[2:102] And they follow what the devils used to relate Solomon's kingdom: Solomon disbelieved not, but the devils disbelieved, teaching the people sorcery; and that which was revealed to the two angels in Babylon - Hārūt and Mārūt. They taught not any man, without them saying, 'We are but a temptation; do not disbelieve'. From them they learned how they might cause division between a man and his wife, yet they did not hurt any man thereby save by the leave of God; and they learned what hurt them, and did not profit them. And surely they knew well that whoever buys it, he shall have no share in the Hereafter;
Whoever is divided by his whims falls into one state of heedlessness after another, so that every kind of ignorant affair welcomes him. Moreover, those whose absence is prolonged become a warning to others and a temptation for whoever follows their path. Whoever emulates them in their transgression joins their community and becomes one of them. This is the case in the description of Hārūt and Mārūt and what happened to them - they became a temptation and a warning for men. Their tribulation will be extended to whoever listens to what they say and does not take into account their ignorance. They will also share in the distress that afflicts them in the Hereafter.
The allusion in their story is to the one on this path (?arīqa) who is inclined to affectation, deception and putting forth counterfeit claims. He attracts followers whom he throws into Hell by his falsehood. He blocks them by the sparks of fire of his ignorance from the path of right direction. Whoever takes heed crosses over to safety by its bridges (qanā?īrihi). Whoever becomes disgraced by his inclination to falsehoods (abā?īlihi), torn are his veils (astāruhu) and exposed to anyone with eyes is his fault (ʿawāruhu). When Hārūt and Mārūt were deceived by the disobedience to which they had become accustomed, they blamed the disobedience of the children of Adam. Because of the tendencies toward carnal desires that became part of them, and the promptings to temptations and harmful things, they plunged forward into disobedience. What happened to them is what the storytellers relate: they are hanging upside down until the Day of the Resurrection and if not for [God's] gentleness (rifq) towards them and their affair, their punishment would not end then. But God's kindness (lu?f) with all is abundant.
And when God Most High said: And they learned what hurt them, and did not profit them, people of discernment know that knowledge of things can be undesirable, even though [knowledge itself] is a praiseworthy attribute. The Prophet (ṣ) said, 'I seek refuge in You from knowledge that has no benefit'.
[2:102 cont'd] evil then would have been that they sold themselves for, if they had but known.
If the one who has been deceived were to know what endures (mādhā abqā) and what brings trial (mādhā ablā), he would be torn apart by sorrows. But on the day when secrets are tested [86:9] he will know the precious gifts that have passed him by.