Habil & Qabil

Main Themes: Envy, murder, value of life, divine justice.

Qur’anic References:

• The Story of Adam’s Two Sons

  • Al-Ma’idah 5:27–31 – Story of Adam’s sons: each offers a sacrifice; one accepted, the other rejected; jealousy leads to murder; Allah sends a crow to teach burial.

• The Sanctity of Life and Divine Justice

  • Al-Ma’idah 5:32 – Whoever kills a soul unjustly is as though he has killed all humanity; whoever saves one life is as though he has saved all humanity.

  • Al-Isra 17:33 – Condemnation of unlawful killing; only rightful justice (qisas) is permitted.

  • Al-An‘am 6:151 – “Do not kill the soul which Allah has made sacred, except by right.”

  • Al-Qasas 28:77 – “Do not seek corruption in the land; Allah does not love corrupters.”

Notes:

• 5:27–31 gives the full narrative, while 5:32 expresses the universal moral law derived from it.

• The other supporting verses expand on the ethical consequences of Cain’s act — anchoring it within the Qur’an’s broader framework of justice and moral restraint.