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