“And they followed what the devils recited during Solomon’s reign. Solomon did not disbelieve; rather, the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and what was sent down to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. Yet they did not teach anyone without first saying, ‘We are only a trial, so do not disbelieve.’ Thus they learned from them that by which they might separate a man from his wife. But they could not harm anyone by it except by Allah’s permission. And they learned what harmed them and did not benefit them. They certainly knew that whoever acquired it would have no share in the Hereafter. Wretched indeed was that for which they sold themselves, if only they knew. (102) Had they believed and feared Allah, a reward from Allah would have been better, if only they knew. (103)”

“And when a messenger from Allah came to them,” meaning Muhammad, “confirming what they had with them, a party of those given the Book cast the Book of Allah behind their backs,” meaning the Torah; and it was also said: the Quran, “as though they did not know.” Al-Sha‘bi said: “They used to read the Torah but did not act upon it.” Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah said: “They wrapped it in silk and brocade, adorned it with gold and silver, yet did not act upon it. That was how they cast it aside.” (1)

His saying, exalted is He, “And they followed”: that is, the Jews. “What the devils recited”: that is, what they had recited. The Arabs use the future tense in place of the past, and the past tense in place of the future. It was also said: what you used to recite—that is, read. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: