the “tablet of sorcerers and the bewitched.” This signifies that divine purity and insight gave way to magic and deception. This transformation of character demonstrates that no being is immune to the risk of a fall, and the preservation of purity is an arduous task that can be lost even by the most revered angels if they are placed in human conditions.

This verse, in essence, invites a measure of fairness and empathy toward humanity. One who resides in the realm of sanctity can easily criticize those dwelling on Earth. However, once placed in their shoes, one truly understands that they, too, might succumb to the same errors. This mutual understanding is the foundation of ethics and sound judgment, and Rumi repeatedly emphasizes that judging Earth’s inhabitants from the perspective of a being in a higher realm is difficult and often unjust. It is here that the value of human intention and effort, despite all weaknesses and failings, becomes manifest.

Key takeaways

• A change in fundamental nature can lead a being from the peak of perfection to the abyss of fallibility.
• The tale of Harut and Marut symbolizes the vulnerability of human nature to temptation.
• Maintaining purity in the earthly realm is a profound challenge, testing even angels.
• This story is an invitation to fairness and empathy for human weaknesses, as no being is immune to error.
• Judging from a position of detached purity, without understanding earthly conditions, can be unjust.