Who is zuhra?

Answer 1

At the time of prophet soliman Harut and Marut were two angels that taught people magic. Their story is mentioned in verse 102 of Sura Baqara. Jewish scholars call these the sinful Angels (see the Midrash). We believe that they were commanded by Allah to teach people magic, and so not sinful in doing so. There are two opinions about why the angels were sent. Harut was sent as a Judge whereas Marut as a scholar with the instructions to avoid the grave sins of idolatry, fornication, murder and the consumption of wine. They lived, and consumed food as human beings. Their judgement were appraised. Then one day a woman named Zuhra appeared to them, she was wonderously beautiful as she was given half of all beauty. They were captivated by the charms and beauty of Zuhra. Now, Zuhra knew that the two men were no ordinary persons. She thought that theymust be other creatures in human forms who have got secrets. Therefore she tried her best by means of her beauty and tricks to bring out the secret.

The two angels, by means of the greatest name of Allah could leave the Earth in no time to thier abode in heaven. They used this secret to ascend to heaven whever they wished. Zuhra wanted at all costs to know the secrets of Harut and Marut; so she invited them to her place, served them with the best food. Now, they wanted to comimit adultery with her as they were captivated by her beauty, but she said. "No, not unless you associate 'partners' with God, consume wine, murder somebody and prostrate before idol." They said, "we cannot associate anything with God." Then one of them said, "Return to her". But she said "Not until you drink."

They were then said with wine, and the dance of Zuhra accompanied by music injected a satanic atmosphere, so they forgot their mission and commited several sins in order to win her favours. At the monet she was granting her favours a beggar was passing by and witnessed their misconduct, but they killed him. And during their state of inebriety they disclosed their greatest secret which Allah has vouchsafed to them. Thus Zuhra came to know the greatest name of Allah! The secret she eagerly wanted to know by leaving no stone unturned, had been finally unveiled to her!

Whe the two angels were committing wrong with Zuhra under the effect of wine, as they were both intoxicated; Allah plit open the heaven and the nagels saw how their two brothers were misonducting, they said: "Glory to You, you know better", The other angles took this episode as a lesson and warning and they refrained from bearing the conviction thatthey would do better than man even with cranl desires. Allah knows perfectly the weakness of man due to his Nafs or desires, but nevertheless He wants man to achieve the greatest goal even though he is inclined to evil. Just think how the greed and desires of man pulled him to the threshold of sins, but he just thinks of Allah and moves away, this is in fact the greatest action he has done and reward for him either here or in the hereafter will be countless.

Now, man is not only the target of his evil desires but also the main target of Satan. Man has therefore to fight with his own self and Satan. How great is that man who is spite of all these traps exposing on his way reaches successfully the gate of bliss. A Sufi poet once said "Jubilantly I glide onto the furious waves; For life without hardship is a hell for the brave." May Allah help us to reach our destination successfully and let us not be enslaved by our passions and desires but rather let us be the masters of our desires and may Allah protect us from Satanic thoughts, Ameen.

The two angels, Harut and Marut were vulnerable as hman beings and they were unable to way-out from the women wiles and other offecnes. The ten carnal desires Allah gave to them were as if ten devils they have to fight and exterminate but that was not an easy task although they were angels. They did notever realise how much man must strive the evil dictation of his desries; how much man must be stilled as the mountain confronting the fierce winds of evil thoughts, temptation an desires. Harut and Marut boasted they could do better than man in previaling justice and peace on Earth, but unfortunately they became the prey for a beautiful woman.

WHAT HAPPENED TO ZUHRA?

Zuhra who came to know the greatest name of Allah from the two angels at once uttered the name and she disappeared from the surface of the Earth, and she was never seen again. The Lord however forgave her fot eh sins she commited, but she was refused entry into Paradise, instead, Allah transformed her into the planet 'Venus'; she will be thus until the end of time. Venus can be seen in the sky in the early morning or evening.

HARUT AND MARUT PUNISHED BY ALLAH

When Harut and Marut became spber, they realised how they had transgressed and what had befalled them. They tried to acscend to heaven by uttering the greatest name of Allah, but they were made to forget it. They, therefore, realised how Allah's word had turned true. They prostrated and prayed to win Allah's forgiveness, they repented. Allah then said to them, "You reproached man for his faulty nature; now you have seen that having carnal desires as his, you will act in no way differently, and all his iniquity has become yours!"

The two angels were left to choose between punishment of this world and the external pains of hell, they preferred to expiate their offence here on Earth. The Lord accepted, and it was Prophet sulaiman (AS) whom Allah inspired after the recovery of his kingdom to make the two angels choose between the two; 'the earthly punishement or the eternal fire!' The two angels were put in fetters from their ankles to their neck and they were placed in a certain well in the Babel. The angels, Harut and Marut were strung up by their feet where they have been in torment ever since. It is said that they are strung up by their feet every day between the hour og Maghrib and Isha, such will be their punishment until the day of judgement. They will then be forgiven and will obtain their angelic nature and abode. Inshallah.