Babylon, founded on the Euphrates in Mesopotamia, was one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. Its name appears only once in the Quran, in al-Baqarah 2:102, which speaks of what was sent down to the two angels Harut and Marut in Babylon and of the spread of sorcery among people.
Commentators differ in their interpretation of the verse, particularly regarding the nature of Harut and Marut and what was "sent down" to them.
The ruins of Babylon lie near the city of Hillah in Iraq and were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019.