Page 370 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)
P. 370

XX.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 331


            treatises of the Moslems, they strenuously
            endeavour to combat the received opinion
            that they were angels sent by God to Babylon,

            where they committed adultery with Zahrat,
            or Venus. Even admitting them to have

            been angels, say they, we are not authorised
            in accusing them upon less evidence than the
            divine law enjoins; and, by the word of God,

            no believing person can be accused of that
            crime, except on the testimony of four eye­

            witnesses. Without such proof, those who
            originate the charge are to be received as
            liars, and are liable to the judgment ap­

            pointed for such. The Khuwarijites do not
            regard Harut and Marut as celestial creatures,

            but as two eminent citizens of Babylon, com­
            missioned by God to reveal to their fellow-men
            the difference between right and wrong; the

            indifferent and the permitted; with a know­
            ledge of the nature and peculiarities of lan­

            guage. Indeed, the opinion that they were
            men, and not angels, receives some additional
             confirmation from the Arabic word applied to

             these beings, signifying “ kings or princes ”
             only.

               In closing my brief and imperfect sketch of
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