The rest of the story of Hárút and Márút, and how an exemplary punishment was inflicted on them, even in this world, in the pit of Babylon.
Inasmuch as the sin and wickedness of the people of the world was becoming clearly visible to them both from the latticed window (of Heaven),
They began to gnaw their hands in wrath, but had no eyes for their own fault.
The ugly man saw himself in the mirror: he turned his face away from that (spectacle) and was enraged.
When the self-conceited person has seen any one commit a sin, there appears in him a fire (derived) from Hell.
He calls that (hellish) pride defence of the Religion: he regards not the soul of arrogance in himself.
Defence of the Religion has a different character, for from that (religious) fire a (whole) world is green (verdant and flourishing).
God said to them, “If ye are enlightened, (nevertheless) look not (with scorn) upon the doers of black deeds who have been made forgetful (of God).
Render thanks, O Host (of Heaven) and Servants (of God)! Ye are freed from lust and sexual intercourse.
If I impose that kind of nature on you, Heaven will accept you no more.
The preservation (from sin) which ye have in your bodies is from the reflexion of My preservation and care (of you).
Oh, beware! Regard that as (coming) from Me, not from yourselves, lest the accursed Devil prevail against you.”
As (for example) the writer of the Revelation given to the Prophet deemed the Wisdom and the Original Light (to be residing) in himself.
He was reckoning himself a fellow-songster of the Birds of God, (whereas) that (which proceeded from him) was (only) a whistle resembling an echo.
If you become an exponent (imitator) of the song of birds, how will you become acquainted with the (real) meaning of the bird?
If you learn the note of a nightingale, how will you know what (feelings) it has towards a rose?
Or if you do know, ’twill be from analogy and surmise, like the conjectures formed by deaf people from those who move their lips.
