English Translation

Yahya ibn Abi Bukayr told us: Zuhayr ibn Muhammad told us, from Musa ibn Jubayr, from Nafi', client of Abdullah ibn Umar, from Abdullah ibn Umar, that he heard the Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: 'When Allah, exalted is He, sent Adam, peace be upon him, down to the earth, the angels said, "Our Lord, will You place upon it one who will cause corruption in it and shed blood, while we glorify You with praise and declare Your holiness?" He said, "I know that which you do not know." They said, "Our Lord, we are more obedient to You than the children of Adam." Allah, exalted is He, said to the angels, "Bring forth two angels from among the angels, that they may be sent down to the earth, so We may see how they act." They said, "Our Lord, Harut and Marut." So the two were sent down to the earth, and Venus was made to appear to them as a woman of the most beautiful of people. She came to them, and they both sought her for themselves. She said, "No, by Allah, not until you both speak this word of associating partners with Allah." They said, "By Allah, we will never associate anything with Allah." So she went away from them, then returned carrying a small child, and they sought her for themselves again. She said, "No, by Allah, not until you kill this child." They said, "By Allah, we will never kill him." So she went away, then returned carrying a cup of wine, and they sought her for themselves. She said, "No, by Allah, not until you drink this wine." So they drank it and became drunk, and they fell upon her and killed the child. When they came to their senses, the woman said, "By Allah, you have left nothing that you refused me except that you have done it while you were drunk." So they were given the choice between the punishment of this world and that of the Hereafter, and they chose the punishment of this world.'