M6:3002 — در فتادند از لنحن الصافون / در چه بابل ببسته سرنگون

Translation: They fell from their station of "Verily, we are the ones arrayed in ranks," Bound upside down in the well of Babel.

Meaning: This couplet refers to the angels Harut and Marut, who, after descending to earth and succumbing to human temptations, lost their angelic purity and were punished, bound upside down in the well of Babel.

This couplet is, without a doubt, one of the most profound, yet complex, references in the Masnavi to the destiny of supra-human beings who undergo a change in their disposition. Here, Mawlana alludes to the story of Harut and Marut—a narrative found in the Holy Quran, albeit with remarkable ambiguity, and further elaborated in later religious myths and tales.

From my perspective, understanding this couplet hinges on grasping how 'disposition' (خوی), even in the noblest of beings, can be fate-determining. Mawlana had already introduced this truth in the preceding verses, through the tale of the royal falcon and the mouse: if a falcon acquires the disposition of a mouse, it becomes baser even than mice. Here, he elevates this principle to the angelic realm.

The story of Harut and Marut, as recounted in commentaries and legends, is that these two angels expressed disdain for the corruption and rebellion of humans on earth. God challenged them, saying, 'Go yourselves and live under human conditions to see what you will do.' Subsequently, the planet Venus appeared as an alluring woman, and these two angels, who had considered themselves 'لَنَحْنُ الصَّافُّونَ' (We are the aligned ones, the obedient), could not resist the temptations. They became involved in various sins, including teaching magic and causing separation between spouses. Their ultimate fate was to be 'bound upside down in the well of Babel'—a severe punishment, inverted, symbolizing the reversal of their status and a fall from spiritual heights.

The significance of this couplet lies in demonstrating that decline and fall are not exclusive to human beings. Even angels, who stood in the station of the 'Safun' (the arrayed ones), their duty being to align for divine obedience, fell from that station by changing their disposition and becoming entangled in human exigencies. This is a profound lesson for us who might presume our good nature to be fixed and immutable, when in fact, we are always susceptible to change and deception. The 'Preserved Tablet became distant from their sight,' meaning that divine insight and guidance were withdrawn from them because, having changed their essence and grown accustomed to worldly ways, they no longer merited that lofty guidance.

Key takeaways

• A change in disposition, even in the highest beings (angels), can lead to a fall from sacred heights.
• The Masnavi emphasizes the pivotal role of 'disposition' and 'innate nature' in the destiny of human and even supra-human beings.
• The story of Harut and Marut serves as a warning about the perils of self-deception and worldly temptations, even for innocent beings.
• The station of 'Verily, we are the ones arrayed in ranks' symbolizes angelic purity and obedience, which was altered by their descent and adoption of human disposition.
• The angels' fall into the well of Babel symbolizes the reversal of their status and the withdrawal of divine insight following sin.