What is the truth behind the belief that Venus was a woman and Canopus was a man, and that the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, cursed them?

The answer can be summarized in two main points:

1. The Story of the Planet Venus: The circulating narration about Venus being a beautiful woman who seduced Harut and Marut, and whom Allah then transformed into a planet, is a story attributed to Ka’b al-Ahbar and is not elevated to the Prophet, peace be upon him. Scholars have deemed the narrations elevated to the Prophet, peace be upon him, weak, considering them rejected or flawed, and have indicated that their details trace back to the accounts of the Children of Israel.

2. The Story of the Star Canopus (Suhail): What is narrated about the star Canopus (Suhail) being a man who was then transformed into a star is fabricated and baseless. All the hadiths related to this from the Prophet, peace be upon him, are very weak, and scholars have judged them to be fabricated and abandoned. Nothing of them is authentically elevated. Even if some reports attributed to Companions are found, it is most likely that they originate from Isra'iliyat (Judeo-Christian traditions).