Basic
Adam
Surah: Al-Maidah (27)
Cain and Abel — The First Crime in Human History
إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ
— المائدة الآية 27
Verse: "Recite to them the news of Adam's two sons — when they both offered a sacrifice and it was accepted from one but not the other." (5:27)
Reason for rejection:
The Quran does not state the explicit reason — but says "Allah only accepts from the righteous." Sincerity and piety are the criterion for acceptance, not quantity or size.
Habil's noble stance:
"If you extend your hand to kill me, I will not extend mine to kill you — I fear Allah, Lord of all worlds." He refused to defend himself with killing out of fear of Allah, not weakness.
The impact of the first crime:
"Whoever kills a soul, unless for another soul or corruption on earth, it is as if he killed all humanity." (5:32) — The first murderer bears a shared sin in every killing until Judgment Day.
Lesson: Envy was the first motive for the first murder in history — and remains the same motive behind many crimes today.
Reason for rejection:
The Quran does not state the explicit reason — but says "Allah only accepts from the righteous." Sincerity and piety are the criterion for acceptance, not quantity or size.
Habil's noble stance:
"If you extend your hand to kill me, I will not extend mine to kill you — I fear Allah, Lord of all worlds." He refused to defend himself with killing out of fear of Allah, not weakness.
The impact of the first crime:
"Whoever kills a soul, unless for another soul or corruption on earth, it is as if he killed all humanity." (5:32) — The first murderer bears a shared sin in every killing until Judgment Day.
Lesson: Envy was the first motive for the first murder in history — and remains the same motive behind many crimes today.
Source: Ibn Kathir (3/71); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (6/134)
Test Yourself
What reason is derived from "Allah only accepts from the righteous" for accepting Habil's offering?
Show Answer