—namely, prophets, the righteous, and believers—who will inhabit the earth in obedience to Allah and set it aright. He said, “Indeed, I know that which you do not know.” Thus Allah answered them that He knows about Adam and his descendants—their uprightness and their reform of this earth—what the angels did not know when they found the matter problematic and said, “Will You place therein one who will spread corruption in it and shed blood?” And Allah knows best.
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Question: What is the meaning of Allah’s words in Sūrat al-Baqarah:
“And they followed what the devils recited during the reign of Solomon. Solomon did not disbelieve, but the devils disbelieved—teaching people magic—and what had been sent down to the two angels in Babylon, Hārūt and Mārūt. The two never taught anyone without first saying, ‘We are only a trial, so do not fall into disbelief.’ From them people learn how to separate a man from his wife, yet they harm no one through it except by Allah’s leave. They learn what harms them and brings them no benefit, and they certainly knew that whoever purchased it would have no share in the Hereafter. Miserable indeed is that for which they sold themselves, if only they knew! Had they believed and been mindful of Allah, a reward from Allah would have been far better, if only they knew.” (2:102)
Are the words “the two angels” referring to Hārūt and Mārūt, or to two human kings? And did they teach people the practice of magic, which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) counted among the seven destructive sins?

Answer: This verse was revealed in condemnation of the Jews and of anyone who follows their path and does what they did. Immediately before it, Allah says, “And when there came to them a messenger from Allah confirming what was with them, a faction of those who had been given the Scripture cast the Book of Allah behind their backs as though they did not know, and they followed what the devils recited during the reign of Solomon.” (2:101–102).