Harut & Marut, handmade earrings, paper mache

Harut and Marut (Arabic: هَارُوْت وَمَارُوْت) romanized: Hārūt wa-Mārūt) are a pair of angels mentioned in the Quran Surah, who teach the arts of sorcery (siḥr) in Babylon.According to Quranic exegesis (tafsīr), when Harut and Marut complained about mankinds’ wickedness, they were sent to earth in order to compete against humankind in regards to obedience. After they committed various crimes, they found themselves unable to return to heaven. God offered them a choice between punishment on earth or in hell. They decided for punishment on earth, leading to their situation mentioned in the Quran.