It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, when Allah Almighty sent Adam (peace be upon him) down to the earth, the angels said: Will You place therein one who will cause corruption in it and shed blood, while we glorify You with Your praise and declare Your holiness? Allah Almighty said: Indeed, I know that which you do not know. The angels said: O our Lord! We are more obedient to You than the children of Adam. Allah Almighty said to the angels: Present two angels, so that they may be sent down to the earth and it may be seen how they act. They said: O our Lord! These are Harut and Marut. Thus, these two angels were sent down to the earth, and the likeness of an extremely beautiful woman from among humanity was presented before them. They desired her for themselves, but she said: No, by Allah! This cannot happen until you commit an act of shirk. They said: By Allah! We will never commit shirk. So she went away and returned with a child. They again demanded immorality from her. She said: No, by Allah! Not until you kill this child. They said: By Allah! We will not kill him. So she went away and came back with a cup of wine. The angels again asked her for herself, but she said: No, by Allah! Not until you drink this wine. So they drank the wine. When they became intoxicated by it, they committed adultery with the woman and killed the child. Then, when they regained consciousness, the woman said: By Allah! In your state of intoxication, you committed everything you had refused. Then, as punishment for this crime, they were given the choice between the punishment of this world and the Hereafter, so they chose the punishment of this world.