In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
The Story of Habil and Qabil (Abel and Cain)
The First Four Children
Adam and Eve (peace be upon them) witnessed the birth of their first children, a set of twins. The twins were Cain (Qabil) and his sister. Later Eve gave birth to a second set of twins, Abel (Habil) and his sister. The family enjoyed the bounties and fruits of the earth provided by their Lord. The children grew up to be strong and healthy young adults. Cain tilled the land while Abel raised cattle.
The First Crime on Earth
Allah the Almighty says:
{And (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him) recite to them (the Jews) the story of the two sons of Adam (Habil and Qabil) in truth; when each offered a sacrifice (to Allah), it was accepted from the one but not from the other. The latter said to the former: "I will surely kill you." The former said: "Verily, Allah accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious)." "If you do stretch your hand against me to kill me, I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you: for I fear Allah, the Lord of the `Alamin (mankind, jinn, and all that exists)." "Verily, I intend to let you draw my sin on yourself as well as yours, then you will be one of the dwellers of the Fire; and that is the recompense of the Zalimin (polytheists and wrong-doers);" So the Nafs (self) of the other (latter one) encouraged him and made fair-seeming to him the murder of his brother; he murdered him and became one of the losers; Then Allah sent a crow who scratched the ground to show him to hide the dead body of his brother; He (the murderer) said: "Woe to me! Am I not even able to be as this crow and to hide the dead body of my brother?" Then he became one of those who regretted}. (Al-Ma'idah, 27-31)
Narrated As-Sadiy, on the authority of Abu Malik and Abu Salih after Ibn 'Abbas and on the authority of Ibn Mas`ud and other Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), that Adam used to get the male brought by one birth (set of twins), married to the female brought by the other. Hence, it was supposed that Abel would get married to Cain's sister, who was better and more beautiful than anyone else. At the same time, Cain wanted to keep her for himself. Adam ordered Cain to allow Abel to marry her, but he totally refused. Then, Adam ordered both (Abel and Cain) to offer a sacrifice to Allah Almighty. Meanwhile, Adam set forth towards Mecca to perform Pilgrimage. Just before leaving, Adam tried to entrust (the affairs of) his children to the heavens, the earth and finally to the mountains, but all declined to shoulder the (heavy) trust. Thereupon, Cain accepted the trust and after Adam went away they (Abel and Cain) offered their sacrifices to Allah. Abel offered a fat she-goat, while Cain offered a bundle of bad plants. Later, a fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice offered by Abel and left untouched that of Cain. Cain became livid with rage and said to his brother: I will kill you so as not to marry my sister, Abel said: "Verily, Allah accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious). "
Abu Ja`far Al-Baqir mentioned that Adam (Peace be upon him) was present there when they offered their sacrifices. After Abel's sacrifice was accepted, Cain said to his father Adam: "It was accepted only from him because you invoked Allah for his sake." So, he then secretly intended something against his brother. One day, Abel was late and Adam sent Cain to look for him. The two brothers met and Cain said: "Your sacrifice was accepted and mine was not." Abel said: "{Verily, Allah accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious)} ." Cain got angry and hit his brother with an iron rod and Abel fell dead at once. It was said: Cain killed Abel by throwing a rock at his head while he was asleep. It was also said: Cain choked Abel violently and bit him to death as beasts do.
'Abdullah Ibn `Amr (May Allah be pleased with him) said: By Allah! The murdered (Abel) was stronger (than the murderer, Cain), but he (Abel) refused to stretch his hand against his brother to kill him due to his piety and God-fearing. Abel's saying when Cain threatened to kill him: {If you do stretch your hand against me to kill me, I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you: for I fear Allah, the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn, and all that exists)} (Al-Ma'idah, 28) indicated his good morals and ethics, his fear of Allah, and perfect piety that he may harm his brother, in contrast with the odious deed intended by his brother, Cain.
For this, Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) as saying: "'When two Muslims confront each other and one amongst them attacks his brother with a weapon, both of them get into Hell- Fire.' He (Ahnaf, one of the sub-narrators) said: 'I said, or it was said: 'Messenger of Allah! It may be the case of one who kills, but what about the slain (why he would be put in Hell-Fire)?' Thereupon, he said: 'He also intended to kill his companion.' "
Narrated Imam Ahmed, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi on the authority of Sa'd Ibn Abu Waqqas, his statement upon the ordeal of `Uthman Ibn `Affan that reads: "I testify that Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: 'There will be soon a period of turmoil in which the one who sits will be better than one who stands and the one who stands will be better than one who walks and the one who walks will be better than one who runs.' Someone said: 'Allah's Messenger! What is your opinion if someone entered my home and stretched his hand to kill me?' Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: 'Be just like the son of Adam (Abel).'"
Narrated by Ibn Mardwiyah after Hudhaifah Ibn Al-Yaman in another wording: "Be just like the best of Adam's two sons."
Imam Ahmed transmitted after Mu`awiyah and Waki` their saying: "We were told by Al- A `mash on the authority of `Abdullah Ibn Murrah after Masruq after `Abdullah Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) as saying: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, 'None (no human being) is killed or murdered (unjustly), but a part of responsibility for the crime is laid on the first son of Adam who invented the tradition of killing (murdering on earth).'" (Ahmed's Musnad)
Allah Almighty says: {Then, Allah sent a crow who scratched the ground to show him how to hide the dead body of his brother. He (the murderer) said: "Woe to me! Am I not even able to be as this crow and to hide the dead body of my brother? " Then he became one of those who regretted}. (Al-Ma'idah, 31). Some interpreters said that after Cain had killed his brother, he carried him on his back for a full year (not knowing what to do with his brother's corpse!). Others said that he carried him on his back for one hundred years, till Allah Almighty sent two crows who fought against one another. One of them was killed. The murderer (crow) scratched the ground to hide the body of the dead crow. Seeing him doing that, Cain said: "Woe to me! Am I not even able to do as this crow and to hide the dead body of my brother?" Then, he buried the body of his dead brother and covered it with earth. Historians said that Adam became very sick at heart and felt great sorrow for his dead son, Abel. Mujahid said that Cain was brought punishment very soon afterwards. On the same day he killed his brother, Abel, his foot was tied up to his thighbone and his face was forcibly directed up to the sun disk. His face used to go where the sun goes as a way of punishment and penalty in return for what he had done to his own brother. Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: "There is no sin more recurring punishment (very rapidly) in the present life, along with what awaits for its doer in the Hereafter, than transgression and severing the ties of relationship."
Imam Abu Ja'far mentioned in his Tarikh "History", on the authority of some people, who had said that Eve gave birth to forty children through twenty births. Ibn Ishaq viewed the same and he mentioned their names in detail. However, nothing is sure of their names or numbers. Only Allah knows best and no one else can know their exact number! Others said: there were one hundred and twenty births, in each one a male and a female were born. The first among them were Cain and his sister Qalimah, and the last ones were `Abdul Mughith and his sister Ummul Mughith. Then, humans increased in number and spread into the earth. Allah Almighty says:
{O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women; and fear Allah through Whom you demand (your mutual rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you}. (An-Nisa', 1)
Historians said: Adam did not die till he saw from among his progeny and offspring four hundred thousand persons. Only Allah knows best!
Allah, the Almighty says:
{It is He Who has created you from a single person (Adam), and (then) He has created from him his wife [Hawwa' (Eve)], in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her. When he had sexual relation with her, she became pregnant and she carried it about lightly. Then when it became heavy, they both invoked Allah, their Lord (saying): "If You give us a Salih (good in every aspect) child, we shall indeed be among the grateful. " But when He gave them a Salih (good in every aspect) child, they ascribed partners to Him (Allah) in that which He has given to them. High be Allah, Exalted above all that they ascribe as partners to Him}. (Al-A'raf, 189, 190)
Adam (Peace be upon him) was the father of mankind. He was created by the Hand of Allah, Who breathed out of His Soul into him, Who made the Angels prostrate themselves before him, Who taught him names of everything, and Who made him dwell in His spacious Paradise. Narrated Ibn Hibban in his Sahih, on the authority of Abu Dharr his saying: "I said, O Allah's Messenger! How many were the Prophets of Allah?' He (Peace be upon him) said: 'One hundred twenty-four thousand.' I said: 'O Allah's Messenger! How many were the Messengers among them?' He (Peace be upon him) said: 'Three hundred and thirteen, a great number!' I said: 'O Allah's Messenger! Who was the first among them? 'He (Peace be upon him) said: 'Adam.' I said: 'O Allah's Messenger! Was he a Prophet sent with a Message?' He (Peace be upon him) said: 'Yes, Allah the Almighty created him with His Hand, then, breathed into him out of His Soul, then, He fashioned him (in a very proper manner). "
In the Night Journey Hadith that can be found in Bukhari and Muslim, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: "So the gate was opened and we went over the nearest heaven and there we saw a man sitting with some people on his right and some on his left. When he looked towards his right, he laughed and when he looked towards his left he wept. Then he said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious son!' I asked Gabriel: 'Who is he?' He replied: 'He is Adam and the people on his right and left are the souls of his offspring. Those on his right are the people of Paradise and those on his left are the people of Hell and when he looks towards his right he laughs and when he looks towards his left he weeps. " (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Regarding the Prophetic Hadith that reads: "Then, I passed by Yusuf (Joseph) and I found him to be granted half of beauty." Some scholars explained that it means that he was given half of the beauty Adam was granted. Indeed, this is very suitable and convincing! That Allah, the Almighty created Adam, fashioned him by His Hand and breathed into him out of His Soul, for all these Allah the Almighty must have created the best of all things.
It was narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah Ibn 'Umar and 'Abdullah Ibn 'Amr that: When Allah the Almighty created Paradise, the Angels said: "'Our Lord! Make this for us, for You created for mankind the present world in which they eat and drink.' Allah the Almighty said: 'By My Glory and Loftiness! I will not equalize between the pious from among those whom I created with My Hand, and those whom When I said "Be", they were!"
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Allah created Adam, making him 60 cubits tall. When He created him, He said to him, "Go and greet that group of angels, and listen to their reply, for it will be your greeting (salutation) and the greeting of your offspring." So, Adam said (to the angels) 'Peace be upon you'. The angels said, 'May there be peace upon you and the Mercy of Allah'. Thus the angels added to Adam's salutation the expression, 'and the Mercy of Allah'. Any person who will enter Paradise will resemble Adam (in appearance and figure). People have been decreasing in stature since Adam's creation." (Bukhari)
(Adapted From 'Stories of the Qur'an' by Ibn Kathir)
see also:
Stories of the Qur'an 1 - Habil and Qabil
Stories of the Qur'an 2 - Harut and Marut
Stories of the Qur'an 3 - Dwellers of the Town
Stories of the Qur'an 4 - Story of the Cow
Stories of the Qur'an 5 - Moses and Al-Khidr
Stories of the Qur'an 6 - The Story of Qarun
Stories of the Qur'an 7 - Bilqis (Queen of Sheba)
Stories of the Qur'an 8 - The Story of Saba' (Sheba)
Stories of the Qur'an 9 - 'Uzair (Ezra)
